Several Tarrant County residents who spoke during public comment in Commissioners Court on Tuesday called for the release of inmates who they say are severely disabled and need mental health care rather than incarceration.
“Of particular concern in the prison right now is Kaielle Campbell, a young man with the mental capacity of an 8-year-old,” said Harriet Hallal of Fort Worth. “He was physically healthy when he entered the prison in December. It is my understanding that he is now spending his time naked in a cell covered in excrement and food particles.”
Campbell was arrested on December 11, 2023 on suspicion of assaulting an elderly person. Harral said his physical condition has deteriorated significantly since entering the Tarrant County Jail and asked his commissioners to intervene. She told the Star-Telegram in a phone interview that she learned about Campbell’s situation and physical condition from her mother at a meeting of concerned residents Monday night.
“He has lost so much weight. He has numerous scars on his body and we don’t know why they are there,” she told commissioners. “This is a laboratory demonstration of how people with mental health problems die in prison. If we just wait, if there is no intervention, we will soon be here – We’re talking about Campbell’s death. Do something now. He deserves treatment.”
Mr Campbell’s inability to understand his situation is confirmed by court documents which show he has been found incompetent to stand trial. A doctor’s note filed in January said Campbell had “sufficient current ability to consult with counsel with a reasonable degree of reasonable understanding” and/or “a reasonable degree of procedural understanding.” It was found that there was a lack of “realistic and factual understanding”.
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Court records against Campbell include a transfer order to a state mental health facility filed in February, but Campbell remains in the county jail, according to jail records.
Others who spoke out about recent prison deaths also called on the commissioners to improve the county’s treatment of inmates with mental health issues, calling for Campbell’s release and proper treatment. Earlier in the day, they voted to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month.
Fort Worth resident Charles Biltz said incarceration is not an appropriate response to people facing a mental health crisis. He called for improvements in the county’s treatment of inmates with mental health issues, citing the initials of Anthony Ray Johnson Jr., who died after being pepper-sprayed in the county jail in April.
“A.J. Johnson was mentally ill. He didn’t need to go to prison,” Biltz said. “Kayelle Campbell is mentally ill and requires hospitalization.”
Alan Robeau also cited Campbell, calling for “full accountability” for Sheriff Bill Wayborn and a detailed plan for how the county will improve mental health care for inmates.
“And if we don’t get that from the sheriff, we need to demand that the sheriff resign,” Lobaugh said.
Mr. Waybourn did not attend Tuesday’s session. A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
“The sheriff’s arrogance and failure to appear in court today speaks to the nature of the problem,” said former state Rep. Ron Burnham, a Fort Worth Democrat. “It seems like he doesn’t understand the crisis we are facing.”
Burnham mentioned Campbell and an “unnamed stepchild of a dear friend” who was also found incompetent to stand trial, but said he was unable to obtain the medication he needed.
“These are mentally ill patients who have been wrongly incarcerated, so their lives are at risk,” he said.
