Gregg County Jail Death Rate about Average
Posted/updated on: July 6, 2011 at 12:38 pm
LONGVIEW — In spite of a couple of recent high-profile deaths, the number of jail deaths in Gregg County during the past 10 years is about average when compared to other Texas county jails of similar size. KETK and the Longview News-Journal say according to an attorney generals report, there have been 13 deaths in the Gregg County Jail in the past 10 years. This compares with an average of 12 inmates who have died during the past 10 years among six county jails comparable in size to Gregg Countys. The other jails are in Brazoria, Galveston, Jefferson, McLennan, Smith, and Williamson Counties.
Texas Commission on Jail Standards Director Adan Munoz said, A huge number of inmates go through Texas county jails per month and per year, Munoz said. The number of deaths is small compared to the total number of inmates each jail sees. However, I know that to a family who has had a family member die in jail custody, only one matters. All jail deaths are unfortunate for us and the families, and each and every death matters to us. In almost every case this past year in which a custodial death occurred, the investigation determined the death was not caused as a result of deliberate indifference by county jail officials, Munoz said.
Two people have died in the Gregg County Jail during the past six months. Amy Lynn Cowling, 33, was pronounced dead Dec. 29 after being found unresponsive in a separation cell. Micah Aaron Garner, 30, died June 6 after he was found unresponsive in a medical holding cell. Garner was in a medical holding cell and put on mandatory medical watch every 30 minutes because he was addicted to methadone and heroin, authorities said. Preliminary autopsy reports from the Tarrant County Medical Examiners office showed Garners cause of death was undetermined, but indicated no trauma or foul play was suspected, jail officials said. Toxicology reports were ordered by the medical examiners office and are still pending. The investigation into Garners death also is pending.
Cowlings death was ruled probable seizure due to withdrawal from methadone and Xanax, but the manner of death was ruled undetermined by a Gregg County justice of the peace. Jail officials have said Cowling was denied prescribed medication, which family members said was in her purse at the jail, because they were not on the jails approved medication list. In lieu of her prescribed medications, Cowling was given jail-approved medications and put on a regular watch schedule to ensure her condition was sound. A Houston lawmaker said Cowlings death, and a reported high turnover rate at the Gregg County Jail, spurred a law that would require county jails to report their monthly personnel changes.
