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King County, Department of Justice reach agreement on proposed jail improvements
Summary
Today, King County Executive Ron Sims announced a proposed agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that addresses previous issues concerning jail operations and establishes measures that continue ongoing improvements. The proposal is now being transmitted to the King County Council for review and authorization.
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Today, King County Executive Ron Sims announced a proposed agreement with the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) that addresses previous issues concerning jail operations and establishes measures that continue ongoing improvements. The proposal is now being transmitted to the King County Council for review and authorization.
The proposed agreement is the result of a year-long negotiation with DOJ and settles concerns raised in the DOJ's November 13, 2007 letter regarding the King County Correctional Facility. King County continues to disagree with the initial assertion by DOJ that the constitutional rights of inmates are or have been being violated, and has been implementing positive change in the jail both before and during the DOJ investigation. Under the agreement, King County will continue to work with DOJ to achieve additional improvements in the jail system.
"I'm grateful for the collaborative nature of the negotiations with the Department of Justice and gratified that this agreement acknowledges the jail improvements already underway before the DOJ issued its report," said Executive Sims. "We will continue our improvements and the additional measures called for in the agreement."
In addition to working with the Department of Justice, the county implemented several major enhancements in jail practices during 2008, including:
- a new procedure for expanded scrutiny of uses of force in the facility
- a new procedure for reviewing and managing the use of force in the facility by creating a "Use of Force Board" which consists of the Deputy Director and Facility Commanders of the two jail facilities and meets regularly to review uses of force in the facilities
- additional training for corrections officers in appropriate uses of force
- additional training for staff assigned to conduct internal investigations
- daily cross-department shift reports to improve continuity of care for inmates in psychiatric housing;
- an electronic medical records system to improve provision and documentation of health care
- replacement of roughly 3500 mattresses in both adult detention facilities to improve cleanliness and reduce transmission of infectious diseases
- a pilot project that improved cleanliness of housing units in the King County Correctional Facility, which is now being implemented facility-wide; and
- reaccreditation of health care services from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC)
Many of these jail innovations were being planned and implemented at the time the Department of Justice findings letter was issued.
The proposed agreement with DOJ builds on past improvements and identifies certain agreed upon standards for jail operations in the areas of protection from harm, suicide prevention, medical care and environmental health. The estimated cost for implementing the elements of the agreement is approximately two million dollars in 2009. Subsequent annual costs are estimated at approximately $1.7 million.
"We have taken the Department of Justice concerns seriously, and taken a close look at our practices, as we fulfill our mandate for providing safe, secure and humane detention to the over 50,000 inmates in our care each year," said Kathy Van Olst, Director Designee for the King County Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention. "This proposed agreement commits us to making changes that will continue to improve our jail environment."
Specifically, the proposal's four elements include additional ongoing improvements:
- Protection from harm -- Revise policies on use of force and internal investigations, and provide a minimum of four hours of training on use of force and defensive tactics for all corrections officers.
- Suicide prevention – Ensure suicide prevention policies procedures and practices are adequate and that staff are well-trained in recognizing and responding to risks of suicide in the facility. Conduct daily assessments on the need for suicide precautions for inmates under suicide watch.
- Medical care – Provide timely and medically appropriate care for inmates with serious medical needs, implement infection control measures to prevent the spread of disease within the jail, and ensure that medication administration is implemented in accordance with generally accepted professional standards of care, such as National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards, which has accredited Jail Health Services continuously since 1992.
- Environmental health – Provide inmates with a daily change of underwear, two uniforms, two towels and two sets of sheets per week; develop and implement policies, procedures and practices for laundry and exchange of linens to prevent infection and illness.
"We're pleased that the Department of Justice has agreed with us on the path forward, so we can focus our energy to move ahead even more rapidly with our latest improvements for the health and safety of inmates," said Dr. David Fleming, Director and Health Officer for Public Health - Seattle & King County.
To monitor compliance with the agreement, Dr. Lindsay Hayes, a nationally recognized expert in the field of suicide prevention, is the agreed-upon monitor for compliance with the agreement and will personally evaluate the county's compliance with the suicide prevention requirements. In the area of protection from harm, he will consult with William Collins and with Dr. Ronald Shansky for medical care.
As proposed, the agreement is for three years, but can be ended sooner if King County shows substantial compliance in the four areas of protection from harm, suicide prevention, medical care and environmental health for at least 18 months.
