Tarrant County Experiences Inadequate Jail Death Investigations, Now Dealing with a Dallas County Case
Dishing the Tea on the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office Investigation
The Tarrant County Sheriff's Office is up to their old tricks again, this time leading an investigation into a recent death at the Dallas County jail. Here's the lowdown on what's happening and why folks are talking.
After more than 2 dozen deaths in Tarrant County Jail, no independent investigations were carried out – based on the rules. But the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office got picked to investigate the Dallas jail death. The reason behind their selection is as foggy as a Texas cloudy day.
You might wonder why the Texas Commission on Jail Standards passed the baton to Tarrant County. Truth be told, we don't have all the answers. Inmate deaths are supposed to be reported, and independent investigations are required. But, as outlined by the Sandra Bland Act, an inmate death in a Texas jail must be probed by a distinct law enforcement agency to ensure neutrality and unbiased findings.
Since 2017, Tarrant County has seen more than 70 deaths in its jail, 25 of which were examined by the Fort Worth Police Department. However, it seems an independent investigation never took place, according to KERA and The Fort Worth Report.
Elba Garcia, the Dallas County Commissioner and head of the criminal justice advisory board, is baffled by the situation. "It doesn't add up in my books," she says. Dallas County jail has also reported over 70 in-custody deaths since 2017.
Andra Adkins passed away back in March at Parkland Hospital following her arrival at the Dallas jail. The medical examiner opted out of performing a full autopsy thanks to existing medical conditions, as stated in a state report. Inquiries about Dallas County jail deaths are reported to the Texas Attorney General's Office, but it seems State officials haven't provided reasons for appointing Tarrant County.
Let's delve a bit deeper: On the inspector for Dallas County's annual conditions inspection, Michael Gravitt, previously worked for the Tarrant County Sherriff's Office. Shannon Herklotz, the Dallas County Jail's former administrator, jumped ship to Tarrant County in January. Before her new gig, Herklotz spent over two decades with the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
It's a small world, isn't it? But keeping up with the revolving door of employees can be challenging! Chief Deputy Shane Sowell took over the Dallas County jail administrator role just before Adkins's death.
So there you have it! While we don't know exactly why Tarrant County was chosen for the Dallas jail investigation, it's important to keep a keen eye on any questionable decisions. After all, accountability matters.
Got a tip? Email Marina Trahan Martinez at [email protected]. You can find Marina on Twitter at @HisGirlHildy. KERA News wouldn't exist without the support of our members. If you think this reporting is worth it, consider making a tax-deductible gift today. Thank you!
- The topic of the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office investigating a recent death at the Dallas County jail has taken over general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice discussions due to concerns about the office's impartiality.
- The Texas government raised eyebrows when they assigned the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, which has a history of overseeing its own jail investigations despite the need for independent probes, to conduct the investigation in the Dallas jail death case.
- In light of the Dallas County jail's history of high in-custody deaths and allegations of unbiased investigations, many are closely following the media for updates on the ongoing investigations and are keeping a close eye on potential conflicts of interest within the government bodies involved in these cases.
