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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Sacramento County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Release of Mentally Ill Inmates From the Main Jail
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 3 findings
F1
Page 78
The grand jury found inmates who need mental health services are at increased risk for re- incarceration and/or psychiatric hospitalization if they are not linked to community mental health services during the critical 24 to 72 hours after release.
F2
Page 78
The grand jury found that mentally ill inmates released after normal business hours at night when they cannot access services are also more at risk for recidivism and exacerbation of mental health symptoms. 77 -2017
F3
Page 79
The grand jury found that the Main Jail’s data system does not flag those inmates who received mental health services during incarceration.
Recommendations 3
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R1Page 78The grand jury recommended expanding collaborative efforts to reduce numbers of mentally ill inmates who are released during hours when services are not available. Response #1 The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department concurs with the grand jury finding, with an explanation. The complexity of this situation involves a wide variety of variables, many of which are not under the control of the Sheriff's Department. Several agencies need to co-ordinate their efforts in order to see that services are available during those periods that are outside their normal operating hours. Triage navigators from UC Davis operate a program in the jail to evaluate inmates while they are in custody providing services from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. In addition, mental health professionals provide inmates with information when they are leaving. Inmates also receive a free 30-day supply of medications when they are released.
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R2Page 79The grand jury recommended exploring the possibility of locating a transition resources center near the jail so that released inmates can connect with service providers, including triage navigators, especially after normal business hours. Response #2 Once court personnel schedule the time of an inmate’s release, the Sheriff's Department must process and release the inmate as close as reasonably possible to that time. Delaying this would violate the inmate’s Constitutional rights. To avoid this violation of rights, the Sheriff's Department offers inmates the option to be released or stay in the release area of the jail until the next morning when community services are available. The Sheriff's Department supports examining additional resources that may provide a greater chance of success. However, it points out that accomplishing this would require a collaborative effort involving county agencies, city agencies, care providers and non-profit organizations.
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R3Page 79The grand jury recommended revising the tracking system to include information such as the booking numbers of mentally ill inmates, the kinds of services that were provided during incarceration and the anticipated effectiveness of triage navigator services after the inmate’s release. Response #3 The Sheriff's Department had this to say about the grand jury’s finding on this point. The Jail Management System (JMS) is used by custody staff to document prisoners, track their movements, housing, classification levels and incidents while they are in jail. However, this is only one of three separate tracking systems used at the jail. None of them is designed to "flag" those who are receiving mental health services. The jail’s mental health staff is charged with evaluating all inmate needs and determining whether an inmate is suffering from some form of mental illness. Sheriff’s Department officials are in final negotiations to obtain a more modern electronic records system that will be capable of handling all the necessary information about inmates, including Jail Psychiatric Services evaluations and determinations made about inmates’ mental health while they were incarcerated. 78 - 2017 Sacramento County Grand Jury Grand Jury notes that all required responses to this investigation were submitted in compliance with Penal Code Sections 933 and 933.05. The current grand jury firmly stands behind the findings and recommendations of the previous year's grand jury report. 79