Guest Commentary written by
Paul R. Parker
Paul R. Parker is a former police officer, death investigator and chief deputy coroner. He retired as executive officer of the San Diego County Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board.
California’s county jails are in crisis. Despite a declining jail population statewide, deaths in jails have occurred at record-high levels in recent years.
Inside California’s jails are many people who shuffle between the streets, emergency rooms and incarceration. More than half the jail population experiences documented mental health challenges…