Inmate Jamie Rosas, 36, Died Following Medical Emergency At Henderson Jail
RUSK COUNTY, TEXAS (December 29, 2023) - An inmate identified as Jamie Rosas has tragically died in-custody at the Texas Department of Justice Bradshaw Unit in Henderson.
TDCJ Bradshaw Unit officials are saying that the incident took place on December 21. Correctional officers noticed that Jamie Rosas was in some type of medical distress.
Medical staff began life-saving measures in order to help him. Sadly, those efforts were not successful and Jamie Rosas was pronounced dead.
A full investigation into the in-custody death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For TDCJ Bradshaw Unit Inmate Deaths
Far too many people die in custody every year. According to National Public Radio, “At least 6,182 people died in state and federal prisons in 2020, a 46% jump from the previous year, according to data recently released by researchers from the UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project.” Jails should take a number of measures in order to prevent inmate deaths.
- Jails should ensure that correctional officers are well trained.
- Jails should be equipped with Narcan, which can be used to reverse the effects of an overdose.
- Jails should make sure all inmates get a full health screening when they are first admitted.
The Supreme Court of the United States held in Estelle v. Gamble that inmates have a right to receive adequate healthcare for their medical needs. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are many ways that a jail may have contributed to any inmate’s death.
- Jails may have failed to perform welfare checks.
- Jails may have failed to provide an inmate with adequate mental healthcare.
- Jails may have failed to get an inmate access to emergency care in a timely manner.
One of the major contributing factors for inmate deaths is overcrowding. When a jail is overcrowded, this can place an enormous strain on the quality of care that all inmates receive. In particular, it is common for prison guards to ignore the requests of inmates who are requesting to be seen by doctors. The family of any person that died in jail may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating TDCJ Bradshaw Unit Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jamie Rosas. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of his family.
Do you need more information about a TDCJ Bradshaw Unit inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.