In recent years, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office and the Houston Police Department have improved the way their officers deal with situations involving individuals with mental illness. We have refined and increased training on mental health issues. We have reformed our policies to ensure that we are better prepared to properly handle these encounters.
For its role in the implementation of the Chronic Consumer Stabilization Initiative, designed to help the chronic mentally ill . . . .

The investigation of an inmate at Webb County Jail leads to the arrests of two correctional officers. Esteban Paez, Sr. and Enrique Villarreal turned themselves in to authorities following a custodial death investigation earlier this month. A joint investigation with the Webb County Sheriff’s office and Texas Rangers revealed the two didn’t follow procedures. Inmate Charlie

Do killer jails exist in the great state of Texas today? If so, where?
If you talk to someone who’s been in the Gregg County Jail, they might say that jail is one because they will not help you if you are in withdrawal from either legally prescribed medication or a drug you’re addicted to.

Gregg County, May 10, 2011 From the Family of Amy Lynn Cowling: We wanted to thank you and Texas Jail Project for all the help, support, information and peace of mind you have brought to our family. There is not enough words or praise to express how much we appreciate everything you have done and

This Texas Tribune story was about a bill that will require jails to report the turnover of their staff…so that jails with high turnover of guards and jailers, like Gregg County, where Amy Lynn Cowling died this past Christmas, will be more closely monitored. Jails like this are more likely to have escapes, sexual trafficking

by Jorge Antonio Renaud “Why should we let you in?” I’m at a Sonic Drive-In, speaking with a woman charged with educational/recreational programming for the Del Valle Correctional Complex, a fancy name for a county jail in Austin, Texas. A guy who recently began venturing into the jail to teach creative writing has asked me

A preliminary report reveals shocking treatment of Amy; Robyn Claridy’s excellent story begins with these 2 chilling paragraphs: A Gregg County inmate found unresponsive in a jail separation cell was discovered kneeling in a praying position beside her bed before being removed and declared dead a short time later. Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, of Gilmer

By John Labus, 740 KTRH, Wednesday, November 17, 2010      A recent analysis suggests the number of illness-related deaths in county jails in Texas is close to the number of deaths in state prisons. Brandon Wood, an assistant director with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards says jail populations are more transient, bringing more

SAN MARCOS — Torrey Lamar Smith had fallen behind on paying fines related to a 2006 felony, and on Dec. 2, 2008, after officials issued a warrant for his arrest, Smith turned himself in at the Hays County Jail . He would never check out of the jail. Five days later, the 31-year-old father of

Forced to Give Birth in Taylor County Jail CellPress Release from Taylor County Juvenile Justice Center Abilene, Texas, November 1, 2010: The Honorable Sam R. Cummings, an Article III federal judge, refused to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Lance Hunter Voorhees, a former volunteer chaplain for the Taylor County Detention Center. Sheriff Bruce’s challenge of