The Texas Department of Criminal Justice and other parties are facing a wrongful death lawsuit centered around the tragic suicide of a 16-year-old boy who was in their custody last year.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Juvenile Justice Department, and the University of Texas Medical Branch are facing a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his parents on Tuesday. According to the lawsuit, his death could have been avoided if proper measures had been taken.
According to the lawsuit, the staff at the facility were supposed to check on Beasley every 15 minutes, but they failed to do so for over two hours before he died. Inmates nearby reportedly expressed concerns about Beasley’s well-being, but their calls were ignored. The lawsuit further alleges that seven employees were fired by TDCJ due to their involvement in the incident.
In a press release, Amnisty Freelen, Beasley’s mother, expressed her hope that this lawsuit will bring about a change in the system, preventing other mothers from going through a similar experience.
Freelan expressed that he will never be able to find complete closure as his son had passed away in that place. However, he also mentioned that the lawsuit brings some sense of accountability and the potential for improvement in the lives of other children who are currently experiencing suffering.
According to a TDCJ spokesperson, the agency refrains from providing comments on ongoing legal matters.
Beasley, who had been imprisoned since the age of 11, faced numerous challenges with his mental health. Unfortunately, his symptoms deteriorated further during his time in custody, as highlighted in the lawsuit.
According to the lawsuit, Beasley faced repeated punishments due to behaviors that were a result of his disability, thus causing a continuous cycle of adversity.
According to the lawsuit, Beasley, who turned 16 in September of 2022, was transferred from the juvenile to the adult system within a month. This decision was made despite the existence of a consistent pattern of self-harm and mental health requirements, as evidenced by the 1,000 pages of suicide risk assessments conducted during Beasley’s nearly five years in custody.
In 2022, a judge made the decision that Beasley would have to spend an extra five years in Texas’ adult prison system. This ruling came after he faced charges of harassing and assaulting a staff member who was a minor.
Beasley’s mother fiercely opposed the transfer of her son but, unfortunately, he was relocated to the TDCJ’s Wayne Scott Unit. This facility, situated in Brazoria County, is an adult male prison.
The lawsuit claims that the TDCJ, TJJD, and the University of Texas Medical Branch staff and officials violated the eighth amendment, which sets boundaries on the punishments that can be imposed by the criminal justice system. Furthermore, it is alleged that these departments also violated the Americans with Disabilities Act, resulting in the tragic death of Joshua.
“The Texas Civil Rights Project’s Staff Attorney for the Criminal Legal Program, Molly Petchenik, emphasized that incarcerating children, especially those like Joshua with intricate mental health needs, is not suitable. She stated that confining children only exacerbates their mental health challenges.”
The United States Department of Justice recently conducted a thorough investigation which uncovered numerous constitutional and other violations at all five facilities operated by the TJJD.
According to a report by the Department of Justice in August, the Texas juvenile system did not effectively protect children from harm. This includes instances of sexual abuse, excessive use of physical force and isolation, as well as an insufficient behavior management system.