Robert Coleman Died At Lubbock Jail

Robert Coleman (Full Name: Robert Curtis Coleman) Died After Medical Emergency At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Montford Unit In Lubbock

LUBBOCK, TEXAS (November 8, 2023) – A 62-year-old man identified as Robert Coleman has tragically died following a medical emergency at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Montford Unit in Lubbock.

Lubbock County officials are saying that the incident took place on October 31. Correctional officers noticed that Robert Coleman was going through some type of medical emergency.

Jail medical staff began life-saving measures which were later taken over by paramedics. Sadly, Robert Coleman was later pronounced dead.

His in-custody death report indicates that he had some type of medical emergency. A full investigation into the in-custody death remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For Lubbock Jail Inmate Deaths

Far too many people die in-custody each year across the state of Texas. According to the Texas Justice Initiative, “Since 2005, 13,427 people have died in the custody of Texas law enforcement, based on state-mandated reports.” The year 2020 had the highest number of deaths on record at 982. Public officials have attributed this in part due to the effects of the pandemic. Jails should take a number of measures in order to prevent inmate deaths.

• Correctional officers should be trained on proper use-of-force procedures and de-escalation techniques.
• Correctional officers should be trained to understand the importance of treating inmates with dignity and respect.
• Inmate should get a thorough health screening when they are first admitted.
• Inmates should get welfare checks, typically every 30 minutes or so.

A jail or private medical provider could face liability if an inmate dies in-custody. Jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with adequate care for their serious health conditions. The level of care that an inmate may need will vary depending on if they have any pre-existing health conditions. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious health needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Jails could contribute to an inmate’s death in many different ways.

• Jails may have failed to get an inmate prompt medical care in the event of a medical emergency.
• Jails may have failed to give an inmate care if they were going through an overdose.
• Jails may have ignored the requests of an inmate who said that they needed medical help.

A large number of jail deaths are preventable. They often involve inmates who do not get the proper healthcare for their pre-existing medical conditions. In medicine, small issues can become life-threatening given enough time. It is important for inmates and their families to understand that they do have rights. The family of any inmate that died in-custody may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim.

Investigating A Lubbock Jail Inmate Death

We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Robert Coleman. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be some accountability for what took place. Jails need to be more proactive about keeping inmates in their care alive and healthy.

Do you need more information about a Lubbock County inmate death? 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 making sure that jails are upholding constitutional standards. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any in-custody death we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 469-966-7614.