AaronSpencer (Full Name: AaronMaurice Spencer) Died In Custody After Medical Emergency At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Ramsey Unit In Rosharon
BRAZORIA COUNTY, TEXAS (November 8, 2023) - A 51-year-old inmate identified as Aaron Spencer has tragically died while in custody at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice Ramsey Unit in Rosharon.
Brazoria County officials are saying that the incident began on November 6. Correctional officers noticed that Aaron Spencer was in some type of medical distress.
He was taken to the hospital due to his medical condition. Medical staff at the hospital began life-saving measures, but they were not successful.
Aaron Spencer was later pronounced dead by medical staff. His cause of death listed in his in-custody death report was cardiac arrest.
A full investigation into the death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Rosharon Jail Deaths
Far too many people die every year in custody inside of Texas Jails. According to the New York Daily News, “Nearly 7,000 people died in Texas jails and prisons or while in police custody over the past decade, researchers revealed Wednesday. The numbers from a University of Texas at Austin research institute showed an average of 623 such deaths over the 10-year period, with a spike in 2015 to 683 custodial deaths.” There are many factors that could contribute to in-custody deaths.
- Heat: Texas is just one of 13 states that do not require air conditioning. Many inmates die from cardiac arrest during the summer months.
- Pre-Existing Conditions: Many people enter jails with pre-existing medical conditions that can be impacted by their jail stay.
- Violence: Inmates are often the victims of violence, both at the hands of other inmates and correctional officers.
- Overcrowding: When jails are filled beyond capacity, this can lead to poorer health outcomes for inmates as well as increased levels of violence.
Heart attacks and other cardiac events are one of the leading causes of death in jails. This is why it is so important that jails do everything that they can to properly treat the medical needs that inmates have. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are many steps that jails should take to prevent inmates from having heart attacks.
- Inmate should get regular health checkups after they are admitted into jail.
- Inmates should regularly receive any heart medications that their doctor prescribes.
- Jail staff should be trained to recognize the signs that an inmate is going to have a heart attack.
It can be hard to know where to begin after a loved one dies in custody. Family members may have many questions. But it is common for jails to be completely silent about what went wrong. The family of any person that died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice 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 Rosharon Jail Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Aaron Spencer. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Brazoria County jail death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.