Three inmates have tragically died from suspected drug overdoses at the Sacramento County Jail, according to an Independent Report that reveals negligence in the facility. The report, conducted by two medical professionals responsible for monitoring the medical care of Sacramento inmates, highlights that these deaths could have been prevented with proper monitoring and detoxification processes in place.
One heart-wrenching account comes from Visalia Dobie-Johnson, who received two missed phone calls from the Sacramento County Main Jail while finishing work on April 5. Worried that her fiancé may be incarcerated, she hurried to the downtown jail but was denied access to see him. It wasn’t until later that night that Dobie-Johnson learned her fiancé, Delion Johnson, had passed away while in a holding cell. Devastated, Dobie-Johnson thought about Johnson’s children, including their unborn baby due in September.
Johnson’s death is one of three suspected drug overdose deaths that have occurred at the jail this year. The report emphasizes that adequate monitoring and detoxification protocols could have prevented these fatalities. Shockingly, medical deaths at the jail, such as drug overdoses, typically lack independent oversight. Unlike homicides and suicides, the Sheriff’s Office does not request internal investigations into these cases unless there are apparent policy violations by deputies. Since the appointment of Inspector General Francine Tournour in September 2022, no such investigations have taken place despite seven deaths.
When questioned about these concerns, Sheriff’s Office spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi declined to provide any answers. The county, however, claims to review the circumstances of every death in the jails to determine if the quality of care was a factor and to improve performance if necessary. Unfortunately, the county did not provide The Bee, who reported on the story, with these reports due to privacy laws.
In 2018, the County Board of Supervisors removed jail medical care from the Sheriff’s Office’s oversight. Consequently, the division responsible for medical care does not fall under the purview of the inspector general, internal affairs, or the District Attorney’s office. The jail currently has vacancies for six mental health workers and 25 registered nurses, exacerbating concerns about the quality of care provided.
These findings highlight significant flaws in the monitoring and oversight of medical care at the Sacramento County Jail. With three tragic inmate deaths from suspected drug overdoses, it is clear that immediate action is needed to prevent further loss of life. The Sacramento community is left waiting for answers and concrete solutions to ensure the safety and well-being of inmates in the County’s custody.
