Few details available on inmate’s death

Authorities are still not releasing the name of a young inmate who died last week at a facility in Limestone County, where he had been outsourced because of overcrowding at Hays County Jail.

The inmate, 20, died Nov. 8 in the Limestone County Detention Center, which is one of two (along with McClellan County) privately-run facilities Hays County contracts with for housing inmates.

According to Julissa Villalpando, a captain with the Hays County Sheriff’s Office, the inmate was in good health when he was transferred. A report by the Mexia News in Wednesday’s edition said that the man suffered a “medical incident” while in a dayroom at the facility.

It is also unknown what he was being held for at the time of his outsourcing, or how long he had been in Limestone County.

“Generally, we do not send inmates with serious medical conditions out of the county,” Villalpando said. “All inmates are cleared for outsourcing by our medical contractor before housing them out.” She said the jail’s screening process “is in accordance with jail standards rules and regulations,” but added it’s unlikely more information will be made public. “Due to confidentiality concerns, we will not be able to discuss his medical issues if he had any.”

She said the screenings are for both physical and mental health. “Per jail standards, every inmate brought into custody will have a suicide/mental health screening at intake. If the inmate is to stay in our custody, then a full medical evaluation is completed by the medical contractor.”

Results of an autopsy, being conducted by the Southwest Institute of Forensic Sciences (a part of the Dallas County Medical Examiner’s Office), are not expected for some time, as a toxicological screening — which would determine if any substances were in the inmate’s system at the time of his death — can take weeks to complete.

Villalpando said any future information about the case would be released “through the coordination between Hays County and Limestone County.”

The practice of outsourcing inmates has a long history in Hays County, going back prior to the administration of Sheriff Gary Cutler. Because of a 2016 bond election, the county’s jail is currently in the process of being expanded; though Cutler has said the expansion might not be sufficient to entirely put an end to the practice. 

The county has agreements with a number of others including Caldwell to house Hays inmates. Last week’s death was the first of a local inmate housed elsewhere, she said, correcting a statement in the Mexia News’ story.

According to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards, a little over a dozen of Texas’ 254 counties have privately-run jails.