Harris County Jail Fails State Safety Inspection After Recent Death
The Harris County Jail in downtown Houston, Texas, has failed yet another state safety inspection. This comes after a recent in-custody death was tied to a lapse in observational rounds. The inspection was conducted by the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) and found that "face-to-face observations had not been conducted as required" in connection to the recent death.
The inspection was conducted in response to a self-report by Harris County Jail officials, who identified a lapse in observations. The TCJS letter stated that a review of video provided revealed that while observation rounds were conducted within the timeframe mandated by minimum standards, face-to-face observations had not been completed as required.
This is not the first time the Harris County Jail has failed a state safety inspection. In 2022, the jail was found to have failed to search a prisoner’s wheelchair when he was booked in October, allowing him to smuggle a loaded handgun into the facility. The gun was inside the jail for more than a month before it was confiscated by authorities. The incident led to policy changes at the jail, including the ban on personal wheelchairs and other personal mobility aids.
The latest deaths at the jail bring the 2024 in-custody death toll to 10, a decrease from 2023 when at least 19 people died at the jail. In 2022, at least 27 people lost their lives at the jail, the highest number in nearly two decades, according to county records and data from the Texas Justice Initiative.
According to state law, detention officers are required to check on prisoners once per hour, and once every half-hour for those "known to be assaultive, potentially suicidal, mentally ill, or who have demonstrated bizarre behavior are confined."
Failures and Concerns
- The jail has failed to conduct face-to-face observations as required, leading to a recent in-custody death.
- The jail has failed to search a prisoner’s wheelchair, allowing a loaded handgun to be smuggled into the facility.
- The jail has banned personal wheelchairs and other personal mobility aids inside the facility.
- The 2022 in-custody death toll was the highest in nearly two decades.
- The 2023 in-custody death toll was the second-highest in nearly two decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS)?
A: The TCJS is the state agency responsible for inspecting and regulating jails in Texas.
Q: What is the purpose of the inspection?
A: The purpose of the inspection is to ensure that jails in Texas are meeting minimum safety and security standards.
Q: What are the findings of the inspection?
A: The inspection found that the Harris County Jail failed to conduct face-to-face observations as required, leading to a recent in-custody death.
Q: What are the consequences of the failure?
A: The failure to conduct face-to-face observations as required may have contributed to the recent in-custody death. The jail may face fines or penalties for non-compliance with state standards.
Q: What is the current in-custody death toll at the Harris County Jail?
A: As of 2024, the in-custody death toll at the Harris County Jail is 10, a decrease from 2023 when at least 19 people died at the jail.
Q: What is the purpose of the ban on personal wheelchairs and other personal mobility aids?
A: The ban is intended to prevent the smuggling of contraband into the facility.
Q: What is the current policy on searching prisoners’ personal mobility aids?
A: The jail has banned personal wheelchairs and other personal mobility aids inside the facility.
