Category: Medical Care

Tragically, 52-year-old Danny Earl Jones died September 20, 2021, after being in Hardin County Jail in Kountze, Texas, for only about 12 hours. He had been alone in Detox B cell when he was found with no pulse. His cause of death is unknown and pending the results of an autopsy.

As a continuation of this three-part series, more information from a jail medical expert regarding alcohol withdrawal follows.

As Withdrawal Symptoms Progress, More Valium is Needed

Valium, Ativan, and Librium are three types of medication used to treat withdrawals. One 10mg dose of Valium is all that many patients need. If, however, the symptoms of withdrawal progress and the inmate becomes sicker, heavy doses of Valium can be administered to reverse the progression of withdrawals. Treatment for DT is best in a hospital setting because hundreds of milligrams of Valium are needed.

Seizures Can Happen Anytime During Alcohol Withdrawal

Contrary to what he was taught in medical training, the jail medical expert found that patients experiencing alcohol withdrawal can experience withdrawal seizures at any time. The following two scenarios apply to seizures:

• There is an increased potential for experiencing withdrawal seizures among patients who have experienced them in the past; and
• If a patient has been given even a single dose of Valium in the treatment of alcohol withdrawal, the likelihood of having a seizure is significantly reduced.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this series.

There is no intention on this website to imply that any person or entity has been involved in misdeeds. For the purpose of supplying county jail inmates in Texas with helpful resources, posts are added to the site.

–Guest Contributor

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in San Antonio, Texas, filed a report regarding the shooting death of Charles Nicholas Norris. Mr. Norris was only 38 years old at the time of his death. We provide information from that report and make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On 09-30-2021, at about 0759 hours, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) was requested to issue a criminal trespass warning to the decedent. A deputy attempted to make contact with the decedent who fled from the deputy in a vehicle. The decedent was not initially located, but several other BCSO deputies responded to the location. Responding deputies spotted the decedent driving recklessly and eventually a deputy was able to make contact with the decedent who was the sole occupant of the vehicle. The deputy approached the decedent with his duty weapon drawn and attempted to take the decedent into custody. The decedent began to drive away and the deputy discharged his duty weapon at the decedent. The decedent, and his vehicle, traveled a short distance and the decedent was taken into custody (handcuffed and leg ironed). The decedent, who was struck by the deputy’s gunfire, was transported to the hospital and was later pronounced deceased.”

The 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of people living in the United States not to have excessive force used against them. If a police officer uses excessive force and kills a person, then he, and potentially his employer, if he did so pursuant to policies, practices, and/or customs of his employer, could be liable to certain surviving family members. These civil rights claims are usually filed in federal court.

On September 20, 2021, Danny Earl Jones died at age 52 at  Hardin County Jail in Kountze, Texas. Mr. Jones had been in the jail for about 12 hours when he was found deceased in Detox B cell. He was alone in the cell at the time of his death.

Continuing from Part 1 of this continuing series, the following is more information about insights on alcohol withdrawals gained by a jail medical expert through experience.

Alcoholic Hallucinosis Rarely Occurs

In the jail medical expert’s experience, alcoholic hallucinosis occurs far less frequently than expected, based on what he had been taught in training. Through the professional’s lengthy career, he knew of only one inmate who experienced alcoholic hallucinosis. He found that there was a reason for this, considering that thiamine deficiency is believed to be associated with alcoholic hallucinosis. When inmates in the jails where the man worked were identified as being in alcohol withdrawal, they were given plenty of thiamine for several days.

An Intermediate Stage of Alcohol Withdrawal Exists

Medical reference books do not mention an intermediate stage of alcohol withdrawal, though it does exist. Instead of there being only the two known stages of mild alcohol withdrawal and severe alcohol withdrawals aka Delirium Tremens (DTs), an intermediate stage precedes DTs. The intermediate stage involves insomnia, not eating, pacing unceasingly, and tachycardia. When it is recognized that an inmate is experiencing Pre-DT syndrome, patients are treated more aggressively to possibly avoid delirium.

It is not intended on his website to suggest that individuals or organizations have engaged in wrongdoing. Posts are added to this site to provide helpful resources benefiting current and former inmates in county jails in Texas.

–Guest Contributor

Danny Earl Jones was found dead in a detox cell of Hardin County Jail in Kountze, Texas, on September 20, 2021, less than 12 hours after his arrival. The custodial death report filed by the Hardin County Sheriff’s Department says that Mr. Jones was the only person in his cell at the time. The cause of death is currently unknown and is pending the results of an autopsy.

A physician who is a jail medical expert has provided insights about jail withdrawal through articles published in corrections publications. Prior to working with prisoners, he had seen very few patients in withdrawal. His understanding of withdrawals changed drastically as he began working with inmates in county jails.

Alcohol withdrawals are very common, according to the jail medical expert. His work in the jails revealed that what he thought he knew about alcohol withdrawal was inaccurate or misleading. Some of the insights he has gained about jail detox will be shared in this ongoing series.

Insights into Alcohol Withdrawals in Jails

Delirium tremens (DT) are severe alcohol withdrawal complications that arise after a bout of heavy drinking. DTs are life-threatening, and they can occur within 12 hours after an individual’s last drink. However, DTs can also occur as many as 8 days after being booked into jail. Early and aggressive treatment is important.

It is not intended on his website to suggest that individuals or organizations have engaged in wrongdoing. Posts are added to this site to provide helpful resources benefiting current and former inmates in county jails in Texas.

–Guest Contributor

A custodial death report was prepared regarding Tony Martinez, who died in custody of Lubbock County Jail on June 19, 2021. Mr. Martinez was 28 years old when he was pronounced dead. He apparently committed suicide.

When to Observe Potential Signs of a Suicide Risk

The training of jail staff members related to suicide prevention includes information about the key times to observe inmates for signs and symptoms of suicidal thoughts. During training, staff members are urged to watch inmates carefully for evidence of suicidal tendencies:

• When being booked into jail
• During transportation to make a court appearance for sentencing or when being transported to and from state correctional facilities
• During the first 24 hours of confinement
• When release from jail is impending
• On holidays
• When lights are out
• There is a decrease in staff supervision

Potential Risk Factors for Suicide in Assigned Housing

• Most of the time, suicides occur in private spaces such as single cells, mop closets, showers, and bathrooms.
• Important suicide prevention measures include making frequent rounds, establishing meaningful and professional relationships, and not allowing inmates to cover their windows.
• At-risk inmates should be placed in cells that have higher visibility.
• The bedding, property, clothing, and meals that are allowed for inmates on suicide watch should be carefully monitored.

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this ongoing series.

At no time does this website intend to imply that persons or entities have engaged in misconduct. The purpose of posts on this site is to help current and former inmates detained in Texas county jails.

–Guest Contributor

Tony Martinez was 28 years old when he used a blanket to strangle himself to death on June 19, 2021. Mr. Martinez had been in the custody of Lubbock County Jail from January 9, 2021, until the day he committed suicide.

Personal and/or Situational Risk Factors for a Potential Suicide Attempt Continued

Below are more situational and/or personal factors about an inmate that make him or her at risk for a potential suicide attempt:

• Recent loss of stabilizing resources, of which the following are examples:
  • Loss of a spouse or another loved one
  • For young inmates, loss of a peer
  • Expulsion from school
  • Loss of job
  • Particularly among young inmates, rejection by peers
  • A financial disaster, such as a business failure
• Rape or the threat of rape
• Current poor health, terminal illness, or mental illness
• The shame of incarceration over the offense he or she is charged with
• Recent withdrawals or excessive use of drugs and/or alcohol
• Having no apparent control over the future, including uncertainty and fear over the legal process
• An authoritarian environment or a jailer exhibiting condemning, rejecting, and harsh attitudes
• The inmate is a person with high status in the community

Learn more in Part 1 and this ongoing series.

On this website, there is no intention to suggest that a certain individual or entity has participated in wrongdoing. The posts on this site are meant to serve as helpful resources for prisoners currently or previously incarcerated in a county jail in Texas.

–Guest Contributor

Tony Martinez, tragically, died in the custody of the Lubbock County Detention Center in Lubbock, Texas, on June 19, 2021. The custodial death report on Mr. Martinez indicates that the decedent used a blanket as a ligature around his neck. His means of death by suicide is shown as hanging, strangulation.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) includes a suicide prevention plan in the minimum jail standards by which county jails are required to operate. The training of jail staff members is an essential component of preventing inmate suicide.

When Most Jail Suicides Occur

According to a lesson plan prepared by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE), the following statistics show that the amount of time an inmate is in a jail is a strong indicator of a potential suicide attempt:

• Suicides in Texas county jails happen within the first 24 hours of arrival 24% of the time.
• Suicides in Texas jails happen between the 2^nd and the 14^th days of incarceration 27% of the time.

Personal and/or Situational Risk Factors for a Potential Suicide Attempt

Studies reveal that the following situational and/or personal factors about an inmate make him or her vulnerable for a suicide attempt:

• It is the first time he or she has ever been arrested.
• The inmate committed a heinous crime.
• A prior jail suicide or recent attempt by another inmate can result in a copycat situation.

Learn more in this continuing series.

It is never intended on this website to imply that any person or organization has been involved in misdeeds. The purpose of this site is to provide resources for the potential benefit of inmates in Texas county jails, whether they are currently or previously incarcerated.

–Guest Contributor

The Texas Rangers opened an investigation into the custodial death of 52-year-old Georgia Kay Baldwin after her death on 9/14/2021. Prior to her death, Ms. Baldwin had been an inmate in Tarrant County Jail in Austin, Texas, since April 27, 2021. Her cause of death is unknown and pending the results of an autopsy.

Suicide Prevention Training

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement (TCOLE) offers an Intermediate online course on Suicide Detection and Prevention in Jails. The information has been offered as training for Texas county jail staff members, as required by minimum jail standards set by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS).

In the opening to the course curriculum, TCOLE asserts that more than a third of all jail deaths are the result of a suicide. In addition, almost all custodial suicides are preventable if the recognized standards and practices are adhered to. Also, key factors are identified in the prevention of jail suicide that will facilitate a successful program. Those key factors are:

• Effective supervisors;
• Trained jailers and mental health and medical professionals on the staff;
• A capable, proactive administration; and
• A suicide prevention plan that is well thought out.

The key areas for developing a suicide prevention plan as laid out by TCJS are:

• Identification/screening
• Staff training
• Staff communications
• Supervision
• Housing
• Intervention
• Reporting
• Follow-up/review

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

There is no intention on this website to make a suggestion that an individual or entity has been a participant in misdeeds. The purpose of this site is to provide resources helpful to county jail inmates in Texas, whether they are currently or were formerly incarcerated.

–Guest Contributor

On April 27, 2021, Georgia Kay Baldwin became a Tarrant County Jail inmate in Austin, Texas. She was discovered unresponsive in single-cell 71A28 on the morning of 9/14/2021. Exactly one hour later, Ms. Baldwin, age 52, was pronounced dead.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) cited non-compliance with Texas Administrative Code Chapter 273-Health Services, RULE §273.5 (1). Details follow.

RULE §273.5 (1)

The sheriff or operator of each county jail in Texas must develop a suicide prevention plan and implement it. The plan must be created in coordination with mental health and medical professionals and be approved by TCJS.

• Members of each jail staff must have adequate training so that they are equipped to recognize, supervise, document, and handle potentially suicidal inmates as well as those who are mentally disabled. Staff members who have the responsibility of intake screening must also have supplemental training.

Cited for Non-Compliance to RULE §273.5 (1)

An inspector with TCJS states that the administration at the Texas county jail cited for noncompliance on May 21, 2021, was not able to provide rosters or certificates indicating that jail staff members had received suicide prevention training. There was no way to verify whether suicide prevention training was provided in accordance with the mental health operational plan for the jail that had been approved.

Learn more in Part 1 and this continuing series.

There is never an intention to suggest that persons or institutions have participated in wrongdoing. This website offers posts as helpful resources for inmates currently or previously housed in a county jail in Texas.

It is not intended to make allegations of wrongdoing, whether on the part of an individual or an entity. Each of this website’s posts is added as a potentially helpful resource to benefit prisoners detained in Texas county jails, whether now or previously incarcerated.

–Guest Contributor

Georgia Kay Baldwin was booked into Tarrant County Jail in Austin, Texas, on April 27, 2021. She was pronounced dead at age 52 after being transferred to a nearby hospital on 9/14/2021. Her cause of death is unknown, and the results of an autopsy are pending.

Natural causes and suicide are the two leading causes of death in county jails in Texas and throughout the nation. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) is responsible for providing the guidelines for the operation of the state’s county jails. Oversight is provided through annual jail inspections. TCJS follows up and provides assistance when appropriate to keep jails up to code.

There are more complaints about medical care for inmates than any other topic, according to TCJS. Based on outcomes of jail inspections, tracking the efficacy of medical care in jails is likely not being accomplished. Actions potentially contributing to suicides, on the other hand, are often cited in jail inspection reports when the jails are non-compliant with minimum jail standards.

TCJS recently released a jail inspection report from a Texas county jail dated May 21, 2021, and it shows a discrepancy in suicide training. Training for suicide prevention is a vital aspect of providing adequate care for inmates. Research clearly shows that all inmates, at some level, are vulnerable to potentially becoming suicidal.

Learn more in this continuing series.

It is not intended to make allegations of wrongdoing, whether on the part of an individual or an entity. Each of this website’s posts is added as a potentially helpful resource to benefit prisoners detained in Texas county jails, whether now or previously incarcerated.

–Guest Contributor