Inmate Alfred Rios, 66, Died Following Medical Emergency At Harris County Jail
HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS (September 21, 2023) - An inmate identified as Alfred Rios has died following a medical emergency at the Harris County Jail.
Harris County jail officials are saying that the incident took place on Saturday. Alfred Rios was in the dayroom of the medical ward when he experienced some type of medical emergency.
Medical staff began life-saving measures including CPR. Despite life-saving measures, Alfred Rios was pronounced dead around 1:35 p.m. that same day.
Family members said that the inmate was previously not able to speak after suffering from a stroke. Thus far, at least one dozen people have died in 2023 while staying at the Harris County Jail.
Liability For Inmate Deaths At The Harris County Jail
The Harris County Jail has a particularly poor track record with respect to its care for inmates. This has led to a series of lawsuits. According to the Texas Tribune, “The families of nine people who died in the Harris County Jail joined with 13 formerly incarcerated people Monday in suing Harris County, alleging the sheriff’s office repeatedly violated constitutional rights by creating a “place of torment and punishment.”” Among other things, many plaintiffs have alleged that they did not receive adequate medical care for their injuries. Many other problems have persisted at the jail.
- There have been complaints of overcrowding.
- There have been complaints of under staffing.
- There have been complaints inmates weren’t protected from unsafe conditions.
- There have been complaints correctional officers failed to prevent violent attacks.
Every inmate has a constitutional right to receive adequate medical care for their needs. The level of care that any inmate may require will depend largely on their unique health profile. Some inmates may need relatively little care while others may need treatment for chronic health conditions. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to their serious medical needs, this could form the basis of a civil claim. There are many ways that a jail may have failed to give an inmate proper care.
- A jail may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they required.
- A jail may have failed to treat an inmate’s ongoing illness.
- A jail may have failed to timely intervene in the event of a medical emergency.
Jails are supposed to be proactive about keeping inmate’s safe and healthy. But far too often, inmates are overseen by poorly trained staff. When they are seen for their medical needs, their healthcare providers tend to be more concerned about making money than providing constitutionally adequate care. The family of any inmate that dies in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a constitutional claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Inmate Deaths At The Harris County Jail
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Alfred Rios. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There have been so many deaths at the Harris County Jail. It is our sincere hope that greater awareness of what is happening will lead to lasting reform.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured while staying at the Harris County Jail? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping inmates understand their rights and holding jails accountable for their neglect. 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.