Pursuant to California Penal Code section 919, the Santa Barbara County Grand Jury is vested with the authority to inquire into the condition and operation of the County Jail, including investigating inmate deaths while in custody.
The 2018-2019 Jury investigated the July 2018 suicide death of an inmate who had been taken into custody only hours earlier and was expected to be released the following day. The Jury learned that the inmate had exhibited self-harming behavior at the time he was arrested and transported to the Jail and had a prior arrest record that disclosed a 5150 mental health hold that was written based on danger to self.
The Jury determined the Sheriff's personnel and staff of Wellpath, the County's contract medical provider, should have recognized that this individual was at risk of self-harm while in custody and have taken readily available measures to reduce that risk. Along with eight other recommendations, the Jury calls for the Sheriff to review the department's training, policies and practices for promptly identifying arrestees who are at risk of self-harm and to make needed changes to avoid similar tragedies.
June 30, 2019
edhat Santa Barbara
Source: Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
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