Inmate Ralph Flores Jr Died Following Medical Emergency At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prowledge Unit In Palestine
ANDERSON, TEXAS (November 21, 2023) - A 44-year-old inmate identified as Ralph Flores Jr has tragically died after a medical emergency at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice in Palestine.
Anderson County officials are saying that the incident began on November 13. Ralph Flores Jr was admitted to the hospital due to a medical condition.
His condition continued to deteriorate at the hospital. On November 15, Ralph Flores Jr was pronounced dead by medical staff.
The Texas custodial death report listed his cause of death as “brain bleed due to stroke.” A full investigation into the in-custody death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Palestine Inmate Deaths
Far too many people die in Texas prisons every year. According to Texas Public Radio, “Texas prisons have seen a significant spike in deaths system-wide. A five-and-a-half year analysis of custodial death reports conducted by TPR shows an additional two people per 10,000 dying in Texas prisons this summer, compared to the summers of 2018-2019.” There are a number of common causes of in-custody death.
- Inmates regularly die due to complications from medical conditions.
- Inmates often suffer from a variety of mental health issues and tend to be at greater risk of suicide.
- Inmates often die from overdosing on dangerous opioids such as fentanyl.
- Inmates are at a greater risk of death from infectious diseases.
All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with reasonably adequate medical care for their conditions. The level of care that any inmate may need will depend entirely on their health profile. For example, patients at risk of stroke should be carefully monitored and given all necessary medications. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any inmate death.
- An independent autopsy may need to be performed.
- Body camera footage from all officers involved should be sought.
- The number of welfare checks that an inmate received prior to their death should be understood.
There is typically no one element that leads to an inmate death. Rather, in-custody deaths are more likely to occur when there are systematic failures in a prison system. This can be brought on due to overcrowding or a lack of funding. The family of any person that died in a jail may have legal recourse through a constitutional 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 Palestine Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ralph Flores Jr. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened and measures taken to prevent similar tragedies.
Do you need more information about an Anderson County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that jails are upholding constitutional standards and that inmates are aware of their rights. 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 214-987-4100.