Inmate Ricky Bailey, of Lott, Died Following Medical Emergency At Falls County Jail
FALLS COUNTY, TEXAS (January 13, 2024) - An inmate identified as Ricky Bailey has tragically died following a medical emergency at a Falls County jail.
Falls County Sheriff’s Department officials are saying that the incident began around 12:20 a.m. on Monday. Ricky Bailey told jail officials that he was having trouble breathing.
He was taken to Falls County hospital in order to receive treatment. Despite life-saving measures by emergency room doctors and nurses, Ricky Bailey was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Falls County Inmate Deaths
Inmates are exposed to a variety of hazards during their stay. Many of these hazards can manifest in poor respiratory health outcomes for inmate populations. According to BMC Pulmonary Medicine, “Prisoners in low- and middle-income countries are vulnerable to poor lung health from multiple adverse conditions confronted within the prison such as overcrowding, poor ventilation and exposure to second hand smoke.” There are a number of steps that jails should take in order to protect inmates from respiratory distress.
- Jails should be adequately staffed.
- Jails should do everything in their power to avoid overcrowding.
- Jails should conduct health screenings on all of the inmates in their care.
- Jails should install adequate ventilation in living spaces in order to reduce airborne contaminants.
All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with adequate healthcare for all of their medical conditions. Some inmates may only need occasional checkups, while others may need care for pre-existing health conditions. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of the inmates in their care, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any inmate death.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- An independent autopsy may need to be performed.
- A civil rights attorney should be contacted.
Deaths in county jails are rarely ever the result of the negligence of a single individual. It is far more common that they are caused by faulty systems and procedures within any jail system. Overcrowding, in particular, can put an enormous strain on the quality of care that all inmates receive. The family of any person that died in a county jail may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if any death was due to jail medical neglect.
Investigating Falls County Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ricky Bailey. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. State officials need to do their part and implement greater oversight of this jail so that similar tragedies can be prevented.
Do you need more information about a Falls County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to get you the resources and support that you need. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their negligent actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.