Rep. Veasey Urges Department of Justice to Investigate Pattern of Inmate Deaths, Alarming Incidents at Tarrant County Jail
Rep. Veasey sent a letter urging Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clark at the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the distressing pattern of inmate deaths and jail incidents at the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth.
Since 2017, 60+ inmates at the Tarrant County Jail have died while in custody at the facility or shortly after experiencing a health crisis there. The most recent fatality, occurring just in the last few weeks, involved an inmate–a 35 year old woman–who died while in custody.
Rep. Veasey responded to these reports by writing, “As one of the members of Congress representing Tarrant County, I am deeply committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all individuals within our community. The loss of any life, particularly in the custody of the state, is a matter of grave concern that demands thorough scrutiny and immediate action. I am requesting to meet with you, Assistant Attorney General Clark, to better understand what additional measures can be implemented to guarantee the basic protection of incarcerated individuals and staff in correctional facilities.”
“It is imperative that the Department of Justice take action to restore the health and safety of incarcerated individuals and employees within the county’s jail system. No amount of settlement, including the largest settlement payout in county history stemming from the 2020 death of a baby born unattended at the Tarrant County Jail, can adequately rectify the injustices occurring within prison and jail facilities. At this point, only an immediate investigation into the disturbing sequence of deaths at the facility can reinstate accountability in Tarrant County Jail,” continued Rep. Veasey.
Representative Veasey sent the original letter on May 23rd and followed up to urge the Department of Justice to expeditiously launch an investigation after it was reported on May 28th that an additional inmate had died.