The jail, which is run by the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, is one of the largest in the state, holding about 2,000 detainees on any given day. Earlier this month, the family of a woman who allegedly overdosed on fentanyl last year at Santa Rita sued the county, arguing that “inadequate mental health care, inhumane living conditions, and an inadequate drug search policy” all led to her death. It is the second lawsuit filed against Alameda County and Ahern in the past month regarding concerns about the health and safety of detainees at Santa Rita Jail. Sanjay Schmidt, a San Francisco-based attorney representing Park’s family, said he hopes the lawsuit will “deliver justice” to the family and help prevent “a needless death like this from occurring again by promoting robust policy changes that will keep all inmates safe and address all of their mental and medical health needs.” District Court for the Northern District of California, Park’s family alleges that his death was a result of Alameda County, Sheriff Gregory Ahern and correctional healthcare provider Wellpath’s “deliberate indifference” to Park’s “serious, emergency medical and mental health needs.” In particular, the lawsuit claims that staff at the jail lack adequate training and policies in medical and mental health screening and therefore fail to identify, treat and supervise incarcerated people who are at risk for suicide. ![]() (Photo/Doug Duran of Bay Area News Group via MCT) ![]() It is the second lawsuit filed against Alameda County in the past month regarding concerns about the health and safety of detainees at Santa Rita Jail.
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