3 More Deaths at Harris County Jail Bring Total to 10 in 2024
Three people have died while in custody at the Harris County Jail in December, bringing the total number of in-custody deaths in 2024 to 10. This is the lowest number of reported deaths in years.
### A Look at the Recent Deaths
Byron Burton, 62
Byron Burton, 62, was booked into the jail on November 15 after being charged with theft. On December 4, he suffered from an “apparent medical emergency” and was found motionless on the floor of his cell. He was pronounced dead at 10:17 a.m. after being brought to the facility’s clinic.
Cerdarian Oneal-Thompson, 31
Cerdarian Oneal-Thompson, 31, was brought into the jail on November 4 after being charged with murder. He suffered from a medical emergency about a month later and was taken to Ben Taub Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on December 9 at 7:40 a.m.
Anthony Thomas, 65
Anthony Thomas, 65, died in the jail’s clinic on December 28 after experiencing a medical emergency in his cell. He had been in custody for 220 days, having been booked in May on an aggravated assault charge.
### Investigation and Autopsies
The three recent deaths are under investigation by the Houston Police Department. Autopsies are being conducted by the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences.
### Challenges at the Harris County Jail
The Harris County Jail continues to face persistent challenges, including staffing shortages, understaffing, and a high population of prisoners with mental health needs. In fact, 79% of the jail’s current population has a mental health indicator, according to the county’s jail dashboard.
### Efforts to Address the Issues
In response, county officials have spent about $50 million per year to send prisoners to facilities outside of Harris County, including three private prisons outside of Texas. As of Sunday, nearly 1,600 Harris County prisoners were being outsourced. The county has also increased salaries for Harris County detention officers in an effort to recruit and retain more detention officers. There are currently 77 vacancies within the jail, a significant reduction compared to the number of job openings that lingered at the jail about a year ago.
### Conclusion
The recent deaths at the Harris County Jail are a sobering reminder of the challenges facing the facility. While the number of in-custody deaths has decreased, it’s clear that more needs to be done to address the persistent issues facing the jail. By increasing staffing and addressing the mental health needs of prisoners, the county can work towards creating a safer and more humane environment for those in its care.
