EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has officially rescinded the notice of non-compliance previously issued to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPCSO) regarding the in-custody death of Joe Murvin due to “natural causes,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
As Sheriff Oscar Ugarte previously said, inmate checks were conducted. However, a technical issue prevented them from being properly registered.
Video footage submitted to TCJS confirmed that officers performed the required checks, reaffirming the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to safety and security within the facility, EPCSO said.
EPCSO said that renovations are underway at the Downtown Detention Facility, including the installation of cameras in the dayrooms to verify jailers’ face-to-face observation of inmates.
Ugarte is also working to upgrade the facility’s current system to prevent technical issues, improve tracking, and enhance officer accountability, according to the news release.
In addition, EPCSO said Ugarte is implementing a policy to ensure interior cell block doors remain secured when unattended.
“When I took office, I inherited facilities and systems that had been neglected for far too long,” said Ugarte. “My priority is to ensure my team has the training and resources they need to do their jobs effectively. We’re focused on addressing the issues, improving oversight, and ensuring transparency while holding ourselves to the highest standards of accountability.”
As we previously reported, the day of Murvin’s death, out of 55 conducted observation rounds, one round was an hour and 37 minutes late, equaling three missed observation rounds, according to the non-compliance report.
The non-compliance states that every facility shall have the appropriate number of jailers at the facility 24 hours each day.
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