Inmate Alvin Brown Died In Custody At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Stiles Unit In Beaumont
JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS (November 12, 2023) - A 58-year-old inmate identified as Alvin Brown has tragically died in-custody after a medical emergency at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Stiles Unit in Beaumont.
Jefferson County officials are saying that the incident began on October 26. Prison guards noticed that Alvin Brown was in some type of medical distress.
The inmate was taken to a medical facility in order to receive more extensive care. Alvin Brown’s health continued to decline over the two days that he was at the hospital.
On October 28, he was pronounced dead by medical staff. His cause of death listed in the custodial death report was “cirrhosis of liver.”
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Beaumont Inmate Deaths
Thousands of people die in custody each year across the United States. 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.” Many of these deaths involved inmates with serious medical issues. Jails should take a number of measures to prevent in-custody deaths.
- Jails should have well-equipped medical facilities to treat all of the ailments that inmates may have.
- Jails should have clear protocols about where and when inmates need to be transferred in the event of medical emergencies.
- Jails should perform thorough health screenings when inmates are first admitted.
Every medical condition that an inmate may have will require different protocols. If an inmate’s liver is severely damaged, this may necessitate a liver transplant. According to the NHS, “If cirrhosis progresses and your liver is severely damaged, a liver transplant may be the only treatment option. This is a major operation that involves removing your diseased liver and replacing it with a healthy liver from a donor.” It is important that jails act quickly in the event of any medical emergency.
- Inmates should be given continuous care to prevent medical emergencies.
- If a medical emergency seems imminent, inmates should be transported to a hospital.
- If an inmate is already in the midst of a medical emergency, they may need CPR and other life-saving measures.
When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Sadly, though, jails will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if an inmate in their care dies. This is why it is so important that evidence is properly preserved after any in-custody death. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if any in-custody death was due to medical neglect.
Investigating Beaumont Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Alvin Brown. Any person that may have more information about what happened should speak to investigators. The number of deaths across Jefferson County jails remains deeply concerning. It is our hope that greater oversight of Jefferson County jails will lead to better health outcomes for all inmates.
Do you need more information about a Jefferson County inmate’s death? Our team of civil rights advocates can help get you the information that you need. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are doing everything in their power to prevent inmate deaths. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.