James Garner Died At Tennessee Colony Jail

Inmate James Garner (Full Name: James Anthony Garner) Died Following Medical Emergency At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Michael Unit In Tennessee Colony

ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS (November 22, 2023) – A 59-year-old inmate identified as James Garner has tragically died following a medical emergency at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Michael Unit in Tennessee Colony.

Anderson County officials are saying that the incident took place on November 18. James Garner was experiencing some type of medical distress and he was attended to by jail officials.

Paramedics were also called to the scene. Sadly, his condition continued to deteriorate and he was later pronounce dead.

A full investigation into the death of James Garner remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Tennessee Colony Inmate Deaths

Inmate deaths are unfortunately very common in the United States. According to the Annual Review of Sociology, “There were approximately 3,000 deaths per year in US prisons between 2001 and 2004, corresponding to an average annual mortality rate of 250 per 100,000 prisoners. Eighty-nine percent of prison deaths were due to internal causes, with suicide (6% of all deaths) the only external cause in the 10 leading causes of death among prisoners.” A large portion of these deaths involve people who were never even formally convicted of a crime. There are a number of factors that could contribute to an inmate death.

• Overcrowded prisons can cause tensions among inmates and create a higher likelihood of violence.
• Working at a jail can be very difficult. It is not surprising that many jails have a high turnover rate which can lead to staffing shortages.
• Inmates enter the prison system with a variety of medical conditions and psychological trauma. These are often made worse during their stay.

Depending on the facts of any case, a jail or private medical provider could be liable if an inmate in their care died. Jails must provide inmates with reasonably adequate care for all of their needs. But far too often inmates are either neglected or given completely inadequate healthcare. Inadequate care could take a number of different forms.

• Jails may delay sending an inmate to the hospital. Many inmates are given Tylenol when they should be checked for serious conditions.
• Jails may fail to treat the mental health needs of inmates.
• Jails may fail to protect inmates at risk of being injured in a fall. Both age and medical conditions such as a seizure could contribute to an inmate falling.

It is crucial that evidence is properly preserved after any inmate death. Many jails will go out of their way to list inmate deaths as “natural.” However, many supposedly natural deaths involve some amount of medical neglect. The family of any person that died in an Anderson County jail may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Tennessee Colony Inmate Deaths

We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of James Garner. It is our sincere hope that jail officials are transparent about what took place. The sheer number of inmate deaths across Texas in recent weeks remains deeply alarming.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed by the neglect of Anderson County jail officials? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping inmates understand their rights and holding jails accountable for their neglect. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 469-966-7614.