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RIP Amy Lynn Cowling, 1977–2010
IN HONOR OF MOTHER’S DAY, HERE IS A TRIBUTE BY LACEY, DAUGHTER OF AMY LYNN:
Tomorrow will be the second Mother’s Day spent without my beautiful Mama. There hasn’t been a day yet that I didn’t think about her and the wonderful memories she left behind. She was a beautiful person with a good heart and the best of intentions. If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve thanked her for the life she blessed me with as well as the unconditional love she had for me, my brother, and my sister. We miss you so much, Mom… I know if you were alive now, you’d be proud. With the love and support of each other… we’ve grown up alot. I just wish you were here to see…. I love you, and I know in my heart… I’ll see your beautiful face again oneday. ♥
[continue reading...]Recent Posts
- RIP Amy Lynn Cowling, 1977–2010
- Why Did George Koomson Die in Dallas County Jail?
- No Charges In Death of Norman Hicks, Sr.
- Grimes County Sheriff Website Provides Good Info
- Dallas Police and the Dallas Jail: Logjam
- Important New US Department on Jailed Women!
- Kitchen brawl leaves Angelina county jail inmate nearly blind
- Prisoners’ Families Bill of Rights
- You Will Get a DWI Charge in Collin County, Even if You Pass The Breath Test
- Dallas Jail Passes Inspection Again
Featured Articles
Lawsuit Against Brazoria’s County Jailers
I remember when Beverly wrote me about her husband, and how sick and sad I felt when I learned her husband Lisandro had died in that jail. She had also written the Commission on Jail Standards and they were no help either. Here is what she said back in 2010:
“I wrote you about my husband to you over a month ago, he died due to lack of medical care. . . his name was Lisandro Torres and we have a 16 yr old son. The jail maintained until his death he was faking after a massive stroke and was having problems breathing, chest pain, could’nt swallow and was tormented by several jailers and nurses. Nobody would listen and still wont but he sent me the proof three weeks before he died and over 100 letters {about what was happening.]”
Now this excellent story announces the lawsuit filed by Beverly and her son. I can only hope the justice system gives their case a fair shake. Lisandro Torres and his family deserve some justice, finally.
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Adan Castaneda Comes Home from Iraq – To Jail
Iraqi veteran Adan Castaneda sat in the Comal County Jail in an isolation or ad seg cell for more than six months without any treatment for his mental illness. There is no way to know how that affected his condition; however, he has been moved and is receiving treatment finally, after his family’s persistent efforts and with the assistance of generous attorneys. See the San Antonio Current story about him here. . .
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Pregnant in a Texas County Jail?
About 500 pregnant women are incarcerated in Texas county jails each month. Some are only held there a few days, but others may be incarcerated for weeks and months and a number will deliver their babies while there.
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What Happens to Kids in Adult Jails?
Have you heard of any “certified juveniles” in your county lockup? Please send us your information about the experiences of Texas kids in county jails. Certified means that a person under 17 is accused of a crime too serious for juvie, and the court certifies he/she as an adult, so they can be tried as an adult.
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Letters from Families
Dallas Jail Info From Our Website It is extra hard for people out of state to deal with a loved one in jail in Texas. Here is a letter from a Cali Mom, as she called herself:
“Your site i stumbled across on a search and was a God send. I want to thank you for putting together such a great site. I am from California and my son is in Dallas County. Without your helpful information I would not know where to turn. Your information is concise and easy to understand. The links are helpful and the medical form was great as he has some medical issues I want to make sure are taken care of. Thank you for taking the time to put this site together! I will definitely contribute to your cause via a donation! Bless you all!”
CTM, mom in Cali
lack of medical care
Texas Inmates with MRSA Staph? “Punishment for crimes does not mean subjecting people to deadly diseases.” That is from a story you should read if you know anybody who went into a county jail and caught MRSA staph. Or if you know anyone who already had staph and the jail wouldn’t treat their infection. Also, please email diana@texasjailproject.org about any such cases in Texas.
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Women and Jails
Important New US Department on Jailed Women! The U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) – in partnership with the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) – established the National Resource Center on Justice-Involved Women (NRCJIW) to address the unique and complex needs of adult women involved in the criminal justice system. NIC will continue to deliver products and services to the field specific to justice-involved women, and will work closely with BJA and the Resource Center to assure a coordinated approach.
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Conditions in County Jails
Dallas Jail Passes Inspection Again Texas Jail Project has been monitoring the number of complaints and calls for help from inmates inside Dallas County Jail, and the numbers are down. This week, one mother in California who was worried about her son reported that she was relieved to hear her son had received treatment for the flu that many inmates have right now. This is good news, but we still look for more improvement, since the #1 search term used most often on the Texas Jail Project website is Lew Sterritt, the name of the Dallas county jail – and that’s because a lot of people are looking for information and help in dealing with this jail.
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Rights of Inmates
Jails Break the Law When They Record Conversations of Lawyers & Inmates In many jails, administrators do whatever they want, like record privileged discussions between inmate and attorney. Here is an important story about that from Harvey Rice in the Houston Chronicle:
“Most jails in Texas indiscriminately record conversations, Davis said. He said the sheriff of Matagorda County, where he is representing a client, has “hours and hours” of recordings of their conversations.”
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