Garland Jail Death Sparks Discussion On Inmate Health Care

GARLAND, Texas - A male inmate at a North Texas jail was found unconscious and unresponsive on August 10th, 2 days after being booked into the facility.

The inmate complained he wasn't feeling well on August 9th, leading to a hospital visit. He was looked over by medical staff and sent back to the facility. The following day, jail staff discovered him and took him to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

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According to records, the inmate was booked on August 8th on complaints that he possessed between 4 and 200 grams of fentanyl, as well as tampering with evidence. The investigation into the inmate's death is ongoing, and at this point, there aren't any further details available.

What Happened?

We are left to speculate at this point as to what happened to the inmate. I only hope he didn't die from withdrawal. Fentanyl withdrawal is agonizing and can be deadly. Texas corrections aren't the most sensitive when it comes to prisoners going through withdrawals, and to be quite frank, neither are Texas hospitals. One can only pray their loved one is taken seriously when they complain of an ailment while spending time in jail or prison in Texas.

My brother spent 20 years behind bars, and I've heard some very unsettling things over the years about the conditions in Texas prisons for inmates. Hopefully, this has nothing to do with a lack of caring. I will continue to have my doubts until the investigation is complete.