FAMILY OF FORMER WASHINGTON CO. JAIL INMATE FILES FEDERAL LAWSUIT

  

The family of an inmate who committed suicide at the Washington County Jail in 2019, has filed a federal lawsuit against the jail.

31-year-old Cameron Pritchett of Burton killed himself at the jail in March of 2019.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards investigated the death and issued a notice of non-compliance, maintaining the jail “failed to meet minimum TCJS standards” and that a jailer had violated those standards by “not making face-to-face observations.”

Pritchett’s family has filed suit, claiming violation of his “constitutional right to reasonable medical/mental health care.”

Constitutional rights lawyer, Dean Malone, who is representing Pritchett’s family, allowed inmates at the jail to block cell views with blankets,

Malone says the jail has ‘significant information’ on Pritchett’s ‘serious mental health issues’ due to previous incarcerations.

The family says a previous arrest indicates Pritchett suffered from bipolar disorder, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.  The suit also claims jail staff was aware Pritchett was on medication for ‘significant’ mental health issues.

The amount of the suit has not been indicated.