Sheriff adjusts jail's policy on drunken prisoners

Pettis County Sheriff Kevin Bond has made adjustments to the way jailers accept drunken prisoners at the jail after meetings with Sedalia Police Department officials.

Bond discussed the policy and announced the modifications at a press conference Monday afternoon at the Sheriff’s Department.

Jailers will request breath tests for those who appear to be “seriously impaired,” instead of testing all prisoners who have been drinking. They will also accept the tests performed by arresting officers. Those who refuse a test could be booked and released on municipal or misdemeanor offenses “as it would be done otherwise,” Bond said.

“That one issue right there will take care of most of the problems,” he said.

A state law, which went into effect last year, allows jails to require medical clearance from “a physician or competent medical personnel” if prisoners are unconscious, seriously ill or injured or “seriously impaired” by alcohol or drugs.

Bond’s fit-for-confinement policy provides that prisoners with a blood alcohol content of more than .25 percent are considered seriously impaired.

Bond’s fit for confinement policy has come under fire from Brad Anders, a Democratic candidate for sheriff.

“I find it funny that changes are now being made after I said something, and it’s an election year,” Anders said.

The whole policy needs to be re-evaluated, Anders said.

“I’m glad he is admitting something’s wrong, that something needs to change, but it’s not enough,” Anders said.

Bond said the policy requires the arresting officer to seek medical clearance for prisoners, but has been misrepresented as a “catch and release program.”

“The arresting officers — not the jail staff, not the sheriff — make the determination to release a prisoner,” Bond said.

Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia said there is “still some disagreement” about the policy, but “I think we’re going in the right direction.”

DeGonia said he would like to see the “totality of circumstances” taken into account in all cases.

As the policy stands, those who test above .25 percent blood alcohol need medical clearance going to jail.

Dr. Norman Johnson, of Advanced Correctional Healthcare, the jail’s medical services contractor, said he recommended the .25 percent BAC standard. He suggests the benchmark because alcohol deaths start around .22-percent BAC and the same system worked well in Indiana jails.

The recommendation was meant to reduce the risk of lawsuits and improve the quality of care for prisoners, Johnson said. The doctor said it is difficult to evaluate prisoners by phone when trying to decide if they need to go to the hospital.

“This allowed us a tool to at least put a safety margin in there,” Johnson said.

Greene County Sheriff Jack Merritt spoke at the press conference about his fit-for- confinement policy. The Greene County Jail has 24-hour medical staff who evaluate drunken prisoners and ask arresting officers to take them to the hospital when needed.

Bond said he called the press conference to clarify the issue amidst “character assassinations” and what he called misinformation posted anonymously in the comments section on The Democrat’s Web site.

“I find it deplorable this type of activity exists in the first place,” the sheriff said.

snail@sedaliademocrat.com