Kelly Masten is a 38 year old woman with a rare form of epilepsy and developmental disability who is now fighting for her life at JPS Hospital after spending 10 days confined and neglected in Tarrant county jail. She should have never been booked into the jail and never charged for a crime. She is one of many people incarcerated in Tarrant county jail with mental illness, intellectual/developmental disabilities, and serious medical conditions who have had harm further perpetrated because of multiple system failures.
At least 39 people have died in custody of Tarrant county jail since 2019 – one of the highest of a Texas county jail. We cannot afford to have more of our community members die at our hands because of the criminalization of mental health and those with disabilities. NOT ONE MORE!