Rachel Annette Jackson, 21

Austin, Texas
July 21, 2008

Agencies: Texas Department of Criminal Justice | Texas Department of Public Safety | Texas Jail Project | Travis County Correctional Complex TCCC

Cause of death: Not Yet Known

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Overview

Black Lives Matter Austin say Rachel Jackson's family received word from Travis County police that she was dead and were told cameras were not allowed in Del Valle Jail. Despite this the family managed to take photos of her lifeless body which showed numerous injuries and have reason to believe that she was killed on July 21, 2008 in the Del Valle jail.

Then on Friday, January 27, 2012, a federal jury in Austin ruled today that neither the actions of Travis County officials nor of a former jail psychiatrist caused the death of a mentally ill woman found dead in her cell in 2008. But in an extraordinary move, the jury issued a statement calling on the county to improve the operations of its jails.

Following the jury’s decision in the lawsuit brought by the family of 21- year-old Rachel Jackson, who died while in “psych lockdown” in the Del Valle jail, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks agreed that the panel could
read a statement into the record.

“While we cannot find that Travis County proximately caused the death of Rachel Jackson,” the foreman said while standing in the jury box, “we do see significant opportunity for improvement in the processes,
documentation and communication within the Travis County Correctional center.”

Legal Action

February 2013 Denial of new trial

Community and Family Efforts

#SayHerName

Obituary

July 2016 Protest