Inmate Frank Murray, 24, Died After Being Found Unresponsive At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Robertson Unit In Abilene
JONES COUNTY, TEXAS (December 21, 2023) - A 24-year-old man identified as Frank Murray has tragically died at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Robertson Unit in Abilene.
Jones County officials are saying that the incident was first reported on December 20. Correctional officers noticed that Frank Murray was unresponsive in his jail cell.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Frank Murray was taken to the jail infirmary, but he could not be revived.
He was later pronounced dead. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Jones County Inmate Deaths
Thousands of inmates die in-custody each year in the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Between 2001 and 2004, State prison authorities nationwide reported a total of 12,129 State prisoner deaths to the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP).* Nearly 9 in 10 of these deaths (89%) were attributed to medical conditions. Fewer than 1 in 10 were the result of suicide (6%) and homicide (2%), while alcohol/drug intoxication and accidental injury accounted for another 1% each.” Among state prisoner deaths in the United States:
- Half of inmate deaths were the result of heart diseases and cancer.
- Two-thirds involved inmates age 45 and older.
- Two-thirds of deaths were the result of medical problems present at their admission.
- 40% of inmate deaths occurred in five states (Texas, California, Florida, New York, and Pennsylvania)
A jail or private healthcare provider could face civil liability if an inmate in their care dies. It is common for jails to outsource healthcare to private corporations. These corporations aren’t always concerned with providing the best care possible. In many situations, they make money by denying inmates proper care. When a jail or private healthcare provider is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are many common causes of inmate deaths.
- Heart attacks
- Cancer
- Liver disease
- Respiratory illnesses
- Drug overdoses
Many inmate deaths are preventable and due to sub-standard medical care. This is particularly true when an inmate has a pre-existing medical condition. In a number of situations, an inmate will be unfit for incarceration and require medical assistance. But they will be put into a cell all the same. The family of any person that died in a Jones County jail may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Jones County Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Frank Murray. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Jones County inmate death? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to holding jails accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.