My husband is in jail. He was mistreated, and when he went to jail he was denied medical care.
Asked in Lubbock, TX Last answered on October 28, 2026My husband was mistreated by law enforcement the day he got arrested. He has a broken leg, and they slammed him to the ground. Also, when he got to the county detention center, they neglected him on medical treatment and other issues. His name was not on the search warrant; they did an illegal search. The name was not under his name
2 answers
I'm sorry about what he's going through. Three different problems are mixed together here, and Texas law treats them separately.
First, the search. A warrant authorizes officers to search the place and the items it describes. It does not have to name every person who is found there. If the warrant was defective or the officers went beyond it, a defense lawyer can ask the judge to throw out the evidence. That request is called a motion to suppress, and it is made in the criminal case.
Second, the force used during the arrest and the lack of medical care in jail. People in custody have a constitutional right to care for serious medical needs, and a broken leg that goes untreated is the kind of fact that matters. These claims are usually brought in a separate civil rights lawsuit, not in the criminal case, and the deadline is short, generally two years in Texas. Complaints about a county jail can also go to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
Dates, names, and every written medical request are worth keeping. A criminal defense lawyer handles the search issue, and a civil rights lawyer handles the injury claim.
There is an old saying: the more the cops beat you up, the higher the charge they charge you with. First beat the criminal case, and then sue the hell out of them.
Don't see what you are looking for? Ask a Super Lawyers Selectee - it's free!
Submit a question and get answers for free from a Super Lawyers Selectee.
Ask a questionThe information contained in this web site is intended to convey general information. It should not be construed as legal advice or opinion. It is not an offer to represent you, nor is it intended to create an attorney-client relationship.