A Family’s Quest for Justice
A lawsuit has been filed against Harris County and Sheriff Ed Gonzalez regarding the death of 29-year-old Jaleen Anderson, an inmate who was outsourced to a private Louisiana jail facility. The lawsuit claims that Anderson received inadequate medical care, which led to his death.
The Incident
Anderson was arrested on a low-level drug possession charge and was sent to the LaSalle Correctional Center in Louisiana. About a week after his arrival, he suffered from a series of seizures. The lawsuit alleges that the facility’s warden did not attempt to alert doctors after Anderson’s first seizure and instead moved him to the bathroom for a shower and returned him to his bunk. Anderson suffered at least four more seizures the next day, and a facility nurse told guards that they wouldn’t send an inmate to the hospital for a seizure.
The Lawsuit
The lawsuit claims that about an hour later, Anderson suffered another seizure and began to convulse, vomit, and lose consciousness. Emergency medical personnel pronounced him dead 40 minutes later. The lawsuit was filed under the Monell doctrine, which allows victims to sue local government entities for constitutional violations.
Response from Harris County and Sheriff Gonzalez
Lawyers for Harris County and Sheriff Gonzalez have filed a response to the lawsuit, arguing that they bear no responsibility for Anderson’s death. They claim that the county’s responsibility in Anderson’s outsourcing to LaSalle didn’t violate his constitutional rights. The response also argues that Anderson’s lawyers couldn’t state a plausible claim against Gonzalez or protections granted to him through qualified immunity.
Qualified Immunity
Qualified immunity is a doctrine that protects government officials from personal liability in lawsuits. The response from Harris County and Sheriff Gonzalez argues that Gonzalez is protected by qualified immunity and that the lawsuit against him should be dismissed.
Accountability and Oversight
The issue of outsourcing inmates to private facilities raises questions about accountability and oversight. The Texas Attorney General’s Office maintains a database of in-custody deaths, but Anderson’s death was not logged in the state’s database. The responsibility of reporting outsourced inmates’ deaths would fall on the sheriff’s office.
Conclusion
The case of Jaleen Anderson highlights the need for greater accountability and oversight in the outsourcing of inmates to private facilities. The lawsuit against Harris County and Sheriff Gonzalez is ongoing, and the family of Anderson is seeking justice for his death. As the case moves forward, it will be important to consider the implications of outsourcing inmates and the need for adequate medical care and oversight in these facilities. The Harris County Jail has repeatedly failed state safety inspections, and the county has invested millions of dollars into outsourcing detainees to private facilities outside of Harris County. The case of Jaleen Anderson serves as a reminder of the need for greater accountability and oversight in the criminal justice system.
