Mom held for unpaid traffic tickets dies in Tarrant Co. jail

[Servonaut]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3485441

MrTriumph  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jun-19-08 03:26 PM
Original message
Mom held for unpaid traffic tickets dies in Tarrant Co. jail 
 Advertisements [?]Source: Ft. Worth Star-Telegram

Tarrant County Jail inmate dies days after complaining about an untreated infection
By ANTHONY SPANGLER aspangler@star-telegram.com

FORT WORTH — Calling from a Tarrant County Jail phone in early June, Adrienne Lemons chatted with her 3-year-old son, Chase, and told her ex-husband in Louisiana that she was not getting antibiotics for an infection.

The Dallas woman, 35, was in jail because of unpaid traffic tickets. Ten days after being booked, she was taken to John Peter Smith Hospital, where she died within hours.

Lemons’ relatives said Wednesday that they still don’t know why she didn’t get medical help sooner.

"It is a tragic thing that my sister goes in for some traffic tickets and comes out dead," said her brother Shannon Woodrome, 37, of Little Elm. "I can see an infection killing someone in the 1600s or the 1700s, but that shouldn’t happen today."

sandnsea  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jun-19-08 03:28 PM
Response to Original message
1. Going to jail for traffic tickets
 shouldn't happen either. That's what happens when you live in a vengeance based culture. The whole thing is just tragic. No wonder people feel they aren't worth anything.
 

earthboundmisfit  (888 posts)     Thu Jun-19-08 03:34 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. She essentially died for a crime of poverty
 Because she couldn't pay the fines. (Plus the gross negligence involved - I hope the family is able to retain a good attorney over this.)
 

 

grasswire  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jun-19-08 04:40 PM
Response to Reply #1
35. so the taxpayers pay $30,000/year to hold people for poverty
 It costs upwards of thirty grand a year to keep someone in custody. How long were the taxpayers going to pay to hold her in a place where she can't raise any money?

INSANITY.

 

Sequoia  (1000+ posts)      Thu Jun-19-08 05:03 PM
Response to Reply #1
42. I know people who've gone to jail because of unpaid tickets.
 And if you don't pay your registration on time...you get shot. Just about anyway.

rateyes  (1000+ posts)       Thu Jun-19-08 03:34 PM
Response to Original message
3. Tarrant County should have to put about $50 million in a trust for that
 3-year old boy, and several heads should roll in the Tarrant County jail system.

Used to live there. This is unacceptable.
 

When I saw this thread I tried to remember the last time I got a ticket.
I think it was in 1998 for speeding.

I took DD and it was flushed. Am I supposed to feel sorry for this woman ?

[RobJohnson]

Well I hope there is more to this story.

If she asked for medical attention and did not get it, this is pretty sad.

Alot of people in jail even use their own health insurance for treatment (short sentences, work release, weekenders, etc)

I do have empathy for this family. Think of her three year old son.

[djones520]

Don't need to have sympathy for her being in jail.  She broke the law, that was the punishment.  But you are in the care of the state (or county, or whatever) in that situation.  They should be held accountable if they where negligent in her care.

[Lord Undies]

Don't need to have sympathy for her being in jail.  She broke the law, that was the punishment.  But you are in the care of the state (or county, or whatever) in that situation.  They should be held accountable if they where negligent in her care.

Don't faint, but I agree with you.  I have some knowledge of the Tarrant County jail.  It is a not well managed. 

[DixieBelle]

I agree with djones.

Stories like this always sell papers (or drive web traffic). I'd love to hear The Tarrant Co. Sherrif's office side of it. Problem is, they probably have a self-imposed gag order. Meanwhile, the family of the victim can continue give interviews.

And she was taken to John Peter Smith hospital. That's the county hospital where indigents go. It's also where prisoners are taken while in custody. And yes, Tarrant Co. jail is not a fun place to be. Take my word for it.

It says she "not getting antibotics for an infection". Was it diagnosed and being treated when she was booked? Or, did she tell her family she needed antibotics because she had an infection? There's a lot more to this story. Don't get me wrong, it's sad and tragic. But the facts matter.

[djones520]

Don't need to have sympathy for her being in jail.  She broke the law, that was the punishment.  But you are in the care of the state (or county, or whatever) in that situation.  They should be held accountable if they where negligent in her care.

Don't faint, but I agree with you.  I have some knowledge of the Tarrant County jail.  It is a not well managed. 

Everyone check to see if the world has stopped rotating!  

[DixieBelle]

more detail here -
http://matlock-law.typepad.com/the_blog/

JPS provides taxpayer funded care. Though the DUmmie doesn't realize it, their posting of this case highlights everything that's wrong with socialized medicine.