The Clark County Sheriff’s Office is requesting more than $830,000 over the next two years to make upgrades aimed at reducing suicides in the county jail. This year, three inmates have killed themselves, a number county corrections staff say is deeply concerning.
“You know, it’s hard to prevent someone from harming themselves when they’re really intent on doing it. But we have an obligation to mitigate the risks in our facilities as we learn about them," said Ric Bishop, the county’s Chief Corrections Deputy.
The money would be used to buy new un-bunked beds in the medium- and high-security areas, something Bishop said is standard in newer jails. The money would also fund a system to monitor the vital signs of inmates deemed at risk for suicide.
The jail’s request for more money comes as the county is projecting a $20 million budget shortfall.
"Reducing or eliminating suicides in the jail is a priority for me but I need the council's help in implementing meaningful improvements," Clark County Sheriff Chuck Atkins said in a statement.
The jail has dealt with a high number of suicides in the past. In 2013, Clark County commissioners gave the jail nearly $550,000 to build a suicide prevention unit in the jail for the highest risk inmates. Bishop says it can hold up to 10 people and is being used regularly.
Copyright 2016 Oregon Public Broadcasting
