Observations by a
Medical Needs Detainee
7/20/05
The U.S. constitution requires jailers and prison officials to provide pretrial detainees and prisoners with adequate medical and mental health care. 'Adequate' has been defined by the courts as "services at a level reasonably commensurate with modern medical science and of a quality acceptable within prudent professional standards, and at a level designed to meet routine and emergency medical, dental, psychological or psychiatric needs." Adequate health care is therefore supposed to be a right that is not substandard for those incarcerated.
But at the Dallas County Texas Jails (Decker Bldg, Susan K Bldg, New Holland, Government Center/George Allen Bldg. and Leu Sterrett's North & West Towers); the opposite is true, and aside from being grossly unconstitutional, the situation boarders on being criminally negligent.
Dallas Texas has the nations 7th largest jail system, and for two years in a row the jail has failed the inspection conducted by the Texas Commission on jail standards.
The jail has received much media attention because of its failures as noted by the Texas Commission on jail standards, and following an independent study conducted which focused on the array of problems at the county jail.
Thirty-eight (38) recommendations were made for improvements that needed to occur at the jail, particularly as it relates to the timely delivery of adequate medical and mental health care; starting with the jails intake process in discharge/release procedures. But to date, none of the recommendations made have been implemented by Dallas Sheriff Lupe Valdez. The Dallas County Commissioners have done a lot of finger pointing and political posturing, but they too have take a position of inaction on the recommendations necessary for improving the health care crisis at the jail.
Dallas County Commissioner Kenneth Mayfield has been quoted in the media as saying, "The Dallas County jail is a law suit waiting to happen." From my own personal insight and experiences I can honestly tell you that the Dallas County Jail is more like a death sentence in wait, and this is especially true for those prisoners and pre-trial detainees with chronic illnesses or mental health needs such as myself (epilepsy, asthma, bi-polar) which will ether be ignored, overlooked, mishandled and/or misdiagnosed by the jail's staff.
Something must be done immediately to remedy this accountability void, otherwise more families will lose their loved ones once they become trapped inside the maze that makes up the Dallas County jail system.
By
Lakeith Amir-Sharif
Big Springs State Hospital
432-268-7462
