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Assessment of County Jail Report Available
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  November 4, 2013
CONTACT: Shari Ireton, Director of Communications
425-388-3377, Shari.Ireton@co.snohomish.wa.us
Media line: 425-359-9323

The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the Assessment of Correctional Health Care Policy and Practice Technical Assistance provided by the National Institute of Corrections. The report was compiled following a three-day visit by Kenneth A. Ray, a technical consultant with the NIC. Ray conducted the review of the jail’s medical services under the authority of the Department of Justice.

The assessment included a review of the following areas:  medical care, mental health care and suicide prevention. 

An assessment of the jail’s operations by NIC was conducted in late August.  In addition to the NIC assessments, Sheriff Ty Trenary requested an informal review of the jail from Pierce County corrections leadership this summer. 

Several of the recommendations from all three assessments have already been implemented, or are in the process of being implemented, including:

  •     Finalizing and implementing an updated general policy and procedures manual
  •     Reviewing and improving the evidence-based health care policy
  •     Screening of all inmates at booking by a health care professional
  •     Hiring a new Health Services director, five additional nurses and one doctor, filling all but two medical unit vacancies
  •     Putting into place booking restrictions that will reduce overall annual daily population (ADP), including:
  •         Implementing booking restrictions on non-violent offenders
  •         Discussing with county leaders and mental health professionals on how to keep non-violent, mentally ill offenders out of jail
  •     Developing an inmate medical and/or mental health care release plan
  •     Implementing a mortality review process
  •     Requesting funds from the County Council to purchase an electronic medical record system
“All of these initiatives will help us to meet our overall goal of improving staff and inmate safety,” said Sheriff Trenary.