Please notice how this handwritten thank you note on the next page says it comes from “PEOPLE who are inmates. “Hello Mrs. Dalila Reynoso: You make a difference in the lives of people who are inmates at Smith County Jail…..
Languishing in the Smith County jail since April 2019, isolated in a single cell and untreated, Robert Paquin was beaten up—not uncommon for people experiencing mental illness in a local jail. His aunt asked Dalila for help, reporting that Robert had stopped eating, and worst of all, was being pressured to plead to a felony that would put him in prison for three years. Because of the work of TJP advocate Dalila Reynoso and her fundraising to hire a “low bono” attorney Brett Harrison, and because of coordinated efforts of TJP’s director Krish Gundu and the Texas Indigent Defense Commission, Robert was further evaluated by a forensic psychiatrist who declared him to be insane during the incident—and charges were dismissed. Robert will be moved to a long-term medical facility. His aunt told Dalila, “Y’all saved his life! You really did!””
I have been fighting for justice for my younger brother since he passed away in 2012 [in the Bexar County Jail]. Tommy was a shy, but friendly, outgoing person, filled with more love and kindness than anyone I have ever met. Oh, how his smile was infectious and his laugh was always sincere and contagious! Tommy worked as an electrician for over 8 years, as well as helping out friends and family with anything they might need. His daughter was 3 years old when he passed away—she has his smile and his personality and that keeps his memory alive.
“My son Adan is in solitary confinement. Why? Because the jail considers that is the “safest” way to hold someone with a medical/mental condition. I was told that is for his good and the good of others. He does not have the opportunity to eat or mingle with other inmates. He has been in solitary confinement
Linell Redden lost her beloved husband Robert to the Denton county jail, a place often accused of having poor medical care and indifferent staff. She gives her insightful comments on the 8th anniversary of his death.
“The inmates need to be given the benefit of the doubt when they have a potential life threatening complaint and they should be treated the sameway they’d be treated in any other any doctor’s office. Protocols need to constantly be reviewed and adhered to, and sometimes common sense needs to come into play. Don’t listen to those staff who insinuate inmates are going to the infirmary to do some easy time or because they want to look at a pretty nurse….a person in jail can be sick and if untreated, they can and do die.”
Williamson County family says that TJP’s website is gold! Thank you so much for all of this information. I truly appreciate the work put into making this webpage available. My husband is currently in Williamson County TX Jail and I was so unsure of many things. I was able to get the answers to 95% of
A wife reports serious neglect: “My husband is in the Harris County jail right now and they lowered the dosage of a psych med for PTSD, if they give it to him at all. He also has a severe calcium deficiency and no one bothers to give him the calcium packets anymore after he was moved
My son is currently in the Harris County Jail (HCJ). I want the public to realize and understand how dangerous it is for any inmate to be there. One of the doctors and several guards refused to give my son medical treatment (yes…it happens a lot and it happened to my child). Punishment for crime
“I would just like to tell everyone out there that there is hope and we can change things if we stand up and never give up, no matter if it takes awhile and with alot of determination, it can be done. I have fought corruption in Taylor County and we did get JUSTICE, not only for my son but others that were in the Taylor County Jail. It was a long and hard fight, but with the determination that I had and the help of someone who is a hero to me, Lance Voorhees, we saw justice.And thanks to Texas Jail Project! They came to Abilene when I contacted Diana. She and a group if TJP members drove up here and talked to citizens of Taylor County.”
Dear Texas Jail Project, I wanted to write and let you know how much I appreciate what you have done for a friend of mine who is currently in Houston county jail awaiting death penalty re-hearing. I contacted your organization on Aug. 30th of 2012 about my pen-pal friend, RR, who is disabled (legally blind
Jail Commission meeting --- Thursday, February 24, 2022 Please note updated date and room number:
Despite the current wave of Omicron, the next TCJS quarterly meeting will be held in-person on Thursday, February 24, 2022 at
John H. Reagan Building, Room 140
1400 Congress Ave
Austin, TX 78701
If you want to speak, read info below carefully. The only time you can make comments at this meeting is JUST PAST 9 AM DURING PUBLIC INPUT.
There no longer appears to be any access to the meeting through a phone line. More details are on their meetings page. Remember to check back closer to meeting date for possible changes in venue and agenda.