"STRUCK: Inside the Harris County Jail"

the burl osborne award — SHOWCASE certificate of merit

KHOU
Contributors: Jeremy Rogalski, Tina Macias, Keith Tomshe, Erik Darelius, John Gibson, Jennifer Cobb
03/11/2024

STRUCK: Inside the Harris County Jail exposed a disturbing pattern of excessive force used by detention officers at one of the nation’s largest jails, revealing systemic failures that enabled violence against inmates with little accountability.

Our investigation uncovered that detention officers struck inmates in the head nearly four times a week over a four-year period—blows deemed unnecessary by both experts and the sheriff overseeing the jail. We further revealed that the Harris County Jail lacked policies or training regulating punches to the head, a practice that other major correctional institutions have banned due to its potentially fatal consequences.

This absence of oversight fostered a culture where officers faced little to no discipline for their actions.

Despite over 800 reported head-punching incidents over four years, only 10 officers were held accountable.

This investigation began as an attempt to better understand the persistent problems at the Harris County Jail, which had long been plagued by record-high deaths, state inspection failures, and widespread complaints. Through extensive public records requests, our team analyzed more than 3,300 use-of-force reports, internal affairs investigations, and training documents, often overcoming bureaucratic resistance and steep costs. Gathering videos was especially difficult for this documentary, as jail footage is generally considered confidential under Texas law.

However, evidence in disposed criminal cases must be released. During our research we identified several inmates, who despite being punched by detention officers, were charged and convicted with assaulting a public servant. Through this “side door,” we were able to request and obtain videos in those cases. Another video was found in a federal lawsuit and others were obtained through leaks. Interviews with former inmates, law enforcement experts, and civil rights advocates provided vital context for our findings.

The impact of STRUCK was swift and measurable. Within a month of the documentary’s release, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez revised department policy, restricting head strikes to deadly force situations or extenuating circumstances. He also pledged to expand de-escalation training and strengthen supervisor accountability, marking a significant step toward reform in one of the nation’s largest county jails.

The Burt Osborne Award celebrates outstanding reporting on social justice and human rights that drives local change and holds authorities accountable. STRUCK: Inside the Harris County Jail exemplifies this by exposing systemic abuse and sparking policy change.

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Submitted by Jennifer Cobb.