Texas Jail Taking ALL Commissary Money for Health Services. Please Help!?

[ekrash]

My dad is in a Texas County Jail. He has multiple health issues and has been incarcerated since Nov 2009. They currently have him taking 23 prescription medications. Since he has been incarcerated, we have been sending money to him weekly for commissary, to buy noodles and stamps, etc.. Now we have been told that he has to pay for his medication and health services. We sent $100 about 1 week ago and he only ordered $25 but got nothing that he ordered; they told him it all went to pay for his medication.
I want to know if there are any resources (laws) giving the county the right to only deduct a certain amount from his funds? I have contacted the Texas Commission on Jail Standards but they are not returning my call, so any help or advice would be great. Thank you!

[Keltria]

Have you been able to sort out this problem yet or are you still looking for answers?

I found this on a website

Medication: The worst possible situation is where an inmate needs their regular prescription medication.
Inmates must buy their own medication.

I dont know if this is true or not.

[dianam1972]

I just had something happened to me along these lines. I sent my friend some money last week and he said they took 10 off the top for a tooth he had had pulled before I even met him. I thought that is not right to do. Geeze I am afraid to send anymore who knows what else he had done before I came into his life that they are gonna charge me for....

[Jillian]

Have you called the location he is at and ask him about this?

[secondtimer]

Here in Ct. if they have money coming in they are considered able to pay for medical and dental services which is about three dollars a visit which includes their medicine. And if they get a big settlement or inheritance or winnings even up to ten years after their incarceration they are expected to pay the state back for their incarceration. Go onto your DOC website in your state there may be a statute in place that is why they are deducting it now.
In order for then to be considered indigent (having no money) they cannot have money put on their books for three consecutive months. Then they can supply them with the bare essentials but they have to wait on them to supply them also so no telling how long that can take.

[iloveyoumore]

They shouldn't be able to take all the money off of his books. Just a percentage? As much as we like to disagree with the way the states do things the fact is most states are facing budget cuts...I know Oregon is...and they can afford less and less services. It affects our loved ones and us.

[kaysha]

Hopefully I am asking this question in the right place? My fiance is in Lewis complex Arizona is it true if they have no money on their books they do not get bare essentials like toothpaste bathroom tissue or soap? Can someone help clear this up for me? I am from the UK so trying to find out isn't easy to do
Many thanks to anyone who can help

[smitty2010]

Originally Posted by ekrash

My dad is in a Texas County Jail. He has multiple health issues and has been incarcerated since Nov 2009. They currently have him taking 23 prescription medications. Since he has been incarcerated, we have been sending money to him weekly for commissary, to buy noodles and stamps, etc.. Now we have been told that he has to pay for his medication and health services. We sent $100 about 1 week ago and he only ordered $25 but got nothing that he ordered; they told him it all went to pay for his medication.
I want to know if there are any resources (laws) giving the county the right to only deduct a certain amount from his funds? I have contacted the Texas Commission on Jail Standards but they are not returning my call, so any help or advice would be great. Thank you!

Hey, that happen to us when we sent our son some money in Texas Prison. But my son sent a I60 saying that his parents shouldn't be paying for his court cost or medications. They didn't take any the last time. I don't think they have a right to take money that someone SENDS him. I could see it if they had jobs and paid them. I still don't understand why they don't get smart and set up factories and business to have the imates work and pay them, even $ 1.00 an hour. They did that in Louisiana and it kept us from having to send extra money. good luck Smitty1935

[isadora.sarah]

Hopefully I asking this question in the right place? Many thanks to anyone who can help me

[uRmylife]

Originally Posted by kaysha

Hopefully I am asking this question in the right place? My fiance is in Lewis complex Arizona is it true if they have no money on their books they do not get bare essentials like toothpaste bathroom tissue or soap? Can someone help clear this up for me? I am from the UK so trying to find out isn't easy to do
Many thanks to anyone who can help

The information you are looking for can all be found on the Arizona DOC Website. I have included the information for your below. Hope this helps.

905.04 HEALTH AND WELFARE INDIGENT INMATE ALLOWANCES

1.1 Indigent Status - Inmates who did not have $12.00 available in their spendable account balance during the previous 30 days may apply for Health and Welfare Indigent status through their assigned CO III.

1.5 Health and Welfare Items
1.5.1 Indigent status inmates shall receive the following health and welfare items on an exchange basis:

1.5.1.1 Comb.
1.5.1.2 Toothpaste.
1.5.1.3 Toothbrush.
1.5.1.4 Disposable razor.
1.5.1.5 Shampoo.
1.5.1.6 Deodorant.
1.5.1.7 Shaving cream.
1.5.1.8 Denture Cleaner Tablets.
1.5.1.9 Denture Cup.
1.5.1.10 Denture Brush.
1.5.1.11 Denture Adhesive Pad or Cream/Paste.
1.5.1.12 Shower shoes.

1.5.2 Indigent status inmates shall receive the following health and welfare items as necessary.

1.5.2.1 Sanitary napkins.
1.5.2.2 Cleaning supplies.
1.5.2.3 Laundry supplies.
1.5.2.4 Bath soap.

1.5.3 Indigent status inmates shall receive the following writing supplies as
necessary to allow for correspondence authorized by Department Order #909, Inmate Property:

1.5.3.1 Five envelopes.
1.5.3.2 Five sheets of writing paper.

1.5.3.3 One pencil.

[Cara1947]

http://www.tdcj.state.tx.us/ Even TDCJ isn't that bad! Those classified as "chronic care" (meaning the need meds or testing done on a regular basis) are exempt from the new $100 in TDCJ. Link posted. Even if they don't qualify for chronic, TDCJ takes only HALF of what is in the commissary account until the $100 is reached. The $100 is an ANNUAL charge.

I'd start screaming to some county officials. We all know money is tight, but they are LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE for the health, safety, and care of the inmates in their custody until they are released.

Good luck.