2023-0609: Opinion: San Diego County should be embarrassed by jail comparison with Rikers Island

THE SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE LINK: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2023-06-09/opinion-san-diego-county-should-be-embarrassed-by-jail-comparison-with-rikers-island

Re “Finally, there’s a critic Sheriff Kelly Martinez can’t ignore — federal Judge Jinsook Ohta” (June 3): I agree that the Sheriff’s Department and Kelly Martinez have “never fully embraced efforts to hold it to account and keep inmates safe.”

Since 2021, San Diego County jails deaths have even outpaced the notorious Rikers Island prison complex in New York City (which is under federal oversight).

Some facts:

In 2021, San Diego County jail deaths were 18, at Rikers there were 15. In 2022, San Diego County jail deaths were 20, at Rikers there were 19 (the most it’s seen in 20 years). So far in 2023, San Diego County jail deaths are six, with three deaths reported at Rikers .

Hopefully, the court’s action will start to bring accountability and change: keeping inmates safe and saving lives. And hopefully Sheriff Martinez will now recognize the seriousness and urgency of the current situation and have the courage to institute the recommended changes and save lives.

Timothy Mork