sacramento county sheriff tackles drug smuggling in downtown jail

The Sacramento County Sheriff's Office is intensifying efforts to prevent drug smuggling into the downtown jail following the tragic deaths of three inmates from overdoses this year. In response to these incidents, Sheriff Jim Cooper has implemented new protocols for processing arrested individuals, including earlier strip searches and subsequent body scans. These changes have already led to a significant increase in narcotics seizures, with nearly 100 grams confiscated in just one month and over 500 grams this year. Despite these efforts, the challenges of drug smuggling persist, particularly due to the illegal nature of cavity searches in California. The sheriff's office has noted that relatives of inmates are often involved in facilitating drug purchases, which can have fatal consequences. A notable case involved an inmate who received methadone from another inmate, leading to a deadly overdose after a family member sent money via Cashapp. The sheriff's office has also trained all deputies in administering Narcan, a life-saving medication for opioid overdoses, which is readily available throughout the jail. This training has proven effective, with deputies administering 75 doses to save lives. However, Sheriff Cooper expressed concern over the sophistication of smuggling methods and the potential for more overdoses in the future. To combat this ongoing issue, the sheriff's office is exploring advanced body scan technology and has increased the resources of their jail investigations unit to focus on fentanyl smuggling and distribution. The commitment to reducing drug-related deaths in the jail remains a top priority for the sheriff's office.