Lake County Jail Guards Work To Prevent Inmate Suicide, Self Harm

WAUKEGAN, IL — Corrections officers at the Lake County Jail prevented the 60th case of inmate self-harm this year, according to a press release from the Lake County Sheriff's Office. On Nov. 25, corrections officers intervened when a 36-year-old inmate was striking her head against a wall. She was placed under suicide prevention protocol after the incident.

Jail guards have prevented over 150 suicide attempts in the Lake County Jail over the past five years, and intervened 240 times as inmates attempted to hurt themselves, preventing further physical harm. That means about once a week, officers had to intervene.

There have been two successful suicide attempts in the past five years, according to Sgt. Chris Covelli of the Lake County Sheriff's Office.

An inmate is placed on suicide prevention protocol if they exhibit signs of suicidal or self-harm behavior, make suicidal comments or if jail staff is given reason to believe an inmate may want to hurt or kill themselves.

Security reasons prevented Covelli from detailing exactly what suicide prevention protocol entails, but he said there are "increased checks of prisoners."

Of the number of self harm incidents and suicide attempts, Sheriff Mark Curran said "These statistics prove just how prevalent mental illness is in a correctional setting. From the time an inmate enters our facility to the time they are released, protocols are in place to prevent inmates from harming themselves or others."

The press release said one corrections officer can supervise up to 60 inmates in a housing unit, adding "This allows inmates the ability to socialize and interact with one another, as long as the rules are followed."

The Lake County Sheriff’s Office "makes it a top priority to treat jail inmates humanely, fairly, and with respect, while in custody at the Lake County Jail,” Covelli quoted Curran as saying.

The jail staff is Nationally Accredited by American Correctional Association and National Commission on Correctional Health Care, Covelli said, adding "Corrections staff follow nationally recognized best-practices in their day-to-day operations of the jail."

A goal of the Sheriff's Office is to reduce recidivism by identifying risky behaviors, linking inmates with community resources and using cognitive behavioral therapy, the press release said.

On Nov. 17, a Cary man committed suicide in his McHenry County Jail cell, according to an anonymous source close to the man.

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