The recent death of a 25-year-old inmate at Maple Street Correctional Center marks the sixth inmate fatality since Sheriff Christina Corpus took office. The deaths have raised alarm over the mental health services provided within the jail, especially given that two were suicides and others resulted from drug overdoses. Despite improvements to mental health and substance abuse services, concerns remain about the adequacy and training of staff. Following this trend, an advocacy group requested an independent review of these deaths, which was not conducted. Voters may soon have the power to remove Sheriff Corpus due to a newly approved measure.
Despite these efforts, the incarcerated person, a 25-year-old white man, was pronounced deceased at the correctional facility by EMS personnel.
Correctional officers and deputies are not trained to handle addiction and mental health crises, despite the long-standing use of jails and prisons as de facto mental health institutions.
Sheriff has strengthened mental health and substance abuse services within the jail, but these units still function within the correctional environment.
Measure A that would amend the county charter to allow the Board of Supervisors, by a four-fifths vote, to fire the sheriff.
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