Eastern District of California Blog

Sacramento County Jail To Expand Mental Health Care In New Unit

As the Sacramento County Main Jail handles more inmates with psychiatric problems, the Sheriff’s Department is developing a new section staffed by UC Davis medical professionals, social workers and deputies that can provide intensive mental services without 24-hour care.

Sac Bee, 3/23/17

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article140363113.html#storylink=cpy

Sacramento County Pays $515,000 to Settle Suit Over Inmate's Jail Death

“Mark Scott died a horrible death,” said civil rights attorney Stewart Katz, who represented Scott’s family. “This is one of the worst instances of deliberate indifference I’ve ever seen.”

As a result, Sacramento County taxpayers will foot the $515,000 paid to Scott’s family to resolve a wrongful-death lawsuit in U.S. District Court, a case that Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said could have been tough to defend in front of a jury. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2013, was dismissed March 13 and the half-million-dollar settlement was made public earlier this month. One jail employee was disciplined.

Sac Bee, 3/23/15

Two Inmates Killed In Separate Incidents At Sacramento County Jail

Today's Sacramento Bee has a story entitled, "Two inmates killed in separate incidents at the Sacramento County jail."

Sacramento Sheriff To Forgo Most Federal Immigration Holds

Faced with the dilemma of conflicting state and federal mandates, Sacramento County Sheriff Scott Jones said he will adhere to newly enacted state law requiring that law enforcement agencies not honor federal immigration detainers placed on inmates at county jails.

In doing so, Jones is bucking federal law and overturning a practice long held at the Sacramento County Main Jail. But Jones said he made the decision in part to build trust among communities whose members might otherwise fear that by calling the Sheriff’s Department, they could risk deportation.

“My concern is not with the enforcement of federal immigration law, I have little interest in doing so,” Jones told reporters Thursday. “My greater concern as sheriff of Sacramento County is ensuring victims of crime and people (who need help) ... have the ability without fear to call the Sheriff’s Department and get a response.”

Sacramento Bee, 2/20/14

Sacramento County Ordered To Pay Attorney Fees In Excessive Force Jail Suit

A federal judge has ordered Sacramento County to pay an attorney $197,505 in fees after a jury awarded the attorney’s two clients $1 each on their claims that they endured excessive force while inmates at the county’s downtown jail.

Sacramento Bee, 10/21/13

UC Regents Pay $375,000 Settlement To Family Of Man Who Committed Suicide At Sacramento Jail

"The University of California regents have agreed to pay $375,000 to the family of a man who committed suicide while an inmate at the Sacramento County jail and a patient of the jail's psychiatric staff."  Sacramento Bee, 9/5/13

Suit Alleges Death From Deficient Medical Care At Sacramento Jail

A Sacramento County jail inmate died a year ago because a sheriff's deputy and a nurse refused to give him help for constant vomiting of blood over at least 12 hours, according to a wrongful-death lawsuit filed in federal court.

The 17-page complaint alleging civil rights violations was filed on behalf of the inmate's mother and three sisters. It was filed electronically Saturday by attorney Stewart Katz.

The death of Mark Anthony Scott was the direct result of a failure to summon emergency medical care which, in turn, stemmed from "defective policies and practices" at the Sacramento County Main Jail and Correctional Health Services, the complaint alleges.

Sacramento Bee, 1/7/13

Bee Restaurant Critic Gives Zero Stars To Sacramento Jail Service

Restaurant critic Blair Anthony Robertson "reviews" the service at the Sacramento County Jail in yesterday's SacBeeBlog:

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Sacramento County Jail. I was checking on a friendly acquaintance, a homeless man I know who is accused of a relatively minor offense. It's a clean, well-lit place, at least for visitors.

But what I want to address relates to service. And since I spend so much time visiting restaurants and trying to assess how skillfully they serve their customers, I thought it might be revealing to see what we could learn from how our county employees serve the taxpaying public. Hmm, let me think of a single word to describe it. Dismal? Sort of. Rude? Yes, but incomplete. Pathetic? Perfect. Let's go with that.

Sacramento Jail Limits Inmate Non-Legal Mail To Postcards

Family and friends of Sacramento County jail inmates who want to communicate in writing will have to correspond via postcards.

Beginning Feb. 10, the Sacramento County Main Jail and Rio Cosumnes Correctional Center will limit all incoming mail, with the exception of legal mail and other specifically approved correspondence, to standard postcards, according to a Sheriff's Department news release.

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They also will be able to receive up to 10 photographs, as well as money orders and cashier's checks through the mail.

The policy will not apply to books, newspapers and magazine subscriptions.

Sacramento Bee, 12/15/12

Sacramento County Pays $75,000 To Settle Jail Beating Lawsuit

For full story with photos and video, see Denny Walsh's story in the Sacramento Bee, 8/12/12.