It’s understandable that Orange County officials get frustrated when the courts examine the operation of some of their agencies, including the jail system. But two reports from the Orange County Grand Jury offer insight into some of the reasons for outside oversight. County officials have a history of resisting changes to their procedures, which then invites lawsuits and investigations.
The newest report, released early this month, focuses on a specific problem with a fairly simple fix. Called “The Silent Killer: Hypertension in Orange County’s Intake and Release Center,” it looks at 15 deaths of jail inmates with a history of cardiovascular ailments.
“The simple taking of vital signs within the first 48 hours on all the inmates being booked into the Orange County Jail could advance the diagnosis and treatment of what is acknowledged to be the leading cause of death in the United States,” it argued.
Last year, the grand jury took a broader look at the custodial-death issue. Between 2014 and 2017, 34 inmates have died for a variety of reasons, including illnesses and ailments they had before entering the jail system and a suicide.
The grand jury found that 44 percent of them “may have been preventable.”
The county has been dealing with this issue for years.
This often is how government operates.
Myriad agencies investigate, produce detailed audits and make recommendations. Groups file civil lawsuits, yet the underlying problem festers.
Top officials’ obstinance can exacerbate the situation.
For instance, following the latest report, Sheriff Don Barnes released a statement that deflected responsibility. “Inmates are not coming to jail for medical treatment,” he said. “They are coming because they broke the law.”
That may be so, but the county is responsible for inmates’ well-being while there — and regardless of why they were arrested. The department should take any reasonable steps that it can to reduce fatalities.
Screening inmates upon entry is one low-cost approach.
This could also spare the county costly lawsuits as well as the kind of judicial oversight that causes local officials so much consternation.
June 13, 2019
The Orange County Register
By the Editorial Board
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