HOUSTON — Video revealed Friday by a candidate for Harris County sheriff shows a series of alleged altercations at the Harris County Jail involving inmates, jailers and a female civilian.
On Friday, civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump joined other local leaders and members of 27 families for a press conference outside the jail steps.
Families claim there have been nearly 70 deaths there in the last three years. They hope the videos shine a light on what they say is wrong with Harris County Jail operations.
There are portions of five videos shared with KHOU 11 news by an opponent of Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, allegedly showing altercations inside the Harris County Jail.
In one, it appears to show an inmate pushing a jailer down the stairs. In another, a civilian is punched.
"You can expect the expectation of violence. You can expect punishment and torment," said sheriff candidate Joe Incencio.
Incencio said he was given the video by a confidential source inside the jail, a supervisor who was fed up with the violence.
"We want transparency to see if the inmates did something wrong, or the see if the jailers did something wrong," said Crump.
Crump is currently representing 27 families who said they have loved ones who died inside the Harris County Jail. Annette Barrett-James said her brother died in jail three years ago.
"It means so much to us to have someone here that can make a significant impact and get answers as to what happened to our loved ones," she said.
Crump team filed suit against the sheriff's office back in August of 2023 alleging mistreatment and say these videos, also given to them by Incencio, may be indicative of a culture that may have contributed to their loved one’s deaths.
"Every video every witness, every medical report helps us put together the puzzle of why all of the 27 people we represent, all those people who died. We put together the puzzle to get answers," Crump said.
The people in the videos shared are not tied to the current litigation, but Crump said he hopes it compels others to come forward. Family hopes it forces more questions to be answered.
"We can’t get an autopsy; the state blocked it. We got a death certificate, and on the death certificate, it said that he had blunt force trauma. And we can’t get video," said Kervin James.
KHOU 11 News Reporter Katiera Winfrey reached out to the Harris County Jail and they said they can't comment on political campaign events.
The sheriff's campaign and jailer union did not reach back out with comment in time for this publication.