prisoner health

Independent consultants cite delays and poor communication from the Department of Mental Health as people with serious mental illness wait in jail for treatment.

A settlement agreement to improve mental health services in Oklahoma county jails and resolve a major lawsuit against the state won final Senate approval.

Thirteen guards from a Texas prison have been fired or resigned after the beating of an inmate that left him hospitalized — likely for the rest of his life. Several eyewitnesses along with former staff said staffing and training issues are leading to more violence. TDCJ denied the incident was due to staffing or training.

Kiheem Grant attacked a guard, according to prison officials and was subsequently beaten so bad he has yet to wake up. His mother wants to know why. Thirteen were fired or resigned in the aftermath.

The price rise hit prisoners seeking bottled water as temperatures eclipse the 100 degree mark in unairconditioned facilities. The state vendor asked to raise the price and two state agencies signed off.

Advocacy groups say physical mail is an important part of contact between those behind bars and the outside world.

Since a heat wave gripped Texas, at least nine inmates, including two men in their 30s, have died of heart attacks or unknown causes in prisons lacking air conditioning. It’s been 11 years since the state last classified a death as heat-related.

Men at Gib Lewis Unit in East Texas are at times put in holding cells for days

After scheduling an interview with TPR, the state agency reversed itself and denied interview requests from TPR and others.

Texas Observer reporters found incidents of neglect, apathy and abuse that led to over 1,100 jail deaths since 2010.