Inmate Robert Broussard Jr (Full Name: Robert Wayne Broussard Jr) Died In Custody At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Smith Unit In Huntsville
DAWSON COUNTY, TEXAS (December 7, 2023) - A 44-year-old inmate identified as Robert Broussard Jr has tragically died following a medical emergency at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Huntsville.
Dawson County officials are saying that the death took place around 6:57 p.m. on December 4. Correctional officers noticed that Robert Broussard Jr was in some type of medical distress.
Jail staff began life-saving measures and paramedics were called to the scene. Despite those efforts, Robert Broussard Jr was later pronounced dead by medical staff.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Huntsville Inmate Deaths
Prisons can be difficult and violent places, even in the best of circumstances. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “thousands die in custody, largely from a major or unnamed illness – but also reveal that an increasing share of deaths are from discrete unnatural causes, like suicide, homicide, and drug and alcohol intoxication.” An increasing number of these deaths involve inmates who are quite young. Jail deaths are largely preventable when the right safety procedures are in place.
- Jail staff should receive comprehensive training on dealing with medical emergencies, suicide prevention and conflict resolution.
- Jails should conduct thorough health assessments during the intake process to identify any pre-existing medical conditions.
- Jails should establish clear policies and guidelines related to inmate supervision.
- Jail facilities should be regularly inspected to ensure that they are compliant with all laws.
All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with adequate care for their medical conditions. This begins when an inmate is first admitted. They should get a thorough health screening. In many situations, small health issues can become large health issues when they are not treated quickly. This is particularly true for drug overdoses and withdrawal. There are many ways that a jail may have contributed to any inmate’s death.
- Jail officials may have failed to perform regular welfare checks on an inmate.
- Jail officials may not have given an inmate adequate mental healthcare.
- Jail officials may not have followed the instructions of doctors or nurses.
It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any inmate death. At the end of the day, evidence is what will ultimately paint a clear picture of what happened and how any death took place. It will also reveal if jail officials acted properly in trying to prevent any in-custody death. The family of any person that died in a county jail may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Huntsville Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Robert Broussard Jr. Any person that may have more information about what happened should contact investigators. There needs to be transparency about what happened so that similar tragedies can be averted.
Do you need more information about a Dawson County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help you. We are committed to holding jails accountable for their neglect and abused. 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.