Two inmates at the Dallas County jail died in August, according to reports from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department.
County Judge Clay Jenkins has described the situation at the county jail as a “mess.” The facility recently hit 97% capacity, as reported by The Dallas Express. Officials are blaming the overcrowded jail on dysfunctional case management software.
The sheriff’s department filed records with the Texas Office of the Attorney General on August 25, revealing that two inmates died during the month of August, according to a report from The Dallas Morning News.
Claude Joiner, a 66-year-old inmate, died of liver cancer on August 7. He was taken to Parkland Memorial Hospital on July 27. Joiner was arrested on June 21 for violating his probation/parole.
Inmate Charles Thomas, 41, died two days later on August 9. First responders arrived at his cell half an hour after guards found him unresponsive. Thomas was pronounced dead at the scene, but his cause of death is currently unknown, pending autopsy results.
Thomas had been arrested on May 31 on charges of assaulting an officer, unauthorized vehicle use, and criminal mischief valued between $50 and $500.
The Dallas Express contacted the sheriff’s department for more information but received no response by press time.
The jail has reported a total of nine inmate deaths in 2023. Department spokesperson Jasmyn Carter told the DMN that none of the deaths have been heat-related.
The Texas Jail Standards Commission is reviewing the two deaths to determine if any administrative rules were violated. Executive Director Brandon Wood said inmate deaths must be reported to the commission within 24 hours.
Criminal Injustice Director Dustin Rynder of the Texas Civil Rights Project told the DMN that the Dallas County jail has a high number of deaths relative to its population.
“That is a staggering number for a county the size of Dallas,” he said, explaining that even if an inmate’s cause of death is listed as a natural cause, other factors like jail conditions and health care access could have played a role.
“We’re dealing with an individual who hasn’t been convicted of anything, and they spent the end of their lives separated from their family, their community,” he said, adding that mental health could also be a contributing factor. “In every case, it’s tragic.”
In addition to the ongoing woes of the county jail, the county payroll system and juvenile department are also in a state of chaos. These issues were acknowledged last week by County Judge Clay Jenkins, as reported by The Dallas Express.