The Grand Jury of Humboldt County

Conclusions 15

• CL1 Page 37
  The HCCF sobering cell is primarily constructed of concrete surfaces and is only partially padded.
• CL2 Page 38
  The Humboldt County Sheriff Department’s policy and procedure for booking and sobering cell procedures is well written, but may not have been completely followed with regards to Cotton’s last incarceration.
• CL3 Page 38
  Eureka Police Department’s policy and procedure may not have been completely followed during Cotton’s arrest.
• CL4 Page 18
  Suicide prevention and early intervention program
• CL5 Page 18
  Program concerning youth identified with mental illness
• CL6 Page 18
  Program aimed at reducing stigma and discrimination associated with mental illness DHHS recognizes that MHSA provides the opportunity to engage interested agencies in initiatives concerning suicide and suicide prevention, an issue which affects the entire community and requires a community response. The MHB and law enforcement are presently taking on a proactive role in suicide prevention. Statistics The Jury obtained the following information, from the coroner, on suicides for 2006, 2007, and a portion of 2008:
• CL7 Page 18
  Humboldt County is in the top ten per capita for suicides in California.
• CL8 Page 18
  In 2006, there were thirty-four suicides as follows:  fourteen females  twenty males  average age of forty-six years  eight with prior mental health agency contact  twelve cases were alcohol or drug related
• CL9 Page 18
  In 2007, there were twenty-two suicides as follows:  four females  eighteen males  average age of fifty-two years  six with prior mental health agency contact  twenty cases were alcohol or drug related
• CL10 Page 18
  In 2008, up to April 8th, there were eleven suicides as follows:  two females  nine males  average age of forty-three years  one with prior mental health agency contact  two cases were alcohol or drug related Grand Jury Report # 2008-HS-03 Services for Children in Humboldt County MENTAL HEALTH COURT CHILD APPOINTED WELFARE SPECIAL SERVICES ADVOCATES CHILD PUBLIC ABUSE HEALTH SERVICES TEAM FOSTER CARE Environmental Remi Vista Foster P arent Alternatives Association Executive Summary: This report covers elements of the organizational safety net provided for abused, indigent, and neglected children in Humboldt County. The involved agencies include local child welfare services, foster care services, public and mental health services, a child abuse investigation team, and a special advocates program. What began as an investigation of a complaint from within the system evolved into an overview of the system. Who Shall Respond: Pursuant to California Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05, responses to the Findings and
• CL11 Page 36
  Medical screening is defined as, “A process that occurs at intake, prior to acceptance for booking, in which trained correctional staff document initial observations of arrestees and record their responses to questions pertaining to medical and mental health problems, developmental disabilities and communicable diseases. Facility health care staff is available on site to assess or refer arrestees for medical clearance.” [Italics added].
• CL12 Page 36
  Medical clearance is defined as, “Written documentation from a licensed health care professional indicating an individual is medically and/or psychologically fit for incarceration in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility.”
• CL13 Page 36
  “Facility health care staff will be called to assist in completing the medical receiving/ screening form. The same assessment done with non-violent arrestees must also be completed with violent arrestees”. [Italics added].
• CL14 Page 36
  “To be placed in a sobering cell, the arrestee must be able to be aroused, able to respond to simple commands, have no difficulty breathing, not appear to be acutely ill, and able to walk to the cell with minimal assistance. When in doubt about an arrestee’s suitability for placement in a sobering cell, staff shall obtain an assessment from the Health Services staff as soon as possible, prior to placement in the sobering cell.” [Italics added].
• CL15 Page 36
  “The arresting officer shall accompany the arrestee” and, “remain present until the medical receiving screening process has been completed.” If the arrestee has been placed into a holding or sobering cell for safety, the arresting officer shall continue to accompany the arrestee to the holding area and remain until the medical screening process is complete. On August 9, 2007, when Eureka police officers brought Cotton into HCCF for booking, it appears a medical pre-screening was attempted. Due to the subject appearing to be “disorientated” and “combative”, the screening questions were not completed and Cotton was moved to a sobering cell. A review of the evidence, including videotape, revealed Cotton exhibited bizarre behavior. He also appeared to potentially be a danger to himself and/or others. Health care staff was apparently called to evaluate Cotton. The jury was unable to establish how long before health care staff initially responded. It appeared the arresting officer did not remain while health care staff completed the medical clearance of Cotton. According to policy and procedure, any inmate placed in a sobering cell is videotaped. Although Cotton was videotaped while in the sobering cell, the video image was of poor quality. A complete and exact assessment of Cotton’s physical movements (such as possible head banging), while in the sobering cell, was difficult to visually verify. Videotape of the hallway outside the sobering cell verified Cotton was checked every fifteen minutes or less, as required. Findings and Recommendations: Finding 1: Concerning the investigation of Cotton, a perceived conflict of interest exists because two of the three represented agencies on the CIRT were directly involved in the Cotton incident.

No Responses Found 8

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.