Performance Indicators Displayed on a Publicly Accessible Dashboard May Be Beneficial in Lowering Death Rate in Jails

Performance indicators of jail functioning presented in a dashboard display accessible to the public over the internet improve jail functioning and promotes transparency and accountability. Fact: SDSO policy requires a nurse to conduct a face-to-face interview with an incarcerated person within twenty-four hours of submission of a request for medical/mental health services. Fact: SDSO officials estimate only 75% to 85% of requests for medical/mental health services are followed up within twenty-four hours of submission. Fact: The DRC Report found the failure to follow up in a timely manner to requests for medical/mental health services may have contributed to the deaths of individuals housed in San Diego County jails. Fact: SDSO officials state there are no metrics tracking requests for medical/mental health services.

SDSO lacks performance indicators of medical/mental health services requests displayed in a dashboard accessible to the public which, if implemented, should improve response time to requests for services and decrease health acuity and deaths. Fact: SDSO established an MAT module at the Vista Detention Facility in January 2023. Fact: Since the establishment of MAT programming in January 2023 total suspected opioid overdoses have decreased significantly. Fact: Incarcerated persons throughout the SDSO jail system may receive MAT medication and depending on mental health clinician availability, also receive individual counseling. Fact: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends sixteen specific metrics which should be collected for the monitoring and evaluation of a correctional MAT program. Fact: SDSO does not collect metrics to track MAT programming.

No metrics are being collected by the SDSO to be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting MAT programming which, if implemented, may decrease mortality and high-risk behaviors and move individuals toward recovery. Fact: SDSO grievance policies and procedures are consistent with the California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities. Fact: Healthcare grievances are one of the 286 performance indicators which appear on the CDCR/CCHCS dashboard available to the public on the internet. Fact: SDSO does not collect metrics that can be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting grievances.

SDSO does not collect metrics targeting grievances for CQI purposes which if implemented, could provide management with a review of SDSO policies, conditions, or omissions that have an adverse effect on the health, safety, and welfare of incarcerated persons. Fact: SDSO’s policies and procedures for conducting and reviewing safety checks are consistent with California Code of Regulations, Title 15 requirements. Fact: At the facility commander level, the SDSO review of safety checks is not a complete review. The location of the review rotates each month, only conducting a partial review of all safety checks. Video footage of safety checks is sometimes chosen to be used in this review, however, there is not always video footage available. Fact: SDSO safety check review data are used only at the individual facility level and not reviewed and utilized as jail system-wide aggregate data and no metrics are collected for CQI purposes.

SDSO does not have metrics that can be used as performance indicators for CQI purposes targeting safety checks which, if implemented, could improve deputy compliance to conducting meaningful safety checks thus decreasing both medical distress and crime occurring in the jails.