Supervisors must demand humane treatment in deadly county jails

Re “‘Deputies told me there was nothing they could do’: Weeks of suffering preceded man’s gruesome jail death, 3 men say” (July 19): How many more deaths and damning data on the neglect and infractions in our jails will it take to inflict consequences? Board of Supervisors, our community is calling on you to produce solutions and find a way to stop the needless killings of those in “protective” custody, especially inmates with psychiatric medical conditions.

Our jails are “uniquely dysfunctional” in the care of people with mental illness, states Dr. Pablo Stewart, a psychiatrist and correctional health care expert. “I have come across very few, if any, mental health care systems so lacking in effective systems and levels of care.”

Look at the lawsuits brought by families for wrongful deaths of their loved ones. Read the statistics: More than 240 people have died in our jails since 2006, costing taxpayers millions. Most importantly, look at the lives lost. Where is the urgency? Have basic humanity and common sense deserted our county administration?

— Linda L. Mimms, Poway