The Dallas County jail has once again come under scrutiny after failing a state inspection that was prompted by complaints regarding the treatment of incarcerated individuals.
Recently released findings from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards indicate that the jail was found noncompliant for holding two men in holding cells for approximately 60 hours each, exceeding the permissible limit of 48 hours.
While this issue was central to the noncompliance finding, the inspection report also highlighted concerns regarding one inmate not receiving his prescribed medication on two separate mornings.
The complaints that triggered the state inspection emerged in April and May, leading to an off-site examination of jail paperwork last month. This review was more limited compared to the comprehensive inspections conducted every two years.
The state informed Dallas County about its noncompliance status on July 30, and the findings became public this week.
One of the complaints discussed a woman’s observation that her loved one was “treated like a dog” while in the holding cell and mentioned that he was denied access to his electronic tablet, commissary items, and laundry services.
The jail’s track record with state inspections has been inconsistent, with previous noncompliance issues noted in 2018, 2021, and twice in 2022.
These past violations included failures to conduct regular observations of individuals at risk of suicide, not providing essential hygiene items, and discrepancies in documentation that did not align with video footage.
Sheriff Marian Brown clarified in an interview that the recent July 22 inspection was not a thorough compliance check but a focused review addressing two specific complaints.
Brown emphasized that the jail has reported to the jail standards commission the measures being undertaken to prevent similar incidents in the future.
“It is of the utmost importance for us to do what we say we’re going to do,” Brown asserted.
She also noted the extensive list of standards the jail must adhere to, acknowledging that any lapse can lead to noncompliance.
As of the latest data, the Dallas County jail housed 6,831 individuals, placing it at 96% capacity.
The jail remains on a noncompliance status pending further reviews and reinspections by the state, which could take up to two months to complete.
A specific incident cited involved a man who was kept in a holding cell for two and a half days without access to his medication due to a transfer between housing units.
Brown stated that the jail’s software system does not provide alerts when individuals exceed the maximum holding time, leading to the implementation of a new tracking log for the control center.
This log aims to monitor transfers accurately and is now shared with medical staff to ensure medication needs are met.
Insight into the circumstances surrounding the second individual who exceeded the holding time is still pending.
The sheriff emphasized, “We are always, always trying to make sure that we are doing the things that we are supposed to be doing.”
Brown reiterated the complexity of jail management, comparing it to a big wheel where each part must function properly to avoid compliance issues.
The jail’s history of failed inspections includes a narrow evaluation in 2018 related to the failure to conduct 30-minute observations of inmates who are suicidal, mentally ill, or otherwise behaving inappropriately.
In the 2021 inspection, the facility was deemed noncompliant for not providing hygiene products to indigent inmates and for not allowing individuals on suicide watch to shower for extended periods.
Many of the issues raised during these inspections were attributed to the challenges presented by COVID-19 protocols, despite the jail’s efforts toward innovation, such as implementing video family visits and adhering to daily case reporting.
The jail faced another inspection failure in February 2022 when inconsistencies were noted between observation logs and video footage, alongside failures to provide fresh clothing to inmates in crisis.
Additionally, a special inspection conducted later that year following a death revealed that jailers were not conducting their rounds according to state standards.
Despite two successful inspections in 2024, state officials noted areas still needing improvement.
An inspection earlier in the year highlighted that jailers failed to administer medications as prescribed in several instances, although inspectors determined it was not indicative of a systemic problem.
Ricky Armstrong, assistant director of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, commented that inspectors have discretion in their evaluations and often acknowledge noncompliance even if the issues are not severe or life-threatening.
During the July 22 inspection, the omission of medication for the inmate was classified as an isolated incident and did not count against the overall compliance status, raising concerns about the evaluation criteria used.
Krish Gundu, executive director of the Texas Jail Project, which advocates for the rights of incarcerated individuals, expressed alarm at the decision not to classify missed medications as critical.
She likened it to assisting someone with cheating on an examination, emphasizing the necessity of upholding minimum standards for those who are incarcerated.
Gundu criticized the state for enforcing only basic standards, arguing that minimum expectations should be met, especially in an environment that involves confining thousands of individuals.
“The least we want to do is follow minimum standards,” she asserted, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by the Dallas County jail.
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