Inmate Peyton Pendley (Full Name: Peyton James Pendley), 23, Died Following Medical Emergency At Texas Department of Criminal Justice - George Beto Unit
TENESSEE COLONY, TEXAS (October 17, 2023) - A 23-year-old inmate identified as Peyton Pendley has tragically died in custody at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison.
Anderson County officials are saying that the incident began around 11:10 on July 12. Correctional officers noticed that Peyton Pendley was unresponsive in his jail cell.
Jail and medical staff entered the cell and began life-saving measures. Peyton Pendley was taken to the hospital in an ambulance, but he could not be revived and was later pronounced dead.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Inmate Deaths At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prisons
Far too many inmates die each year during their incarceration. Many of these deaths occur in Southeast Texas. According to 12 News Now, “Nearly a third of the inmates allegedly killed by fellow inmates in the Texas prison system this year died while incarcerated in Southeast Texas.” Many prisons throughout Texas don’t have any forms of air conditioning. This can be particularly dangerous for inmates that have pre-existing medical conditions. There are many factors that can contribute to in-custody deaths.
- A lack of proper medical care can lead to an inmate’s death. This is especially true if an inmate already has pre-existing medical conditions.
- A delayed response to a medical emergency can also lead to a death. Sadly, many jails will only bother helping inmates if they are already in the midst of a medical emergency.
- Inmates are more likely to die if jail officials ignore established medical protocols including health screenings.
- Drug overdoses are another major cause of inmate death in Texas and across the United States.
All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with reasonably adequate healthcare. Failing to treat the serious medical needs of an inmate is a violation of their rights afforded under the constitution. In particular, if jail officials show deliberate indifference to the serious medical needs of an inmate in their care, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Not all forms of medical neglect in a prison will rise to the level of constitutional violations. What follows are some of the ways a jail may have failed to properly care for an inmate which could lead to a death.
- A jail may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they needed.
- A jail may have failed to transport an inmate to a hospital when they required more extensive care.
- A jail may have failed to help an inmate going through a drug overdose.
- A jail may have failed to promptly care for an inmate in the midst of a medical emergency.
In far too many situations, inmate deaths are preventable and involve some amount of medical neglect. Unfortunately, jails are almost never transparent about how any inmate in their care died. They are quick to label inmate deaths as stemming from “natural causes,” but this label can often be misleading. The family of any inmate that dies in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice and accountability 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 Inmate Deaths At Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prisons
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Peyton Pendley. Any person that may have more information about what went wrong should speak with investigators. Jail officials need to do their part and be completely transparent about what happened. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about an inmate death at a Texas Department of Criminal Justice Prison? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We are dedicated to helping inmates understand their rights and holding jails 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.