Publisher’s Note: The publisher has had no role in editing this column, which is published as the writer submitted it with the intention of publication in BEACONS.
By Jessica Belmosto
Jeffery Gerritt’s series Death Without Conviction consists of several pieces unveiling the reality of Texas county jails. Death Without Conviction: Texas needs access to jail videos; looks at the numbers and statistics of those who die while waiting for trial.
We are no stranger to Texas making headlines. Whether it be for controversial bills for trans athletes or the state lifting their mask mandate before anyone else. They are no stranger to controversy. While we hear about oppressive laws and Senators going on vacation during a state-wide freeze, we don’t hear about Texas inmates or jail conditions.
Texas does not release jailhouse footage to give context surrounding the death of an inmate. Texas law prohibits videos from being released. Gerrit writes, Section 418.182 of the Texas code empowers local governments to withhold video that “relates to the specifications, operating procedures, or location of a security system used to protect public or private property from an act of terrorism.”
There are over 100 inmate deaths a year in Texas county jails. Without jailhouse footage to show the moments leading up to their death, what the jail says goes. Texas is able to hide the footage and evidence because of its own legislation. There is a level of corruption across the board in the United States Justice System but Gerritt shines the LED flashlight on Texas.
Security footage of the highly publicized Jeffrey Epstein death has been released. There are plenty of conspiracies surrounding his death in general but it is the public’s right in the state of New York to see the footage leading up to the death of an inmate. New York is more progressive than Texas in just about every sense of the word. However, releasing the footage would not be a threat to the public. It appears that inmates die every three days in Texas. That is far too high and there is no way to change that without seeing what is happening. Why doesn’t Texas want us to see how these inmates are dying? Mind you, innocent until proven guilty. They aren’t on trial. Other inmates aren’t judges and jury. Why won’t Texas amend its legislation? Is there something they don’t want to deal with? Lawsuits? Corruption? What is it? Only Texas can answer that.
Rhonda Newsome died in a holding cell. She died seven hours after the hospital told medical staff at the prison she could die without immediate medical care. Seven hours. The ball was dropped and someone has to pay for it. Newsome died in a holding cell. There was no urgency to treat the woman whose test results came back with red flags plastered all over it. She required fifteen-minute checks and there is no way to prove that was done without the video footage. None. An investigation concludes that staff used a malfunctioned defibrillator to revive her. There was no success. There is no accountability. No one is being held accountable because of this asinine piece of legislation.
Police body cam footage has come into question recently. Will they release it to the public or not? Does it have to be released? Can anyone outside a potential jury the footage? What about the family? In Texas, it isn’t even a question. There is no way you will see footage leading up to an inmate’s death. Even if you challenge the Supreme Court, they have to uphold the law.
Gerritt’s research and dedication to the subject matter is something that we need to see more of. The talk about police brutality extends beyond those on the street, walking a beat. There are “bad apples'' on the inside of the walls. Allowing prisoners to sit in a holding cell for hours and ignoring their need for medical treatment is just part of it. Prisoners are people too. If you treat them like animals they will behave as such. Respect goes a long way. There is a dire need for change. Prison reform has been gaining traction and with more pieces uncovering the inhumane behavior of the prison system. A major piece of prison reform is accountability. Without the evidence, there will be no such thing. It should not have to happen to you or anyone in your life in order for you to care. There are hundreds of people dying a year in Texas alone. Reading stories like this is not only hard but eye-opening. It is not a shield the prisons can hide behind. Something has to change. Nothing will change if we remain neutral or don’t shed light the way Geritt did.
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