Sanitation issues, missed health checks ongoing at Oklahoma County jail, health department says

A collapsed detainee in a men's holding cell at Oklahoma County's jail wasn't checked on for nearly five hours. Another detainee on the jail's medical floor was found unresponsive after not being checked on for about the same length of time.

Those, plus continuing issues with bed bugs and mice, were among problems uncovered during the latest inspection of the jail by Oklahoma's State Department of Health. The inspection was done on July 26.

Other problems the inspection uncovered included failures to document or conduct required site checks, two instances where the jail failed to notify the Health Department after detainees required medical treatment outside of the jail, unsanitary conditions inside of the building and inadequate care for detainees who posed medical or psychological risks.

The recent report is the latest in a growing list of documented problems involving the jail since its operations were taken over by the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority in July 2020.

The jail has been plagued by more than 40 inmate deaths, a hostage situation, failed health inspections and a scathing grand jury report calling for control of the facility to be returned to the sheriff since the trust took control of the jail's operations.

Currently, jail officials are spending $175,000 as part of a settlement with the Health Department to address unsanitary conditions previously cited by inspectors.

Much of that money is being spent on new mattresses the jail acquired to make it harder for bed bugs to survive in detainees' bedding materials.

While it doesn't appear the operation faces any financial penalties related to the health agency's latest findings, inspectors did tell jail personnel the operation's policies need to conform with state requirements, that training standards need improvement and that corrective, disciplinary actions should be taken where warranted.

Incomplete sight-check records remain an issue for OK County jail

The report indicates guards failed to document some required sight checks within the men's holding area at the jail and within two pods on the jail's sixth and eighth floors during certain days in April.

A review of video involving one of the jail's holding cells for men showed one inmate collapsed on that cell's floor at 1:54 a.m. He remained in that position until 6:42 a.m., when a jail staff member finally checked on him.

More: Jail staff begins cell renovations as crowding issues ease

Further review of video involving that collapsed inmate also showed no sight checks were conducted on that cell for six hours until food and medication were delivered to the cell, and that sight checks were skipped again later, the Health Department report shows.

Jail fails to notify Health Department after serious detainee injuries

Health Department inspectors found the jail's staff failed to notify the agency when one detainee's injury required that person to be taken to an outside medical facility on June 25 and again on June 27.

The jail's staff failed to notify the Health Department again when another hurt detainee needed to be taken to an outside medical facility on July 7.

Bed bugs continue to plague detainees, inspection finds

Health Department inspectors visited with detainees being held on the jail's second and 10th floors during their visit in July.

During those visits, 64 inmates complained about bed bugs, cockroaches and mice infestation issues inside of cells or on their persons, clothing or bedding.

More: Broken Trust: How the Oklahoma County jail leadership failed those it sought to protect

"Several inmates displayed for the facility staff and inspectors both dead and live bed bugs, roaches and a mouse," the report states.

Inspectors said they were told by the jail's medical staff that about 40% of detainees who ask to be seen on a sick call are doing so because of bed bug bites.

Medical checks not performed as required, inspection shows

The report shows required 15-minute site-checks for inmates on the jail's medical floor were not documented Dec. 21 and Dec. 22, 2022.

A video review shows staff did not check on a detainee inside of a cell on that floor for nearly five hours when someone delivered medication to the cell.

That staffer reported the detainee refused the medication, jail records showed. And 45 minutes later, the detainee was found unresponsive on the floor of the cell.

Health Department regulations require detainees be screened for medical or psychological risks when they are brought into the jail and before they are placed within its general population housing area. Any detainee deemed a risk is required to be observed frequently until appropriate medical intervention is made, regulations require.

Health inspection not mentioned at this week's trust meeting

At a meeting of the trust held Sept. 5, the Health Department's latest findings were not mentioned either by CEO Brandi Garner or the jail's staff.

However, Garner and her staff told trust members the process to replace the jail's mattresses is well underway, with the final 400 mattresses the operation is buying expected before the end of October.

The jail hopes to conduct interviews for a new, full-time, certified exterminator soon.

The staff also updated trustees on its efforts to reestablish an independent, internal information technology system that includes a Wi-Fi system guards will be required to use with phone-based apps to document future site checks, plus all other interactions — food and medication deliveries, included — they have with jail detainees.

Officials have said adding the technology will make it easier for supervisory jail personnel to ensure their employees are performing duties as required.

Garner also obtained the trust's approval this week to provide Narcan to not only jail guards, but to vendors and detainees inside the facility.

Additional training is planned to help instruct people inside of the facility on how to recognize overdoses and how to respond when they happen.

"It's a little edgy, but it is something that has proven to save lives," Garner said.

As for the latest Health Department report, Garner said she and her staff continue to concentrate on addressing the issues it raises.

“The OSDH report provides areas of emphasis for providing excellence in detention. Just as we did with the May 2022 report, we will focus on these areas for improvements,” Garner said. “We are committed to doing everything we can to address each issue. Our top priority is always the health and safety of the detainees and staff.”

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma County jail sanitation, pest problems still ongoing