Category: Medical Care

Sarah Elizabeth Reeves was booked into Montgomery County Jail in Conroe, Texas, on August 3, 2020. She had a medical emergency, and NARCAN® (naloxone) was administered to her but didn’t improve her condition. EMS transported Ms. Reeves to a nearby hospital, and she died there on August 5, 2020.

A study on drug addiction in custodial settings was done by a federal agency, and one of the conclusions was that 80% of offenders abuse alcohol or drugs. About half of all prisoners are drug addicts with a clinical addiction to at least one drug. Across the nation, inmates with drug offenses make up approximately 46.2% of federal U.S. imprisonments.

Opioids are a problem for a large percentage of inmates. Various jurisdictions across the country have opted to provide prisoners with naloxone aka NARCAN® upon release from jail. It is a life-saving medication that reverses opioid overdoses. Harris County and Bexar County in Texas have both adopted the practice of providing prisoners who have opioid addictions with naloxone when they are released.

What makes these programs significant is that, according to statistics, inmates released from jail or prison are 40 times more likely than individuals in the general population to die from an opioid overdose within the first two weeks after their release.

Learn more in this continuing series.

With the intention of helping inmates in Texas county jails, posts are provided on the website. There is never an intention to suggest that persons or entities have engaged in wrongs.

–Guest Contributor

Elmer Dale Barrett was 70 years old when he died in the custody of Kaufman County Jail in Kaufman, Texas, on May 19, 2019. He had been discovered nonresponsive in his cell and medical personnel at the jail responded as well as Emergency Medical Services. Mr. Barrett was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) receives complaints about county jails in Texas, as the entity responsible for establishing minimum jail standards. By far, more complaints are made about medical care every year as compared to any other issue. TCJS has established guidelines for each county jail as far as instituting procedures for providing inmates with medical care. The following is information from two of the applicable rules.

RULE §273.1 – Health Services

Each facility operator or owner must provide inmates with medical, dental, and mental services per the approved health services plan. Among the services that may be included are those of a licensed physician, hospital, and professional and allied health personnel.

RULE §273.2 – Health Services Plan

Each jail must have a written plan that is approved by the Commission. The approved plan must be implemented for inmates to receive dental, medical, and mental health services. The types of procedures that must be included in each jail’s health services plan include the following:

• Efficient and prompt care when acute and emergency situations occur;
• Referring inmates to receive medical, dental, and mental health services; and
• Convalescent and long-term care necessary in the appropriate care of disabled inmates.

Learn more in this ongoing series.

Each post on this website seeks to provide assistance to county jail inmates in Texas. There is no intention on this site to infer wrongdoing on any person or organization.

–Guest Contributor

After one week as an inmate at Dallas County Jail in Dallas, Texas, 46-year-old Rad Douglas Harrison died from a suicide attempt. He had been discovered by a fellow inmate, and immediate efforts to revive him failed. December 18, 2017, was the date of his untimely death.

Numerous studies have been done on suicide prevention in jails, and the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has updated minimum jail standards from time to time in an effort to prevent inmate suicide.

The following are recommendations for the prevention of custodial suicide identified in a study by a state government outside of Texas.

Housing for Suicidal Prisoners

Specific cells should be designated and utilized for the housing of suicidal inmates. The suicide-resistant cells must be free of protrusions. Modifications are typically needed with regard to lights, drains, grills, ducts, telephone cords, vents, clothing hooks, desks, smoke detectors, toilets, beds, stools, shelves, modesty walls, and smoke detectors.

Monitoring

Audio and video should be used to provide increased visibility of suicidal inmates day and night. Monitoring for suicide attempts includes hearing potential calls for distress coming from suicide-resistant housing.

Training

Jail staff should be trained in the use of a Suicide Risk Assessment tool that should be implemented during a risk assessment and when an inmate has been referred as a potentially suicidal inmate. Suicide precautions should be initiated when indicated, including when there are reports of suicidal behavior during previous incarcerations.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this ongoing series.

With the aim of helping inmates now or previously incarcerated in Texas county jails, posts are provided on this website. This site never intends to imply that persons or entities have engaged in wrongdoing.

–Guest Contributor

A fellow Dallas County Jail inmate discovered Rad Douglas Harrison with a towel around his neck in December 2017. Emergency services responded to the emergency call and transferred Mr. Harrison to Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Tragically, as a result of his suicide attempt, he died on December 18, 2017.

Suicide prevention is, by necessity, standard procedure in county jails. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) requires all staff members to receive training that includes the prevention of inmate suicide. But suicide is a complex issue.

A study on jail suicides found that there is a subtle difference between those who attempt suicide and those who complete their suicide attempt. For example, some who attempt to commit suicide have no intention of ever completing the act. Others are persistent and use increasingly lethal methods until they die from the act. One expert in custodial psychology says these differences are usually seen in inmates aged 24 and younger, and most have a history of addiction to various substances, including opiates.

Any prior attempts at suicide place inmates at a heightened risk for again trying to commit suicide. Among the inmates who die from an act of suicide, 45% to 63% had attempted suicide on at least one previous occasion.

It has been recognized as a “best practice” to remain vigilant with regards to all inmates because the environment is in itself an indicator of a greater potential for suicide than the population that is not incarcerated. Also, there are many times when traditional warning signs of being suicidal weren’t seen before a prisoner committed suicide.

See Part 1 of this ongoing series.

This website’s posts purpose to assist inmates of Texas county jails. There is no intention on this site to infer wrongdoing on the part of people or institutions.

–Guest Contributor

The Moore County Sheriff’s Office, in Dumas, Texas, filed a custodial death report with the Attorney General of Texas regarding the death of Rickey Paul Smith. Mr. Smith was 65 years old at the time of his death. We provide in this post information obtained from that report, and we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone.

The custodial death report indicates that Mr. Smith was originally incarcerated at 3:03 a.m. on July 25, 2021. It indicates that he died the following day – July 26, 2021 at 5:48 p.m. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On 07/26/2021, at approximately 5:20 PM, A Moore County Sheriff’s Office Correction Officer found Rickey Smith hanging with a strap by his neck. The strap was connected to a half wall bathroom partition located in his cell. Smith had a soft cast on his left lower leg from an injury he had received prior to being booked into the jail. Smith was found hanging from the bathroom partition half wall with a strap from the soft cast. Smith was being housed in a holding cell alone since he was booked in the jail on 07/25/2021, at approximately 3:03 AM. CPR and lifesaving measures were used to attempt to resuscitate Smith by jail staff and Moore County Hospital District Emergency Medical Services for over twenty-eight minutes but were unsuccessful. The Texas Rangers were called to conduct the investigation.”

Our Texas constitutional rights law firm continues to see an unfortunately significant number of suicides in Texas County jails, and we are handing such cases. It is important that suicidal individuals be appropriately monitored, and that items with which they could commit suicide be removed from their cells. In fact, the United States Constitution guarantees the right of pre-trial detainees to receive reasonable mental health care and to be protected from self-harm tendencies. If a jail and/or jailers violate the Constitution, and a person dies as a result, then certain surviving family members might have claims. In Texas, those family members are referred to as “wrongful death beneficiaries.” Texas wrongful death beneficiaries are the spouse, children, and parents of a person who passes away. Such cases are filed pursuant to federal law, and usually decided by federal courts.

The Travis County Sheriff’s Department, in Austin, Texas, filed a report with the State of Texas regarding the death of Christopher Luis Delarosa. Mr. Delarosa was only 32 years old at the time of his death. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On July 27, 2021 at approximately 7:22 A.M. I was notified by my supervisor, Sgt. Gerald Kim, on an inmate death in custody that just occurred at the Travis County Jail located at 500 west 10th Street, Austin, TX 78701. The inmate was identified as Christopher L. Delarosa, W/M DOB XX-XX-XXXX, Booking #XXXXXXX. Delarosa was arrested on July 26, 2021 for Assault with Injury F/V and taken to Central Booking between 0900 and 1000. During the intake process Delarosa was refused acceptance into the facility by TCSO Medical personnel because his oxygen level was low. Delarosa was taken to Seton Medical Center, and upon his release from the hospital he was accepted and booked into the Central Booking facility at approximately 1539 hours. Delarosa was moved the medical observation hall and placed into cell MOO #7 at approximately 2030 hours on July 26, 2021. Post visuals are conducted in this cell at 15-minute increments. Delarosa was found unresponsive in his cell at approximately 0545 hours on July 27, 2021 by Corrections Officer Michael Jimenez #4750. TCSO Staff initiated life saving measures until relieved by Fire/EMS at approximately 0555 hours. At approximately 0654 hours EMS Commander Martin called time of death.”

The report does not provide any information about whether Mr. Delarosa received any breathing treatments after returning to the jail, was assessed for oxygen levels in the jail, or otherwise received any medical treatment while being on observation. Obviously, while observation is important, treatment may be necessary and, in Mr. Delarosa’s case, appears to have been absolutely necessary. Regardless, we make no allegation of any wrongdoing against anyone regarding Mr. Delarosa’s death, because we do not have enough information to make such a determination.

Generally, the 14^th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of those held in jail before their trials to receive medical care. If a person dies because he or she does not receive medical care in a jail, then certain family members may have claims. These claims are typically handled by Texas civil rights lawyers.

Rad Douglas Harrison died on December 18, 2017, one week after being booked into the Dallas County Jail in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Harrison was 46 years old at the time of his death. He used a towel to fashion a ligature, and he committed suicide.

The connection between jails and an increased risk of suicide among inmates as compared with the general population has long been recognized, and many groups have prepared studies on the topic. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has the duty of establishing minimum jail standards for the operation of Texas county jails, and suicide prevention is included.

One recent study on protecting inmates from committing suicide includes the following information.

Cultivate a Culture of Suicide Prevention

It is important to take steps in the cultivation of a suicide-prevention culture within jails, such as the following:

• Train all staff members to know what the warning signs for suicide are as well as steps for making referrals.
• Encourage staff to effectively communicate their concerns with regard to the issue of suicide prevention.
• Supervisors should model attitudes and behaviors that promote suicide prevention.

Key Points of Staff Training

During agency orientation, include training on suicide prevention.

Jail staff should have an annual refresher training course on suicide.

Suicide prevention training in jails should include:

• Maintaining effective attitudes regarding suicide prevention
• The risk factors and warning signs of custodial suicide
• Effective ways to respond to a suicide risk
• Emergency response procedures
• Holding discussions about local issues and incidents of inmate suicide

Learn more in this ongoing series.

This website offers posts for the benefit of Texas county jail inmates. It is never intended on this site to imply that persons or institutions have engaged in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor

Christy Michelle Slayton was incarcerated on September 10, 2019, at Kaufman County Jail in Kaufman, Texas. Soon after, she was discovered nonresponsive in her cell and received emergency medical care. Although she was moved to a local hospital, she died on September 14, 2019.

A recent study on overdose deaths in lockup facilities shows an increase of more than 600% from 2001 to 2018 in state prisons. The statistic for county jails shows that overdose deaths increased by more than 200% in the same timeframe. Drug and alcohol intoxication custodial deaths have become all too common, but overdose deaths have also increased alarmingly in the general population. This devastating trend is associated with opioids, mainly illegal fentanyl.

According to an inmate advocacy group, a persistent problem is that people in the U.S. are incarcerated with addiction problems and then do not receive adequate treatment.

Data on custodial deaths garnered from Texas statistics as well as four other states shows that the drugs causing the most deaths are opioids (fentanyl in particular), methamphetamine, and K2, which is a synthetic marijuana drug. Although there are various ways that illegal drugs get to inmates inside the jail, incoming prisoners often die because they swallowed drugs just before being apprehended by police or hid the drugs in body cavities.

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

All posts on this website are intended as helpful resources for inmates in Texas county jails. There are never intentions to infer wrongs on the part of individuals or organizations.

–Guest Contributor

Christy Michelle Slayton had been an inmate at Kaufman County Jail in Kaufman, Texas, for a matter of hours when she was found nonresponsive in her cell. On September 14, 2019, a total of four days after being jailed, she died.

The following continues with suicide prevention information from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC). Suicide is a crucial issue because it is a leading cause of custodial deaths.

Suicide Prevention Training Content

The learning objectives below are among those meant to serve as guidelines for establishing suicide prevention training content. Jail staff should know the following after completing suicide prevention training:

• Common warning signs of non-suicidal and suicidal self-injury.
• Common signs and symptoms of mental health conditions.
• Behavioral signs of medical conditions requiring immediate medical care.
• What items should be cleared from housing for inmates on suicide watch.
• Isolation undermines efforts to prevent inmate suicide.
• Avoid placing persons in restrictive housing if they are recognized as being at an elevated risk for suicide.
• Procedures and circumstances for providing continuous observation of persons identified as acutely suicidal.
• Procedures and circumstances for providing intermittent/staggered face-to-face observations of persons identified as acutely suicidal.
• Interpersonal skills to demonstrate for the purpose of de-escalating crises and lowering barriers to mental health care for inmates.
• Documentation and communication procedures at shift changes.
• How to obtain emergency clinical services for inmates.
• Where to locate and how to use safety equipment such as a cut-down tool.

Learn more in Part 1 and this continuing series.

Seeking to assist Texas county jail inmates, posts are provided on this website. There is never an intention on this site to suggest that people or institutions have participated in wrongs.

–Guest Contributor

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office, in San Antonio, Texas, filed a report regarding the death-in-custody of Julius Ronnie Price. Mr. Price was only 26 years old at the time of his death.

We make no allegation of any wrongdoing related to Mr. Price’s death but are simply providing information obtained from the report. Mr. Price was originally in custody at the Bexar County jail on December 10, 2020. The report indicates that he passed away on July 17, 2021 at 5:41 p.m. The summary portion of the report reads in its entirety:

“On Saturday July 17, 2021 at approximately 0525 hours a Code 1 was initiated in Unit AJ by Deputy R. McKinney after Inmate Price, Julius #1106503 (AJ05) complained of not being able to move, unable to use the restroom and experiencing pain. Upon arrival of Medical Staff, Inmate Price was taken to medical for further evaluation. After completion of inmate Price’s medical evaluation, at approximately 1153 hours NP Lopez, Domingo advised Medical Security Corporal Garcia-Esparza, E #1622 that inmate Price would be transported to UHER via ambulance. While at University Hospital, at approximately 1734 hours Inmate Price “coded”, and medical staff began using CPR and life-saving efforts. Inmate was pronounced deceased at approximately 1741 hours by Dr. Brian Parker.”

Once again, we do not allege that anyone did anything wrong which resulted in Mr. Price’s death. However, we often find that, when a person dies at such a young age, there may be significantly more information that is important regarding the death than that provided in the custodial death report. For example, the report does not indicate whether Mr. Price was on observation for any pre-existing medical problems, or was receiving medical treatment. The report also does not indicate anything about observations of Mr. Price.

The United States Constitution guarantees the right of those held in Texas county jails to receive reasonable medical care. If they do not receive reasonable medical care and die as a result, then certain family members might have claims which can be brought in a federal lawsuit. These claims are typically filed by Texas civil rights attorneys.