I live in Texas.. I did time in Texas.. But my time was Fed time, and that is what I know more than anything else.. Hopefully in the future my wisdom on TDCJ will grow but I am coming to all of you to assist me, other Texas members that may be interested in this information, and our friends at Texas CURE, one of which I met this evening, with gathering up this information.

I have not had the time yet to try and cull the PTO databases for past posts, so please don't hesitate to pull any info from PTO itself, and call me lazy (or very tired) in the mean time. :)



Here is the list of Questions. If you only know one or two, please don't hesitate to post.. If you are not sure, but think you know, please share what you know, and if you know where we could continue the search.. Most of you know I am an information hound, and the group of people we have at PTO, and in Texas bring A LOT to the table in that and many other things..



So, without writing a book, here is the list of questions.



1) Do Texas prisons keep statistics on prisoner deaths? (where can this be found? - State Vital Statistics out of Austin or someplace else?

* If they do, what is the level of detail? How up to date are they?

* Who may access this information and how?

* How accurate is the information?

a. date of death?

b. cause of death?

c. location?

d. circumstances?



2) What is Chain-of-custody of body? (From prisoners being pronounced dead to burial or cremation)?

a. Detail each step of the way

b. Who makes decisions at each phase?

c. Policy on autopsies

d. What decides or dictates 'cremation vs. burial'



I know this is a long list, but it is information that we all should know.. I think it gets us just a little bit closer to the blue-prints of TDCJ.. Something I feel reveals more and more of the inner workings of a bad design..

When you see can see something, you can then start to identify chinks and problems.. When you can't see, how can you identify anything..



I hope that isn't too cryptic.. ;)



Thanks!

David

TDCJ Inmate Deaths - H.B. 2827

by Representative Place

Senate Sponsor: Senator Duncan

§ Requires the TDCJ to report inmate deaths, other than deaths attributable to natural causes or deaths due to legal execution, to the Attorney General's Office.


§ Requires TDCJ or an authorized TDCJ official to order autopsies for inmates who die of natural causes if the inmate's next of kin consents to the autopsy or does not object within a certain period, and defines an "inmate in the custody of TDCJ" as a convicted felon who is confined in a TDCJ secure correctional facility or who has been hospitalized while in TDCJ custody.


§ Sets forth the procedure by which an inmate can become an eye, tissue, or organ donor if the inmate dies while in the custody of TDCJ.

Fed X....I found this sight to be informative.

http://www.utmb.edu/policy/ihop/search/09-15-01.pdf

1. The categories of information enumerated in section 552.029 are:


(1) the inmate's name, identification number, age, birthplace, physical description, or general state of health or the nature of an injury to or critical illness suffered by the inmate;
(2) the inmate's assigned unit or the date on which the unit received the inmate, unless disclosure of the information would violate federal law relating to the confidentiality of substance abuse treatment;
(3) the offense for which the inmate was convicted or the judgment and sentence for that offense;
(4) the county and court in which the inmate was convicted;
(5) the inmate's earliest or latest possible release dates;
(6) the inmate's parole date or earliest possible parole date;
(7) any prior confinement of the inmate by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice or its predecessor; or
(8) basic information regarding the death of an inmate in custody, an incident involving the use of force, or an alleged crime involving the inmate.

POST OFFICE BOX 12548, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78711-2548 TEL: (512) 463-2100 WEB: WWW.OAG.STATE.TX.US
An Equal Employment Opportunity Employer


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Thanks Momma2!

since you have done some time in can you tell me how hard is it to get back on someone's list??? i was removed from my husnands a year ago come June 10th. i have appealed but always been denied. Can you help me out?