PRINCIPAL OFFICE: DALLAS, TEXAS: (214) 670-9989 | TOLL FREE: (866) 670-9989

Category: Texas Commission on Jail Standards

Landon Davis Dies in Bell County Jail on 7/19/24

iStock 123166440 2

Landon Correll Davis was booked into Bell County Jail on November 7, 2023. Mr. Davis died in the jail on July 19, 2024, at 27 years of age. A custodial death report (CDR) was filed by the Bell County Sheriff’s Office
on August 12, 2024, under the direction of Sheriff Eddy Lange. Mr. Davis’s autopsy results are awaited, but the CDR shows that a pre-existing medical condition caused his death.

In the summary of how Mr. Davis’s death occurred, it says that after five days of complaints about constipation, he was brought to the infirmary on July 18. The next day at about 3:46 AM, jailer Margaret Watkins checked on Mr. Davis and saw that he was unresponsive and didn’t appear to be breathing. She also reported seeing that blood appeared to be coming from his mouth.

Lifesaving measures began and included efforts from medical staff and emergency medical services (EMS). The hospital was consulted, and lifesaving measures ceased in the cell. JP Coleman pronounced Mr. Davis deceased at 6:10 AM on July 19. The cell was secured, and the Texas Rangers and the Justice of the Peace were called.

The address of Bell County Jail is 111 West Central Avenue, Belton, Texas 76513. The jail has a 1,184-bed capacity.

Are Detainees in Texas Often Victims of Jail Medical Neglect?

More than 20 families joined forces a year ago to demand changes in the Texas county jail where their loved ones had died. Their open letter from the families and former inmates alleged a pattern of jail neglect. Twelve alleged victims suffered medical neglect and abuse in the jail.

The families pointed out that the jail had been in violation of minimum jail standards related to medical care for detainees three months earlier. The following were among the observations made by Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) inspectors:

Detainees at the jail were not seen by medical personnel within 48 hours, per the facility’s operational plan.

Five months ago, the jail was found noncompliant for its failure to follow doctor’s orders and provide medication to a detainee as directed. During the comprehensive re-inspection, it was discovered that the jail continues to fail to meet these requirements for inmate medical care.

Is Assistance Available for Medical Neglect Cases?

A recent study revealed that around 68% of detainees in county and city jails with chronic medical conditions do not receive proper medical care while incarcerated—a startling statistic. If you have experienced severe health issues due to medical neglect or any other form of neglect while in a municipal or county jail, or if a loved one has died as a result of such neglect in a U.S. jail, we encourage you to reach out to us. Our office has extensive experience handling jail neglect cases, with a dedicated team focused on jail death cases.

If we can assist with your situation, we are ready to help. We are available 24/7—contact us today by phone, text, or through our online form.

author avatar
smchugh

Carson County Jail in Panhandle TX is Found Non-Compliant

iStock 535770221 2
3d interior Jail

Carson County Jail in Texas is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. A notice of non-compliance was sent on July 19, 2024, following a special jail inspection conducted on the same day. TCJS inspectors found Carson County Jail is in violation of one minimum jail standard under the rule about the mental disabilities/suicide prevention plan. Inspectors’ notes indicate the following:
The suicide screening forms for 15 inmates currently incarcerated were reviewed, and it was discovered that on 4 occasions, the magistrate was not notified, per instructions under Rule §273.5.
Carson County Jail’s address is 201 US Highway 60, P.O. Box 972, Panhandle, Texas 79068. The jail has a housing capacity of 50 inmates.

An Inmate at Carson County Jail Dies in 5 Hours

According to the custodial death report about an inmate who died 5 hours after being booked into Carson County Jail in August 2022, the 41-year-old man was arrested for public intoxication. After the booking that occurred at 6:02 AM, he was placed in a detox cell. He was observed at 7:45 AM, when Sheriff Tam Terry observed him standing in the cell where he had been placed.

Later, at a time that was not specified, the man was discovered to be having a seizure. Lifesaving measures were initiated, and the detainee was flown to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo. He was pronounced deceased at 10 AM. The medical examiner’s office determined that the detainee died of acute cocaine intoxication.

Detainees in U.S. Jails Deserve Addiction Treatments that Work

In an online publication sponsored by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 60% of incarcerated individuals in the U.S. have a substance abuse disorder. Three medications for opioid use disorder have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and have proven effective. The three medications that are safe, effective, and lifesaving are:

  • Methadone
  • Buprenorphine
  • Naltrexone

Among the studies related to these medications is one that shows that people in jail who receive naltrexone, buprenorphine, or methadone are less likely to return to substance use. They are also more likely to continue with treatment after being released.

Among our jails nationwide, less than half of them offer all three FDA-recommended medications. However, a recent study showed that 96% of jails provide naloxone to staff. Naloxone is a highly effective overdose reversal drug used in cases of an opioid overdose or a suspected opioid overdose. Naloxone quickly blocks the effects of opioids, reversing an otherwise deadly overdose.

Naloxone distribution in county jails has been a growing trend at least since 2021. Local jails can request free nasal naloxone kits from community organizations throughout the U.S.

Reach Out to the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Jail Death Cases

If you suspect a loved one died in jail due to neglect or if you were previously detained in a Texas county or municipal jail and suffered a significant injury from medical neglect or abuse, seeking experienced legal help is crucial.

At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we routinely handle cases involving jail neglect, inmate abuse, and custodial deaths, including jail suicides. With our extensive experience, you can trust us to provide reliable legal representation. Don’t wait—contact us anytime, 24/7, by phone, text, or through our online form.

author avatar
smchugh

Navarro County Jail Problems with Dispensing Medication

iStock 123166440 2

Navarro County Jail in Corsicana, Texas, is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. A notice of non-compliance was sent on June 27, 2024, which was a day after TCJS inspectors inspected the jail. Per their findings, Navarro County Jail’s medication administration records (MAR) fail to show that medication is being distributed to detainees in accordance with physicians’ written instructions. Navarro County Jail’s address is 300 West 2nd Avenue, Corsicana TX 75110. The jail’s bed capacity is 290.

How are Inmates Harmed if they are Denied Medications?

Families around the United States either have fought or are presently fighting for justice on behalf of loved ones they believe died because they were denied prescription medications while in jail. A news story published in April 2024 tells of a man in a Virginia pretrial detention center who was denied his daily medications and, as a result, died on his fifth day after being booked into the county jail.

The medication the deceased was denied was for treatment of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. If left untreated, this disease can put an individual’s kidneys into crisis. By the third day of the 41-year-old’s incarceration, his condition was serious. He was immediately transferred to a hospital, but the deadly effects of his not receiving the daily medications were irreversible.

A Man Denied Prescription Medications Dies After 34 Days

A detainee in a large California county jail was arrested for missing a court appearance pertaining to an argument with a bus driver. Up to that time, he had been routinely taking prescription medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, and schizophrenia. The jail staff allegedly failed to give the medications as prescribed.

As the man began to experience an escalating medical emergency, members of the jail and medical staff allegedly observed him lying face-down for three days. Video evidence shows that his bunk was surrounded by medications, unopened meals, water, feces, and urine. However, no one acted. Eventually, after getting no response from the detainee, it was discovered that he was stiff and had no pulse. The results of an autopsy revealed that bed sores had developed on the man’s body as a result of not moving for an extended period of time.

Records show that more than 60 detainees had died in the jail from 2014 to 2022. After the above-described tragic death, a judge ordered federal supervision at the jail for at least six years.

Help with Jail Death Cases is Available

Jails have a duty to care for all detainees in their custody. If you were an inmate in a Texas jail and suffered life-altering injuries due to neglect, including medical neglect, reach out to The Law Offices of Dean Malone. With years of experience advocating for inmates’ rights, we are here to help. If you are a family member of an inmate who you believe died due to medical neglect or abuse, we may be able to assist you as well. We have a team of experts focused on jail death cases.

Contact us as soon as possible. We are available at all hours via phone, text, or our online form.

 

author avatar
smchugh

Howard County, Texas Jail Fails a May 2024 Jail Inspection

Front of Jail Cell

Howard County Jail in Texas is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. The latest non-compliance correspondence was issued on June 3, 2024, following a May 31 jail inspection. TCJS inspectors found Howard County Jail is in violation of one minimum jail standard pertaining to inmate physical exercise and recreation, which must be provided for each inmate at least 1 hour three times per week.

Howard County Jail’s address is 3611 W Hwy 80, Big Spring, TX 79720. The jail has a housing capacity of approximately 96 inmates.

A 2024 Inmate Death in Howard County Jail was Caused by Drug Toxicity

Tragically, Howard County Jail is one among many U.S. jails that have had inmate deaths associated with substance abuse. Sadly, approximately 9 hours after his arrival at Howard County Jail, a 55-year-old detainee died of acute methamphetamine intoxication. This occurred in March 2024.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), death and suffering because of withdrawal from opioids, alcohol, methamphetamine, and other substances are preventable. Yet, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information, drugs and alcohol are the third leading cause of death in U.S. jails.

Statistics in a report on this topic were based on the coding used to identify how deaths in jails occurred. It was found, however, that among the deaths that occurred within 7 days of arrest for alcohol intoxication, only 18% were officially coded to indicate it involved drugs/alcohol intoxication. During the 5 years covered in the report on U.S. jail statistics, substance withdrawal was associated with 103 deaths. Sixty-six of those deaths involved alcohol, 21 involved drugs (primarily opioids), and 16 were caused by unknown substances.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Methamphetamine Toxicity?

An estimated 10% of the criminal justice system population recently surveyed used meth or cocaine or misused stimulants at the time of the offense for which they were incarcerated. When methamphetamine is forcibly withdrawn because an individual is in jail, withdrawal reactions are quite common. Diagnosing stimulant intoxication or withdrawal requires qualified healthcare professionals.

Acute withdrawal symptoms usually last 7 to 10 days. The following are among the signs and symptoms of acute meth withdrawal:

  • Increased giddiness, vigor, and a sense of enhanced mental acuity and performance
  • Anxiety
  • Fatigue
  • Irritability
  • Dehydration
  • Mental confusion
  • Lack of energy

Post-acute and protracted withdrawal symptoms from methamphetamine can include the following:

  • Mood swings
  • Depression
  • Drug cravings
  • Suicidal thoughts/ideation
  • Increased appetite
  • Excessive sleepiness and fatigue
  • Psychosis

Contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Help with Jail Neglect Cases

Are you in need of legal help because you believe a loved one died in jail due to neglect? Or were you formerly detained in a Texas county or municipal jail and suffered a severe injury from medical neglect or abuse? Having legal support with broad experience in such cases is vital.

At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we are dedicated to addressing cases of jail neglect, inmate abuse, and jail deaths. With our years of experience, you can rely on us for trusted legal representation. Contact us promptly. We are available 24/7 via phone, text, or our online form.

 

author avatar
smchugh

Juan Moreno-Hernandez Dies in Bexar County Jail

iStock 969048466

Juan Moreno-Hernandez went through intake at Bexar County Jail on November 24, 2023. He died there at age 36 on June 24, 2024. The custodial death report (CDR) about this tragic death says that–at 6:30 a.m. on the day of his death–he was found unresponsive and face up, and his lips were bluish in color. He was in a multiple-occupancy holding cell. Lifesaving attempts were made by staff, emergency medical services, and the San Antonio Fire Department, but there was no response. He was pronounced deceased at 7:19 a.m.

The San Antonio Sheriff’s Department prepared the CDR about Mr. Moreno-Hernandez, and the report shows that his cause of death is unknown and pending an autopsy. There is also a question concerning whether the “death was an accident, homicide, or suicide, who caused the death?” The response is, “Unknown whether the decedent sustained a fatal injury.”

The address of Bexar County Jail is 200 N. Comal, San Antonio, TX 78207.
The bed capacity of the jail, which is also known as the Bexar County Adult Detention Center, is 5,200.

Concerned Organizations Unite Re Deaths at a Texas County Jail

Several community organizations recently joined forces to address deaths that have occurred in a large Texas county jail system. According to the letter sent to the Department of Justice, multiple layers of abuse, neglect, and failures of supervision and oversight have been uncovered in connection with custodial deaths at that facility. They allege that a continual pattern of medical neglect and a failure to guard the basic human rights of inmates exists, and they provide specific cases to illustrate these claims.

An Inmate in a Texas County Jail Allegedly Dies a Victim of Inadequate Medical Care

Allegedly, a 38-year-old man was subjected to being pepper-sprayed at least three times during booking into the Texas jail alluded to above. He was also handled violently, and his pleas that he could not breathe were ignored. Within an hour, he was discovered unconscious. The next day, he died with symptoms showing that his lungs were inflamed, blood was in his ears and nose, and his face and neck were swollen.

Initially, his death was ruled as natural and “due to a sickle cell crisis.” This conclusion by the county medical examiner was strenuously opposed. An outside investigation demonstrated that it was an impossibility that the inmate had sickle cell disease. A medical expert asserted that, in his opinion, the county was trying to keep the real cause of death hidden and, therefore, groped to find a reason to explain the man’s death. The CDR about this man’s death currently shows that he died of cardiac arrest.

The Law Offices of Dean Malone Can Help with Jail Medical Neglect

If a loved one has passed away while in the custody of a Texas jail and you suspect neglect or jail abuse, it’s crucial to seek experienced legal assistance. The Law Offices of Dean Malone represents the rights of jail inmates and their families, particularly in jail death cases. Our dedicated team has extensive experience in this area. Additionally, if you are a former detainee who has suffered abuse, neglect, or medical negligence while in jail and are now dealing with life-altering injuries, we encourage you to reach out to us. For a complimentary case review, you can contact us 24/7 via phone, text, or our online form.

 

author avatar
smchugh

Hidalgo County Jail Inmate Juan Guerra Dies

Silhouette of barbed wires and watchtower of prison.

Juan Andres Guerra was booked into Hidalgo County Jail in Edinburg, Texas, on March 18, 2024. Approximately 3 months later, on June 24, he died in the jail’s custody. The Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Department filed a custodial death report (CDR) about Mr. Guerra on the same day. The CDR shows that at 12:45 am that day, he was discovered unresponsive in his bunk in the jail infirmary. After lifesaving efforts began, he was transported to the Edinburg Regional Medical Center, which was the location of the pronouncement of his death.

Jail medical records show that Mr. Guerra had been suffering from high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease. A Justice of the Peace ordered that an autopsy be performed. Mr. Guerra was only 58 years old at the time of his death.

Hidalgo County Jail aka Hidalgo County Detention Center is at 701 El Cibolo Road in Edinburg, TX 78541. The jail’s bed capacity is 1,232.

A County Jail is Questioned About Possible Medical Neglect After an Inmate’s Death

For two days, a detainee in a U.S. county jail did not receive his daily anti-rejection medication, which was required because his heart was rejecting his new organ from a heart transplant. The man was released from the jail’s custody, and he died three days later. According to a private pathologist hired by the family of the deceased, his death resulted from his body rejecting the heart. However, the pathologist did not make a statement to confirm or deny that the two days in jail without his medications contributed to his death.

In the state where this man died, public agencies are prohibited from signing contracts with companies convicted of a public entity crime. Considering this, investigations into this recent incident led to an alarming discovery. The third-party medical provider involved in this case had failed to report to the state that after an inmate had died in late 2022 in another state, the company was convicted of a public entity crime in connection with the death.

Records show that the same medical provider, between 2005 and 2018, has been sued at least 370 times in federal courts. The accusations made against the company include wrongful death, medical malpractice, and employment issues. In the six years since the medical provider has been at the county jail where the man did not receive his anti-rejection medication, the jail saw a 71% increase in custodial deaths compared to the seven years prior to their contract.

Help for Jail Neglect Victims is Available

Detainees in Texas county jails have a right to receive necessary medical, mental, and dental care. Every year, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) receives more complaints about medical care than any other issue. TCJS is responsible for establishing minimum jail standards and ensuring that jails aren’t violating those standards.

Jails can be held accountable for violating inmate rights. If your loved one died while incarcerated in a county or municipal Texas jail and you think jail neglect of some kind may have been involved, don’t hesitate to act. The Law Offices of Dean Malone has years of experience fighting for inmates’ rights. We have a team of experts working together to represent families in jail death cases. We would also like to hear from you if you were incarcerated in a jail and, while there, suffered a life-altering injury because of jail abuse or neglect.

Contact us today. We are available 24/7, whether you call, text, or fill out our online form.

 

author avatar
smchugh

Dickens County Jail is Cited for Non-Compliance

iStock 969048466

Dickens County Jail in Dickens, Texas, is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. A jail inspection was conducted on June 10, 2024, after which TCJS inspectors cited Dickens County Jail for violating three minimum jail standards. Among them was a citation for failing to provide suicide prevention training for 3 of 4 jailers during 2023. A notice of non-compliance was sent to the jail on June 11, 2024. Dickens County Jail’s address is 819 5th Street, Dickens, TX 79229. The jail has a housing capacity of 8 inmates.

How Can a Lack of Suicide Prevention Training Harm Inmates?

More than one-third of all custodial deaths in county and municipal jails are caused by suicide, and it is the leading cause of death in those environments. When jailers receive the required suicide prevention training, they learn how to detect and prevent inmate suicide. When the following strategies work in cooperation together, experience shows that nearly every jail suicide can be averted:

  • The jail staff receives suicide prevention training
  • Jailers responsible for intake screening also receive supplemental training
  • Ongoing communication between staff
  • Detainees are placed in safe and appropriate housing
  • Inmates are subject to frequent observation
  • Prompt intervention when suicide is attempted
  • Human interaction between jail staff and detainees

Ultimately, there are two critical factors in the prevention of suicide in jails:

  1. Capable jailers, medical staff, and mental health staff with proper suicide prevention training; and
  2. Pro-active, capable, and effective supervisors and administration personnel.

Suicide Statistics Give Clues Regarding Jail Suicides

Remaining on high alert for possible suicides among certain inmates can be effective when suicide statistics are considered. For instance, in a recent analysis of jail suicides in Texas, more than one-third of them occurred within the first 7 days of incarceration. Approximately 24% of Texas jail suicides occurred within the first 24 hours of admission. Another 27% of the suicides occurred between days 2 through 14. Other statistics that may provide helpful insights on possible suicide prevention follow:

  • Approximately 93% of the time, hanging is the method used for committing suicide in Texas jails.
  • The longest time between observations of inmates in Texas jails should never exceed 60 minutes, per minimum jail standards. Statistics show, however, that 31% of suicide victims in Texas jails were discovered after more than 1 hour of observation.

Contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Help with Jail Death Cases

It is important to seek experienced help if one of your loved ones has died in the custody of a Texas jail and you suspect jail abuse or neglect. Those in the Law Offices of Dean Malone have experience representing the rights of jail inmates and their families. We have a special team that focuses on jail death cases. Are you a former detainee who suffered abuse, neglect, or jail medical neglect while in jail and, as a result, are dealing with a life-altering injury? If so, we are also interested in hearing from you. For your free case review, contact us 24/7 via phone, text, or our online form.

author avatar
smchugh

What mental health resources are available to people in jails?

iStock 123166440 2

Technical Assistance Memorandum 24-04 dated June 5, 2024, was sent by Brandon Wood, Executive Director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) to all Texas sheriffs and jail administrators. The memo is regarding “Local Mental Health and Behavioral Health Authorities and County Jails.” Along with training and high-level consultation, technical assistance is provided to local government to increase and maintain compliance with adopted standards.

Existing mental health requirements for Texas county jails are reiterated, as follows:

Texas jails have the responsibility of providing all people in their care with medical, mental and dental services. This includes 24-hour-per-day, 7-days-per-week access to mental health professionals, whether at the jail or through telehealth services. Within a reasonable time, if neither of those avenues of access are available for an inmate needing mental healthcare, the jail must provide that person with access to a qualified mental health professional, at a minimum.

Requirements in jails regarding Local Mental Health Authority (LMHA) or Local Behavioral Health Authority (LBHA):

People experiencing a mental health crisis have access to mental health crisis response services as a result of a contract between LMHA/LBHA and the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Jail personnel can call their area LMHA/LBHA crisis hotline to request mental health crisis response services.

The following defines individuals experiencing a mental health crisis:

  • Present an immediate danger to self or others; or
  • There is a risk of serious deterioration of the person’s mental or physical health; or
  • The individual believes they present an immediate danger to self or others or their mental or physical health is at risk of serious deterioration.

What to expect when you call your LMHA/LBHA crisis hotline:

Crisis hotlines operate 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Trained and competent crisis staff provide crisis screenings and, if determined necessary, crisis assessments.

  • What happens in a crisis screening? The LMHA/LBHA will collect information through a phone interview with the individual or jail staff to make a clinical decision about whether an in-depth crisis assessment or emergency care services are needed.
  • What happens in a crisis assessment? If a crisis screening indicates that an in-depth crisis assessment is necessary, the LMHA/LBHA will conduct the in-person, audiovisual, or audio-only crisis assessment to collect additional in-depth information about the individual experiencing a crisis and their needs for mental health services.

What happens after a crisis screening and/or assessment?

The LMHA/LBHA will provide the jail’s behavioral health provider with crisis intervention strategies and recommendations that are in keeping with the jail’s policies and procedures.

To provide additional mental health services for people in custody, jails can independently contract with a private healthcare provider or the LMHA/LBHA.

The memorandum provides a website that will help jail administrators and sheriffs locate the LMHA/LBHA and associated crisis hotlines in their area.

Who to contact if you are concerned about access to crisis services:

If sheriffs or jail administrators have a concern about access to behavioral health crisis services or would like to file a complaint about services, they are advised to contact:

  • The Clients’ Rights Office available at each LMHA or LBHA; or
  • The HHS Ombudsman for Behavioral Health (OBH); or
  • The Ombudsman hotline at 1-800-252-8154, Option 1.

If you had a family member who suffered life-changing injury or died in a jail as a result of not receiving mental or mental health care, contact our law firm. We might be able to help.

author avatar
smchugh

Swisher County Jail is Found Non-Compliant

iStock 157569394 1
Inside The Old Idaho State Penitentiary

Swisher County Jail in Texas is currently listed as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. The latest non-compliance correspondence was issued on June 7, 2024. Following a June 5 jail inspection, Swisher County Jail was determined to have violated two minimum jail standards. Swisher County Jail’s address is 136 E Broadway Ave, Tulia, TX 79088. The jail has a housing capacity of approximately 27 inmates.

Swisher County Jail is Cited Again for Failing to Establish Two-Way Communications

In the chapter on the supervision of inmates, Swisher County Jail has been cited for a repeat violation. First in December 2021 and more recently in June 2024, no two-way communication between detainees and jailers could be established on either side. Two-way communications between jailers and inmates are supposed to continue without ceasing. The following are among the reasons continuous communications are vital:

  • Jailers are easily able to listen in on conversations in jail cells. This type of monitoring can prevent planned acts of violence against jailers and fellow inmates.
  • In emergency situations, it is vital for everyone concerned to be able to receive perfectly intelligible, clearly audible announcements from the jailers.
  • If an emergency arises inside jail cells, inmates can use the two-way communications system to make outcries for help.

How Can a Lack of Two-Way Communications Do Harm to Inmates?

The inability of detainees to communicate with jailers can create any number of dire situations. The constant monitoring of inmates is a mainstay of TCJS requirements in Texas jails, the same as in prisons. An interruption in communications puts the protection and security of officers and inmates at risk.

Two months before Swisher County Jail was cited in December 2021 for failing to ensure two-way communications, one of the detainees there was found unresponsive in his cell. He was still breathing and had a pulse. Emergency medical services (EMS) transported the 55-year-old man to a nearby hospital. The man was discovered to have no brain activity, and the initial prognosis was diabetic ketoacidosis and issues related to his liver. He was pronounced deceased at the hospital. The results of the autopsy showed that the initial prognosis was correct.

Although there is no mention that the December jail inspection was a special inspection and follow-up to the custodial death, it is conceivable to think that a lack of two-way communications may have affected the deceased. In general, death from diabetic ketoacidosis is unlikely unless the deceased failed to receive necessary medical attention in a timely manner.

Contact the Law Offices of Dean Malone for Help with Jail Neglect Cases

Don’t hesitate to seek legal assistance if you or a loved one is possibly a victim of jail neglect. At the Law Offices of Dean Malone, we have an experienced team working with families whose loved one has died while in the custody of a Texas jail and jail neglect is believed to have contributed to their death. We would also like any former Texas jail inmates to contact us if they are suffering serious life issues as a result of jail neglect or abuse.

Reach out to us today to schedule your free case review via phone, text, or our online form. We are available 24/7.

author avatar
smchugh

TCJS Again Cites Liberty County Jail for Violations

iStock 174820656

Liberty County Jail in Texas is currently listed three times as a non-compliant jail on the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) website. The latest non-compliance correspondence was issued on June 5, 2024. Following a June 3 and 4 jail inspection, TCJS inspectors allege that Liberty County Jail has violated seven minimum jail standards. That doesn’t include the five others named in the outstanding non-compliance reports, which were issued on January 3, 2024, and August 7, 2023.

Liberty County Jail’s address is 2400 Beaumont Ave, Liberty, TX 77575. The jail has a housing capacity of approximately 285 inmates.

Liberty County is Found Non-Compliant in Connection with a Detainee’s Death

In the notice of non-compliance issued to Liberty County Jail on August 7, 2023, reference is made to two custodial deaths that had happened in previous years. One of the deaths occurred in September 2021 and the other in November 2022. The TCJS inspectors noted the following:

  • Documentation related to the 2021 custodial death was reviewed, and it was discovered that the inmate had been prescribed medications beginning on July 14, 2021. However, only the August 2021 records regarding the administration of medication were provided. In connection with the November 2022 death at Liberty County Jail, the documents related to the medication he was prescribed while incarcerated were incomplete.

The custodial death report (CDR) about the September 2021 inmate death reveals heart-wrenching details. The 47-year-old man was discovered to be in dire need of medical help at about 11:25 p.m. on September 29. He was conscious but groaning, clinching, and saying “ow,” as in “ouch” occasionally.

Jailers placed him in a wheelchair, and he was taken to the booking area of the jail to await emergency medical services (EMS). While there, the detainee kept getting on the floor. The jailers finally placed a mattress on the floor for him until the ambulance arrived. He was transported to a medical facility and died less than 3 hours after having been discovered in a desperate condition.

Is Jail Medical Neglect Common in County Jails?

After custodial deaths have occurred in county jails, details suggesting that an inmate was possibly a victim of jail medical neglect sometimes emerge. For example, in January 2024 news, an inmate in a Texas county jail died hours after a medical technician had passed his cell without offering him his prescription medication per a physician’s instructions.

The Law Offices of Dean Malone Can Help with Jail Neglect Cases

Are you looking for legal assistance because you suspect that a loved one who died in jail was a victim of jail neglect? Or were you previously detained in a county or municipal jail in Texas and suffered a life-altering injury due to jail medical neglect or abuse? It is beneficial when the legal help you receive has years of experience in the area of law your case pertains to.

The Law Offices of Dean Malone have held a longstanding commitment to help with jail neglect cases, jail deaths, and inmate abuse. Contact us as soon as possible for your free case review. Reach out via phone, text, or our online form any time of the day or night.

author avatar
smchugh
MENU