Is next of kin supposed to be notified if an inmate is injured? In this case the injury required transportation to the local hospital, and surgery requiring 50 staples/30 stitches. Thanks.

Hi,

In my case my husband who is HIV+ first served a term in El Paso (jail system) and yet both are intertwined (prisons and jails) in fact to me the jail system is far worse on many variables.

No they do not have to tell you a thing; anymore then they DO NOT TELL you when they "chain for transport" and I raised a lot of hell about this and passed a law from transitional prisoners in County Jail to State facilities where County is contracted in some cases to hold them for short stays (under a year say) and NO MEDICATIONS are given. In the case of HIV for example an inmate with no viral load will develop one without antivirals and can end up with a DEATH SENTENCE of AIDS within a simple sentence of a few months. That law was passed back when Luke served in 2003.

However, and I've been through Governor Perry even as far as President Bush when Luke was off his meds awhile I demanded he be taken to Monteford (which is the medical and psychiatric unit) for the Western part of our state. Again he was chained for special transport and gotten there (yes it's a haul) within 10 hours. They DID NOT call me at all.

In my case a lot was on the plate and they knew it so it became a constant phone chase but I was always kept informed.

If the inmate started a fight causing his injury it could be worse; for instance most stays are under 10 years but they can haul you before the local Judge and tack on another 10 years for whatever brawl you were in...

I know this does not sound good but I'd contact your Ombudsman. Call, don't wait.

Peace,

Karen G.