Inmate Death Marks Fourth in Harris County Jail This Year
A 23-year-old inmate awaiting his acceptance to a drug treatment facility died in the Harris County Jail this week, marking the fourth inmate death reported in the county this year.
Lucio Vasquez / Houston Public Media
A 23-year-old inmate awaiting his acceptance to a drug treatment facility died in the Harris County Jail this week, marking the fourth inmate death reported in the county this year.
Eric Jackson suffered a medical emergency in his cellblock at the Harris County Jail and was transported to the clinic, where he was pronounced dead just before 5:30 a.m. Monday, according to the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
“While the circumstances surrounding Jackson’s death will be the subject of multiple standard investigations, preliminary information indicates that he had no apparent significant injuries,” according to the sheriff’s office.
Jackson’s death was reported to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards. The Houston Police Department is investigating the circumstances of his death in accordance with state law. The sheriff’s office internal affairs division is investigating if policies and procedures were followed surrounding Jackson’s death.
An autopsy is being conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to determine the cause of his death, which comes after Harris County inmates Kristopher McGregor, Denaly Matute and Erik Carlson died while in custody this year.
RELATED: Another man has died in the Harris County Jail, marking its third death in 2025
Jackson was in jail on a felony charge of aggravated assault of a family member. His case was adjudicated Jan. 24 when he received deferred adjudication of guilt and was ordered to a drug treatment facility, according to the sheriff’s office. He had been in custody for 316 days.
Ten people reportedly died while in custody last year, according to information released by the sheriff’s office. That was a decrease from 2023, when 19 people died. Twenty-seven in-custody deaths were reported in 2022 — the highest number in nearly two decades, according to county records and data from the Texas Justice Initiative.
Persistent understaffing and other issues have led to a string of failed state safety inspections at the Harris County Jail. Last month, the Texas Commission on Jail Standards requested the Attorney General intervene to keep the jail in compliance with minimum state jail standards.
Inmate Deaths in Harris County Jail
Since the beginning of the year, four inmates have died in the Harris County Jail, including:
- Kristopher McGregor
- Denaly Matute
- Erik Carlson
- Eric Jackson
Why are there so many in-custody deaths in Harris County Jail?
The exact reasons behind the high number of in-custody deaths in the Harris County Jail are unclear, but several factors are being investigated, including:
- Persistent understaffing
- Inadequate medical care
- Lack of training for corrections officers
- Poor facility conditions
What is being done to address the issue?
The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has requested the Attorney General intervene to keep the jail in compliance with minimum state jail standards. The sheriff’s office is also conducting internal investigations into the deaths and has implemented new policies to improve safety and medical care within the facility.
