In June, the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury released its report: Medical Services at the Jails: How Does the Sheriff­ Coroner Manage Oversight? (PDF) Since 2012, Santa Cruz County has outsourced its jail medical services to the private for-­profit corporation California Forensic Medical Group (CFMG). The Grand Jury has found that there is, "a lack of transparency and accountability on the part of CFMG and there is insufficient oversight by the Sheriff ­Coroner’s office."

The report also summarizes the Grand Jury investigation of the November 2014 death of 65-year-old Sharyon Gibbs, who died in custody, stating that, "On the night of her death, around midnight, she complained of back pain to the on­duty Corrections Officer," and was later found dead. When the Grand Jury was investigating her death, CFMG would not provide access to Gibbs' full medical records, according to the report.

Since August of 2012, six individuals have died while in custody at the Santa Cruz County Jail. In May of 2014, the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury released a report on jail medical care and conditions titled: Five Deaths in Santa Cruz: An Investigation of In-Custody Deaths (PDF). In that report, one juror reported he was “shocked” at the lax oversight and poor communication between jail staff and medical personnel that led to the five deaths that occurred in the facility at that time.

Read More with PDF of the Report | See Also: Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Releases Annual Jail Report

Previous Coverage: Hundreds March for Freedom at Cages Kill Rally in Santa Cruz || One More Death at Santa Cruz County Jail Makes Six In Two Years || Grand Jury Report on Jail Deaths Only a Snapshot of the Larger Picture || Sin Barras Rally at SC County Jail Held in Response to Recent Deaths at Facility