Substantial Increase In OC Jail Drug Use: OCSD

ORANGE COUNTY, CA — A grand jury reported that 15 recent in-custody deaths in Orange County jails may have been prevented if treatment was not delayed. According to that report, 44-percent of in-custody deaths in Orange County jails could have been avoided with "modest changes in procedure" at a "relatively low cost."

Though Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens agreed that "inmate healthcare is an essential and critical function that jails must provide under challenging circumstances," she disputed the recommendations as "failing to take into account the security requirements of a custody facility."

OCSD operates one of the largest jail systems in the nation while processing more than 50,000 bookings each year and housing more than 6,000 inmates each day. The needs of each inmate are often "complex" and staff and healthcare personnel "go to great lengths" to ensure those needs are met, but there are limits to what can be done with regard to health of each person held in custody.

"A jail is not a hospital," Carrie Braun, spokesperson for the OCSD said. "Individuals brought to the Orange County jail have been arrested on suspicion of criminal activity. It’s imperative for the safety of other inmates and staff that appropriate security precautions are closely adhered to."

The sheriff's department discussed with Patch the role illicit drugs play in prisons, with regard to in-custody deaths. Some of those were attributed to drug use in the jails, which has "increased substantially," Braun told Patch. Since AB 109 took effect in 2011, there has been an increase in contraband inside jails. Reports of over 450 cases a year, with 2017 recording 738 cases of illegal drugs found inside the OC jail system.

"We have seen an increase in efforts to smuggle drugs, like fentanyl, into the jail system," Braun said.

Officers have combated the increase of drugs in prisons by introducing K9 officers with drug sniffing capabilities. A full report is currently in the works, with regard to the types of drug use found in the OC jail system, as well as specific measures the Department has taken overcome them, Braun told Patch. That report will be released when it is made available.

“Each death is tragic, but the long term health consequences of drug abuse are difficult to remedy with even the best medical care,” said Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. “The lesson from this report is that efforts to combat drug addiction, drug trafficking and the root causes of drug dependency must continue."

OCSD contracts with the Orange County Health Care Agency’s Correctional Health Services division to provide medical care to inmates in custody. This contract is a partnership and the Sheriff has worked diligently to maintain a strong working relationship with Correctional Health Services.

OCSD, in collaboration with our healthcare partners, will review the findings and recommendations of the Grand Jury’s report, and will respond to the applicable recommendations within 60 days as required by penal code.

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