Houston Another inmate has died at the Harris County Jail.
Over the weekend, 30-year-old Ramon Thomas died after suffering a medical emergency in prison.
The family was scheduled to hold a press conference on Wednesday, but it was cancelled. Thomas’ mother, Diane Bailey, suspects foul play in her son’s death and says he was bullied.
Civil rights attorney Randall Kalinen said the prisoners have a constitutional right to medical care and treatment.
“It seems to me to be a deliberate act, for you know his condition. How can you stir him up and expose him like that?” said Bailey.
Thomas was found unresponsive with a low pulse in his cell on Saturday. Nawab said medical staff tried to save him, but he was taken to hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Her son had mental issues that the prison knew of, his mother said, and he was held in a private area of the facility until last week when he was transferred to the general population. She said she told officials that he had been bullied by another inmate.
She said, “He called me Saturday morning on my way to work and asked me to send him some money, but it wasn’t his SPN, it was someone else’s SPN, which means he was being bullied.”
“Mental health care at Harris County Jail is not handled properly,” said civil rights attorney Randall Kalinen.
Kalinin does not represent the family, but he did speak about the ongoing issues in the prison cited by the Texas Commission on Prison Standards earlier this year.
“The three main things we have are the injuries of the guards which is the use of excessive force; the other is poor medical care; and the last one is that the prison does not have enough staff to watch the inmates.”
Just last month, Eric Cano and Ray Rattler died while being held in jail.
Bailey says her son’s death is not compounded. She said he had mental problems but was generally in good health.
She said, “No mentally healthy person should be jailed because you’re making it worse.”
Bailey said she plans to take legal action. The Texas Rangers investigate her son’s death.
Attorney Kalinin says he has three cases pending against the Harris County Jail, including an inmate who was seriously injured last year and left in a coma.
He plans to share more details at a press conference on Friday.
See more about Harris County Jail deaths:
Harris County Sheriff Addresses Recent Death in Prison; The Texas Jail Project offers a solution to help solve the persistent problem
The FBI announces investigations into deaths at the Harris County Jail
An inmate dies following a medical emergency at the Harris County Jail
Houston’s mother demands changes to the Harris County Jail following her son’s death in custody; The new inspection report lists several deficiencies in the facility
Review shows Harris County Jail held tens of thousands of ex-prisoners’ money
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