County to sue jail's builder

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By The Brownsville Herald

Published: 02/09/2004

Cameron County (Texas) will file a lawsuit against the builder of the Carrizalez-Rucker Detention Center alleging faulty construction that resulted in inmate escapes.
Commissioners last Tuesday voted to hire Brownsville attorney Tony Martinez to begin litigation procedures against Austin-based Faulkner U.S.A., formerly known as Landmark Organization.
"Part of (the lawsuit) stems from the problems that we had with respect to the construction of some of the cell blocks, that we believe contributed to the escape by the prisoners," Cameron County Judge Gilbert Hinojosa said.
In January, three inmates escaped by removing a foam ceiling tile and climbing into a crawl space. They made it into the building's ventilation system and onto the roof, where they jumped to the ground. They were later captured.
Officials said the escape was aided by inmates from another section of the jail, who used plastic cups or a wrench to dig a hole in the cell wall, likely as a distraction.
The county also plans to sue Faulkner for mold problems in the administrative building of the Sheriff's Department and the detention center, located in Olmito.
Faulkner U.S.A. said deficiencies in jail operations are to blame for the escapes.
Faulkner officials have said inmates were supplied tools, and they were unmonitored for an "extraordinary amount of time."
With the noise and destruction caused by inmates, the jailers should have known something was occurring, Faulkner spokeswoman Terri Dusek has said.
However, Hinojosa said had the detention center been adequately constructed, there would have been no reason for the escapes.
Since its opening in 2002, there have been three escapes involving six inmates.

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