The suicide of Sandra Bland in the Waller County Jail last month has focused much-needed attention on the mental health needs of those who end up incarcerated.
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death in Texas jails, but the state requires only minimal training in that area for jail personnel. That makes little sense when more and more people with mental health issues are ending up in jail due to the lack of mental health beds in our communities.
Studies on jail deaths indicate that smaller jails and single prisoner cell assignments pose a greater danger to inmates at risk for suicide, but that does not mean urban lockups are problem-free. The sheer number of prisoners who pass through the doors of the large units often result in a higher number of suicides recorded.
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