Inmate who attempted to hang self stable, staff undergo training for suicide prevention

[Disir]

Staff at Smith County Jail and others across East Texas saw their training put to the test when an inmate at the jail attempted to hang himself on the same day representatives from the Texas Commission on Jail Standards were in town teaching staff about suicide prevention.

The 34-year-old male inmate from Lindale was rushed to the hospital about 7 p.m. Tuesday night and remained in a Tyler hospital Wednesday, where he was upgraded to stable condition, while jail staff continued their two-day training at the jail.

Smith said an investigation into the incident so far has revealed the man hanged himself using a T-shirt, not with a towel as staff first believed. The man was found by jailers about 7 p.m. Tuesday during a routine check, which are required by the the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to be conducted every 30 minutes, regardless of the inmate's mental state.


The jail was cited for failing to make a cell check on time for a 24-year-old man who was found hanging in his cell May 16, 2015.

Jails found in violation can face fines and jailers can be disciplined for failing to perform the routine checks.

“They did everything right,” Smith said. “They did their checks within 30 minutes, and thank God, they were able to see him in there hanging and take immediate action and cut him down. “


Smith said the inmate was being held in a separation cell located in the original portion of the jail, because jailers felt he could be a danger to others, Smith said. Medical personnel had seen the inmate at 3 p.m. Tuesday and did not believe him to be suicidal. The inmate had been in the separation cell for about two days.
Tyler Morning Telegraph - Inmate who attempted to hang self stable, staff undergo training for suicide prevention

I'd say that's pretty timely.

 

[The Great Goose]

I'd have to kill myself if I had to go to prison. I just couldn't be bothred.

 

[Auld Phart]

Working segregation, we would do a check 15 minutes before shift change, and oncoming shift would check as soon as they got squared away.

between the time of the last check, and the oncoming check, within the period of 18 months, 3 inmates hung themselves with their bedsheets.

 

[Disir]

CO?

 

[Jarlaxle]

Any inmate that wants to commit suicide should be given means to do so and detailed instructions.