Young County, Texas Jail Fails State Inspection
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has recently listed Young County Jail in Texas as a Non-Compliant Jail on the TCJS website. A Notice of Non-Compliance was issued on May 30, 2023. It specifies the minimum jail standards the jail was cited for in a special jail inspection report issued on May 25, 2023. TCJS inspectors allege that the Graham, Texas, jail violated 2 minimum jail standards.
The address of Young County Jail is 315 N Cliff Dr, Graham, TX 76450. The jail has a housing capacity of 144 inmates. Details on alleged noncompliance follow.
Rule §273.5 (2)- Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan
Young County Jail has been cited for violating Rule §273.5 (2)- Mental Disabilities/Suicide Prevention Plan, Part (2) Identification. Procedures for intake screening to identify inmates who are known to be or observed to be mentally disabled and/or potentially suicidal and procedures for compliance with Code of Criminal Procedure Article 16.22 and referrals to available mental health officials.
- A review of documentation revealed that while the magistrate was notified as required by CCP 16.22, there was no documentation indicating mental health officials were notified as required.
Rule §275.1-Regular Observation by Jailers
Young County Jail was found to be non-compliant with the following rule in the chapter on the Supervision of Inmates. Rule §275.1-Regular Observation by Jailers states that every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day. Facilities shall have an established procedure for documented, face-to-face observation of all inmates by jailers no less than once every 60 minutes. Observation shall be performed at least every 30 minutes in areas where inmates known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined.
- A review of documentation and video received after a custodial death revealed that while jailers made observation rounds, the jailers did not view the inmate face-to-face as required by minimum jail standards. Additionally, documentation provided indicated the inmate should have been observed at 30-minute intervals due to the reported mental health and behavioral issues he demonstrated.
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