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Texas County Jail, Beset by Prisoner Deaths, has Highest Suicide Rate
A wrongful death suit filed by the parents of a 30-year-old Bexar County, Texas jail prisoner who died of a methadone overdose while in solitary confinement at the lock-up settled in February 2015 for $200,000, and a guard responsible for conducting cell checks at the time of the prisoner’s death ...
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More from this issue:
- New York City Pays $41 Million for Wrongful Convictions in Central Park Jogger Rape Case, by Derek Gilna
- Widespread Corruption in L.A. County Jails Leads to Federal Investigation, Indictments, by David Reutter
- Wrongfully Convicted Members of “Beatrice Six” Entitled to Compensation Despite False Confessions; Eighth Circuit Reinstates Lawsuit, by Lonnie Burton
- Federal Jury Awards $950,000 to Prisoners Beaten at L.A. County Jail, by Derek Gilna
- Report Highlights Continuing Problems with Florida Department of Corrections, by Derek Gilna
- Federal Judge Refuses to Dismiss Suit Filed by Widow of Workplace-Harassed Prison Guard, by Derek Gilna
- Former Prisoner Appointed to New York City Board of Correction, by Gary Hunter
- Exonerated Illinois Man Receives $7.6 Million Settlement, by David Reutter
- Third Circuit Reverses Dismissal of Federal Prisoner’s Eighth Amendment Suit, by Derek Gilna
- Settlement, Judgment End Postcard-only Policies at Two Kansas Jails, by David Reutter
- Iowa Prisoner May Have Restitution Deductions from Prison Wages Increased
- $250,000 Settlement in Ohio Detainee’s Jail Suicide , by David Reutter
- Prison Populations Worldwide, by Jessica Jacobson
- Tennessee: Theft, Misconduct Charges Pending Against Former Jail Supervisor, Son, by David Reutter
- Jury Awards $40,000 to Transgender Prisoner Raped at Florida Jail
- Federal Prisoner Wins $300,000 Judgment on Medical Negligence Claim, by Derek Gilna
- $1,001 Default Judgment in Michigan - Prisoner’s Retaliation Suit
- Eleventh Circuit: Expiration of Preliminary Injunction Moots Appeal, by David Reutter
- Justice Department Report: Homicide Rate at Lowest Level Since 1963, by Derek Gilna
- Arkansas Prisoner Prevails in Excessive Force Case, by David Reutter
- Former California Jail Psychiatrist Placed on Probation, by Derek Gilna
- Supreme Court: Retroactivity Ends Mandatory Juvenile LWOP Sentences, by Derek Gilna
- Judge Orders Ohio County to Cap Jail Population, Release Prisoners, by Joe Watson
- Last Member of “Angola 3” Released from Louisiana Prison after 44 Years, by David Reutter
- Guidelines Issued to Safeguard Rights of Pregnant Canadian Prisoners and their Children, by Derek Gilna
- Settlement Reached in California Psychiatric Disabilities Class-action Suit, by Matthew Clarke
- D.C. Appellate Court Reverses $2.3 Million Wrongful Imprisonment Award, by Derek Gilna
- PLN Obtains Confidential CCA Litigation Records in Tennessee, by David Reutter
- Settlements in St. Louis Jail Detainee’s Heroin Withdrawal Death, by David Reutter
- Texas County Jail, Beset by Prisoner Deaths, has Highest Suicide Rate, by Matthew Clarke
- New Michigan Law Requires Sex Offenders to Pay $50 Annual Fee; Court Challenge Fails, by Derek Gilna
- Prison Supply Chains Reveal Some Surprises , by Adeshina Emmanuel
- Tennessee: Federal Court Orders Interim Medical Care in Prisoner’s Pro Se Suit
- Sexual Harassment, Abuse Alleged at Oklahoma Halfway House for Women, by Joe Watson
- $65,000 Settlement Plus Fees and Costs in New York City Jail Assault Suit
- Kansas Sex Offender Civil Commitment Program Under Scrutiny, by Matthew Clarke
- New Mexico Corrections Department Bans Prisoner Social Media, Pen Pal Postings, by Mark Wilson
- Reproductive Health Care in Women’s Prisons “Painful” and “Traumatic”, by Victoria Law
- Prison Policy Initiative Releases Report on Email Services for Prisoners, by Derek Gilna
- Professor Urges Study of Unintended Consequences of Court-ordered Prison Reform, by Derek Gilna
- U.S. Court of Claims Awards Federal Prisoner $172,465.75 for Wrongful Conviction , by Derek Gilna
- Prison Ecology and the Water Crisis in Flint, Michigan, by Panagioti Tsolkas
- Oklahoma DOC, Sheriffs Challenge FCC’s Prison Phone Reforms, by Carrie Wilkinson
- Mississippi: More Contraband Found at Private Prisons
- Suicides, Poor Conditions at D.C. Jail Remain Critical Issues Despite Progress, by Derek Gilna
- From the Editor, by Paul Wright
- News in Brief
More from Matthew Clarke:
- Texas Social Workers Challenge Blanket Denial of State Occupational License Based on Youthful Assault Convictions, Aug. 1, 2025
- After Judge’s Letter, at Least 22 Former FCI Dublin Prisoners Granted Compassionate Release, Aug. 1, 2025
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Award of Time Served Credit for Non-Citizen Awaiting Extradition, Aug. 1, 2025
- Former Oregon Prison Guard Sergeant Sentenced for Sexually Abusing Imprisoned Women, Aug. 1, 2025
- Nebraska Supreme Court Clarifies Procedure for Crediting Jail Time to Multiple Contemporaneously-Imposed Sentences, Aug. 1, 2025
- Over One-Third of Older Texas Prisoners Suffering Cognitive Impairment, July 15, 2025
- Kansas Supreme Court Revives Prisoner’s Challenge to Loss of Parental Rights, June 1, 2025
- Fifth Circuit Reinstates Baha’i Texas Prisoner’s Dietary Claim, June 1, 2025
- $5.6 Million Settlement for California Prisoner’s Wife Strip-searched During Visit, June 1, 2025
- Academic Study of Prison Guards’ Use of Excessive Force Details Sad State of Civil Rights for Abused Prisoners, June 1, 2025
More from these topics:
- Help Wanted: 31,000 Prison Guard Jobs Open Nationwide, Sept. 1, 2025. Conditions of Confinement, Failure to Protect (General), Staffing, Exercise, Lockdowns, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Guards/Staff, Staff Training.
- Now Under Federal Receivership, New York City’s Rikers Island Jails Still Have No Plan to Improve, No Firm Date to Close, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, DOC/BOP misconduct, Jail Misconduct, Corrections Audits, Systemic Medical Neglect, Medical Records, Eighth Amendment.
- Fifth Circuit Greenlights Federal Takeover of Mississippi Jail, Aug. 1, 2025. Sexual Assault, Failure to Protect (General), Eighth Amendment, Staffing, Stun Guns/Tasers.
- Suit Filed Over Fatal Beating of New York Prisoner That Sparked Massive Guard Strike, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Failure to Treat, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Restraints, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death), Excessive Force (Wrongful Death).
- Tenth Circuit Ruling Paves Way for $2.7 Million Settlement for Intellectually Disabled Jail Detainee Raped by Sheriff, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Jail Misconduct, Americans with Disabilities Act.
- News in Brief, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Private Prisons, Misconduct/Corruption, Guard Misconduct, Systemic Medical Neglect, Male Reproductive, Malpractice, Escapes, Guard Brutality/Beatings, Stun Guns/Tasers, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Restraints, Excessive Force (Wrongful Death), Juvenile Prisons, Bureau of Prisons (BOP), Bribery/Extortion/Theft.
- DOJ Finds Unconstitutional Conditions in Texas Juvenile Detention, Aug. 1, 2025. Staff-Prisoner Assault, Retaliation for Filing Grievances, Pepper Spray/Tear Gas, Sentencing, Control Units/SHU/Solitary Confinement, Failure to Protect (Juveniles), Juvenile Prisons.
- $2.6 Million Paid for Detoxing Washington Jail Detainee Allowed to Leap to His Death, Additional NaphCare Payout Undisclosed, Aug. 1, 2025. Drug/Alcohol Withdrawal, Failure to Treat, Failure to Protect (Wrongful Death).
- CDCR Held in Contempt, Fined $112 Million in Longstanding Litigation Over Mental Health Care, Aug. 1, 2025. Staffing, Mental Health, Failure to Treat (Mental Illness), Suicides.
- Former Maine Prison Guard Arrested and Detained by ICE Agents, Aug. 1, 2025. Guard Misconduct, Guards/Staff, Immigration Law/Offenses.

