Series Of Inmate Deaths At Sonoma County Jail Prompts Review Of Procedures
SANTA ROSA (CBS SF) -- A series of inmate deaths at the Sonoma County Jail in Santa Rosa has prompted the sheriff's office to hire an outside panel to review policies and medical practices at the jail.
Four inmates have died in the span of a month at the jail.
In a press release, the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office said it was researching a panel to evaluate patient care and medical standards at the Main Adult Detention Facility and the North County Detention Facility.
The panel will consists of medical, mental health, and detention professionals, according to the sheriff's office. The statement said early indications showed no medical care was denied, or policies or laws violated, but that final determination wouild be left to the investigation through the In-Custody Death protocol.
"These recent deaths in such a short amount of time are very unfortunate and outside of the norm," spokeswoman Sgt. Cecile Focha said in a news release. "We pride ourselves in delivering detention services in a professional, firm, fair and compassionate manner."
In the most recent inmate death, an inmate booked into the Main Adult Detention Facility Friday was found dead Saturday night in a unit for inmates going through drug withdrawals.
