Inmate Tavaris Jones, 36, Died In Suspected Homicide At Texas Department of Of Justice Montford Unit Jail
LUBBOCK, TEXAS (January 14, 2024) - A 36-year-old inmate identified as Tavaris Jones has tragically died in a suspected attack while staying at the Texas Department of Justice Montford Unit.
TDCJ Montford Unit officials are saying that the incident took place before 1:00 a.m. on Friday. Correctional officers noticed that Tavaris Jones had injuries consistent with physical assault.
Life-saving measures were taken in order to save the victim. But Tavaris Jones was later pronounced dead. His cellmate as been identified as a potential assailant.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For TDCJ Montford Unit Inmate Deaths
Homicides in state prisons have gone down, but violence throughout jails still remains commonplace. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “State prison homicide rates dipped sharply from 1980 (54 per 100,000) to 1990 (8 per 100,000). By 2002 prison homicide rates had declined further, down to 4 per 100,000. Homicide rates in local jails were more stable, declining slightly from 5 per 100,000 in 1983 to 3 per 100,000 in 2002.” There are a number of steps that jails should take in order to prevent inmate homicides.
- Jails should typically segregate inmates with a history of violence away from non-violent offenders.
- Jails should be adequately staffed.
- Jail staff should be trained in conflict resolution.
- Jails should do everything within reason to prevent inmates from gaining access to weapons.
Jails have a legal obligation to protect inmates from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting them from violence at the hands of other inmates. when jail officials have specific knowledge of particular threats, they must act to protect the inmate at risk. Failure to do so could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are many ways that a jail may have contributed to any inmate homicide.
- A jail may have failed to properly monitor inmates.
- A jail may have failed to listen to inmates who shared concerns.
- A jail may have been understaffed.
- A jail may have failed to take reasonable steps to prevent inmates from gaining access to weapons.
Homicides within any jail are often highly preventable. They are much more likely to occur at jails that are overcrowded. When a jail is overcrowded, this can cause inmates to fight over limited resources and space. 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 all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating TDCJ Montford Unit Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Tavaris Jones. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies and make TDCJ Montford Unit safer.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed while staying at a TDCJ Montford Unit jail? There are a number of laws designed to protect your rights. Our team of civil rights advocates are here to get you the support and information that you are entitled to. 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.