One More Death at Santa Cruz County Jail ... Makes Six In Two Years

Sergeant Kelly is already claiming there was no suspicious activity around the Santa Cruz County Jail inmate's death, which he called a "medical event." There is undoubtedly something suspicious about six deaths occurring in a jail within two years, especially in light of the recent Grand Jury investigation, which found most of them to be preventable. Our jail is overcrowded with people who have not been convicted of crimes, but simply cannot afford to pay bail. Our jail is overcrowded with people who need drug treatment and affordable housing. These deaths were preventable in more ways than one. Do we need another investigation to confirm this?

Both the Sheriff and California Forensic Medical Group, the private company who runs medical care in the jail, dismissed all recommendations that our community members spent a year developing in the Grand Jury. Where is the accountability? How many more people will lose their life in the jail?