Island County Corrections Improvements

About the Program

Category: Criminal Justice and Public Safety (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

On April 7, 2015 Keaton Farris, age 25 died of dehydration in the Island County jail. This tragic event revealed a systemic failure of the regional criminal justice system in responding to inmates suffering from mental illness. With the collaboration of the Sheriff’s office, the Board of Commissioners, Mental Health and Public Health leadership and community volunteers, a very different jail program is now in place. Specifically, internal and external reviews were completed and the recommendations for changes have been budgeted and now implemented, under the oversight of a community task force. Some notable improvements: • Inmates are screened for mental health and physical health upon intake. • A full time mental health worker manages daily needs of inmates and responds to crises. • Corrections officers receive regular training and monitoring equipment and procedures have been upgraded. • Administrative changes include more consistent forwarding of health records received from other agencies and those generated in the jail, to the next receiving facility, whether it’s a jail, prison or mental health facility. • Upon release, inmates are connected with community services such as chemical dependency treatment of domestic abuse counseling. We cannot repay the loss of Mr. Farris, but with the strategic investments made in mental health care, physical health care, staff training, policy updates and community engagements, Island County’s Jail has improved outcomes for all current and future inmates struggling with mental health conditions. Since 80% of the 50-60 people incarcerated at any time have substance use disorder, or a mental health disorder, or both, this is vitally important.