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Internal Culture Crisis: Staff Shortages and Officer Violence Plague Pima County Jail

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'Something about the internal culture': Lack of staff, officer violence at Pima County Jail

Staff shortages and a culture of neglect at the Pima County Jail have led to a crisis, according to Sheriff Chris Nanos. While the Sheriff has worked to address staffing gaps, the families of deceased inmates point to a deeper problem of brutality and apathy among the jail staff.

In July 2020, 28-year-old Justin Crook was arrested on a misdemeanor warrant and experienced a violent altercation with multiple officers. Crook alleged that an officer’s comment about his dead friend led him to punch the guard, after which several corrections officers assaulted him, an incident supported by surveillance footage.

Photos released later depicted Crook with severely bruised and swollen features. He described the beating to a deputy, saying, “They almost beat me to death.”

In May 2021, Crook was re-arrested after a seizure led to the discovery of an outstanding warrant. His mother, Jennifer Crook-Graham, believed his epilepsy was a contributing factor to his combative behavior during seizures. Following his arrest, Crook was initially evaluated but later cleared for general population despite appearing disoriented from a seizure.

At 3:15 a.m. on May 31, 2021, Crook was found unresponsive in his cell and pronounced dead from acute methamphetamine intoxication. His mother has filed a lawsuit against the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, alleging medical neglect.

In 2021, ten inmates died in custody at the Pima County Jail. This increased to twelve in 2022, prompting Sheriff Nanos to call for a new facility, citing the 40-year-old jail’s overcrowding and disrepair. However, public opposition to the new jail project has been intense, with protests and a survey indicating reluctance to fund it.

Despite intendend systemic improvements including an open-floor-plan model to ease supervision, families of deceased inmates argue that new buildings won’t address the root problems if the same staff remains.

Teresa Mejia, whose son Louis Williams died by suicide in the jail in May 2023, stressed that meaningful change requires compassionate and properly trained staff.

Staff attrition has been a significant issue, with the jail losing 30% of its staff in 2022. Mandatory overtime and low morale led many guards to quit, forcing the remaining employees to endure extreme work hours and burnout. The county board authorized raises and bonuses to tackle this, although opinions differ on whether staffing alone solves the problem.

In January 2023, two detainees in the “Restoration to Competency” program, intended for those unable to stand trial due to mental health issues, died in jail, highlighting lax oversight and inadequate medical intervention.

The Pima County facility has struggled to provide adequate care, with a turnover in medical services crippling the treatment of inmates. Sheriff Nanos stated that his department is distancing itself from medical care decisions, emphasizing that this should not be the sheriff’s responsibility.

Recent initiatives to improve conditions have seen some success. Measures like equipping staff with Narcan, implementing body scanners, and hiring drug-sniffing dogs have been credited with reducing deaths. Additionally, better staffing levels have correlated with no deaths for ten months as of September 2023.

However, incidents like the death of Wade Welch in 2022 after a violent altercation with jail officers underscore ongoing issues. The county deemed the force used “objectively reasonable,” but attorneys representing Welch’s family argue that institutional failures persist.

The Sheriff acknowledges that improving jail culture is essential and links staff satisfaction with higher morale and recruitment. Lieutenant Heather Lappin, a candidate for sheriff, advocates for career advancement opportunities to retain young corrections officers.

Jennifer Crook-Graham, still mourning her son Justin, holds the jail culture accountable for her loss. Her grief is shared by many families speaking out in the hopes of driving systemic change.