In a federal lawsuit filed by former Mono County Sheriff’s Deputy Jon Madrid and in arbitration testimony over Madrid’s firing, comments were made about the Mono County Jail’s handling of inmate medications. We checked in with Inyo-Mono Public Health Officer Dr. Rick Johnson.
Madrid’s attorney said that when his client brought up the alleged “mishandling of medications for jail inmates”, Sheriff’s Department management retaliated. Testimony over this issue revealed that deputies pick up prescription drugs at local pharmacies and daisy-chain the drugs up to the jail where officers dispense them to inmates.
Asked about medication procedures at the jail, both Mono Sheriff Ralph Obenberger and County Counsel Marshall Rudolph said they could not comment because of ongoing litigation.
Dr. Johnson said the Health Department is not involved in the medication process and that the responsibility falls to the Sheriff and the jail. Johnson said the Health Department responsibility is for the annual inspection of the jail which, he said, “was done without any irregularities in tracking of inventory.”
Johnson said he and Louis Molina of Environmental Health inspected the jail in 2012. He said at that time “policies and procedures met requirements. We were satisfied. I don’t have any evidence of deviation,” he said. Asked about deputies picking up medications, Dr. Johnson said this is a widespread practice. He said, “We found no irregularities regarding medications.” Johnson also said it’s acceptable that Mono County Jail has no jail nurses. He said the Bridgeport Clinic is available.
Title 15 of State Code on Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities does say there shall be established procedures for pharmaceuticals and that “administration of medication shall only be done by licensed health personnel who are authorized to administer medication acing on the order of a prescriber.”
In response to this section of Title 15, Dr. Johnson provided us with the information that in August the Board of State and Community Corrections conducted a biennial inspection of the Bridgeport Jail and Court Holding Facility in Mammoth Lakes. The Sheriff’s Office reported that notice was received that the jail passed “without issues and with no corrective action needed.” The issue in Madrid’s legal action against the Sheriff’s Department is not the handling of medications but how upper management treated him after he raised concerns.
Yeah…like Ralphy would admit to ANYTHING, using the catch-all phrase, “I can’t comment about ongoing litigation”, IF, he were to make any comment at all.
@ TMR there are controlled substances being transported such as Vicodin, Norco, Methadone and various psychotropic medications. They are put in a regular paper bag and handed to the deputy. I have witnessed it for myself. Just call Obenberger or ask any deputy for yourself if you do not believe… Read more »
“Medications” does not equal “controlled drugs.” Very likely this is about medications for diabetes, depression, heart disease, other mental health issues, antibiotics, etc. not medications that would fall under the “controlled” category at all. Have you never picked up your friend/wife/mother/son’s medications at the pharmacy? Sounds like this is what… Read more »
That’s like the Fox guarding the Hen house 🙂
Boy Dr Johnson sure was vague, does he even know what the rules and regulations are? He doesn’t sound like it.
What qualifies him to do these inspections?
It seems like Mono County is governing Mono County…. don’t see a problem there. LOL
Nice piece but it left me with several questions…… Frequently, inspections involve a visit to the jail and not much more. What are the proper procedures according to Board of State and Community Corrections? Does Dr. Johnson know what the procedures are? What does an inspection involve? What is the… Read more »
How often is this inventory being looked at since Dr. Johnson claims that he inspected it in 2012? They way I read this…. once a year? How would they ever know if there are any irregularities if you only inspect them only once a year? Plus how would he know… Read more »
Widespread practice in county jails between Walker and Lee Vining. Pretty scary being given medication by the untrained. Do they take the medication out of the container for the inmate? Let’s see… Bill said Joe told Ed the Pharmacist said something about side effects…. If the clinic is available, why… Read more »
$$$…That’s why.
I worked in Corrections for 8 years and we never were we allowed to administer or transport ANY controlled drugs PERIOD! The Title 15 CLEARLY states what the minimum standards are and obviously Dr. Johnson doesn’t want to be involved in this litigation. How could a biannual inspection never brought… Read more »