Split reaction to safety steps taken at county jails

Re “San Diego County jails will test wearable health devices aimed at preventing in-custody deaths” (Nov. 8): Kudos (finally) to Sheriff Martinez for taking a step to address the county’s atrocious record of deaths and injuries in her/our jails.

Trying to minimize those problems by introducing warning devices to be worn by “at-risk” inmates is a first step toward accountability.

As the saying goes, “Better late than never.”

— Tom Miller, Carlsbad

Does anyone believe that electronic monitors in our county jails will solve the problem of unwarranted inmate deaths? The U-T just reported that some jail staffer erased 57 hours of critical footage from a camera above the cell of an unfortunate inmate who died! Earlier, the newspaper reported that shouts by other inmates who were witnessing the grotesque demise of an 82-year-old mentally ill inmate were totally ignored.

What is needed is a sheriff and jail staff who take their duties of observation seriously, pay attention to all that is going on in the jails and have some empathy for the human condition.

— Kathleen Parish, Coronado