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A Death in Custody, Part 3: 2+ years in a county jail
The story so far:
A Death in Custody, Part 1: Where did it go wrong?
A Death in Custody, Part 2: Trial and tribulation
The average stay in the Shasta County Jail is 29 days - about a month.
Victoria Rose Sherman was in custody for 32 months.
The tallest building in Redding, at 10 stories, is the largest jail north of Sacramento. It holds 381 inmates 365 days a year. Ten pods hold men; two hold women.
Inmates are classified and grouped based on their histories. The facility is run by Capt. Don Van Buskirk of the sheriff’s department, who has been there 25 years.
The day Sherman was found hanging in her cell last July was no different from any other day as far as incidents go, Van Buskirk says.
She was in a general housing unit in a cell by herself and was not on a suicide watch, he said. Otherwise, she’d have been placed in a safety cell and checked twice every half hour.
“She was classified to be where she was, and had been for some time,” he said.
Van Buskirk says the jail staff took every practical precaution for Sherman’s safety in custody, following protocol and doctors’ orders for medication and supervision.
“A nurse dispenses the medication. Consistency is there if an inmate accepts her medications,” he said. “In her case, she took what she was supposed to.”
“The job is to provide (medical) services to stabilize the person,” he says.
If an inmate is unstable and out of control, she goes to a hospital; the jail doesn’t keep her.
“Nothing significant went on that day,” Van Buskirk says. “She was … Victoria Sherman. I’m not saying that’s good or bad.”
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Since 2000, Shasta County Jail has experienced 32 suicide attempts; seven were fatal. That’s slightly less than one a year. Van Buskirk say a jail’s suicide rates usually reflect the rate in the surrounding community. The Shasta County suicide rate is 19 per 100,000, running consistently at least twice the state average of 9 per 100,000, California public health statistics say. (Four reasons: rural; poor; older population; higher gun ownership.) Taking into account the jail’s much smaller total population but very high turnover rate and ratio of mental and behavioral disorders, it is almost statistically impossible to compare apples to apples for suicide rates. However, we can say that of the whole county’s 142 attempts, 34 were fatal — averaging out to about four a year, compared to the jail’s one.
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Medical, dental and mental health histories are kept on file and charted over time. Sherman’s 32 months of charts tell of multiple, various complaints. She had chronic skin conditions (blisters, herpetic lesions, acne, sores, folliculitis, pustules). She was fearful of staph infections, submitting repeated requests for antibiotics. She was seen about herpes, chlamydia, hepatitis C. She had regular dental and gynecological exams. She was seen for perceived food allergies, such as to jalapenos and lunchmeat. She had backaches, constipation and nausea. She had a rectal injury from a sexual encounter. Her 155-ish weight was being monitored. She fell off the bed and hit her head. She took a header down some stairs while shackled, injuring her neck, back and knee. Her prescription list was as long as your arm.
And always, there were mental health issues. She came to jail with a history of depression, anxiety, psychosis, substance abuse and suicide fantasies, and she continued to be treated for those in custody.
Here’s a sampling of medical staff notes on Sherman in the last five weeks:
5.16: Brought to medical per custody request, was found in cell taking apart toenail clippers. Denies being suicidal, just wants to hurt herself. Having problems within pod, yelling, taunting, calling names, all her friends moved to A pod, no one to talk to. Tearful. Continues to deny being suicidal, states “the rubber room won’t help me, I just need someone to talk to.” Potential for self harm. House in medical without any sharps, monitor, refer to mental health for eval.
5.23: Convicted Murder 1, Conspiracy, lying in wait and weapons charges. Sentencing in 30 days. Was in shock, says now ok, wants upstairs support. Looking toward future, appeals, going to school. Going to fight, denies any suicidal ideation at this time. History of ‘self mutilation,’ denied now. Nov. 07 anniversary of death, attempts to hang self. Eye contact good, haven’t ate. Anxious to be around others – doesn’t want to be alone. Maintain in medical unit, not released to normal population – must eat. Appears in shock, shaking, had blanket. Affect inappropriate to situation. Ck increasing meds (celexa).
5.23: Found guilty of all charges (murder) this a.m. Believed would be found innocent. “In shock”. Tearful. Denies SI, but history of attempts. …
5.26: Trying to be positive, ‘pro-active’. Denies any ideas of self harm or anyone else.
OK to return to GP (general population). Keeping hope, writing points for appeal.
6.3: Refused to be seen.
6.7: 8:30 p.m.: Wants to talk to someone. Complains of increased anxiety. Denies being suicidal. Says since she was found guilty everyone is treating her different… picking on her. Requests p.m. meds (given). … Hold in medical. Will re-evaluate after calmer. Refer to mental health.
10 p.m.: Inmate was allowed to return upstairs without this nurse’s knowledge. When med nurse returned from upstairs passing meds, I instructed her that I had already given inmate her p.m. medication and she was in her holding cell. Med nurse states he had also given inmate her meds about ½ hour ago. Inmate came to window –- put out her hands and took all her meds. She had asked the custody officer if she could return upstairs and he allowed her to go. Dr. Scipione notified of above, orders to house in medical 6 hours – watch commander notified.
10:30 p.m. To medical … hyperactive speech, loud, clear, denies any complaints, aware of manipulating nurses, states we weren’t supposed to figure it out, rationalizes behavior by stating we all self medicate, continues to deny being suicidal – continue to monitor.
11:15 p.m.: Awake, alert, oriented. Reading a book. Requests snack as stomach as upset.
6.8: When asked what happened, states, “They overmedicated me.”
6.10: Refused to be seen.
6.23: Refused to be seen.
7.9: Written up for “Lying to staff and making an unauthorized move (to get a cellmate). Sherman has been in custody for 2+ years and should know the rules of the facility.”
7.10: Overwhelmed by conviction. Waiting to hear if new trial. Very angry, agitated –- in particular to officers. No self harm, no suicidal ideation. Reality setting in. Refer for med eval.
7.10: Mental health –- anxiety with depression.
7.15: Celexa 30mg and Vistaril 125 mg at bedtime. Wants to discontinue Vistaril. Reports ADHD/bipolar “etc.” History of meth/marij but “not addicted.” Positive for history of alcohol dep., Wellbutrin / Ritalin / Klonopin. History of hanging in jail. …
Polite, coop. Negative for psychosis. Mood/affect within normal limits. Negative for suicidal/homicidal ideation/intent. Assessment: prob orderline personality disorder; mood disorder NOS. Plan: Meds eval.
7.15: meds eval… 1) DC Vistaril, 2) Start Trazedone 100 mg at bedtime, 3) cont Celexa 30mg at bedtime
7.17: More accepting of situation. expects to be sentenced an do appeal process. Believes motion for appeal will be denied. Calmer regarding case. Irritated with others. Question regarding Borderline Personality Disorder – reluctant to view herself as such. Will follow up. Stable.
7.22: Referral to emergency room. Non responsive, S/P S/A – hanging. CPR, AED, initiated prior to paramedics’ arrival. Intubated by paramedics.
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Numerous security cameras and officers on duty maintain a watch on inmates. But the law requires a certain measure of privacy within a cell -– which is to say, cameras can’t see in there. If no one walks by for a while, an inmate has a window of time to herself.
A long-term inmate would know the officers’ routine, Van Buskirk says, and if she were determined to end her life, could plan accordingly.
He says it would take about four minutes to actually quit breathing.
On Tuesday, July 22, Victoria Sherman was found in her cell at 5:20 p.m., hanging from a bedsheet, and she had almost timed out.
She wouldn’t last two more days.
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Check back soon for A Death in Custody, Part 4: Officer had ‘nothing but hatred for that girl’
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Ms. Brewer, I continue to be educated by your work. I was surprised and saddened by the statistics regarding suicide in Shasta County but heartened by out jail’s diligent professionalism. I appreciate Captain Van Buskirk’s thorough discussion and your broad exploration of this sad incident. This degree of openness allows all of us to to examine causes and effects, to better understand our county criminal justice and mental health systems, and to empathize with all parties involved. We read this and ask “what would I have done if I were her, or if I were responsible for her care?” The breadth of our lives rarely permits simple or glib solutions. Reading this, thus far I have two conclusions. One is that our law enforcement officers appear to be operating humanely and responsibly in the face of an exceedingly difficult task. The second is that our county desperately needs more comprehensive mental health services. If my child was mentally ill, without proper support or containment, I would live in despair.
I myself served some time in county jail, although not in Shasta but in a southern county, a little over 6 months. Once was enough, no returns for me! It was back in the early 80’s, but I highly doubt that jailhouse politics are much different today! I assure you that most inmates being treated poorly or ignored are victims of their own behavioral retribution! READ: You Reap what you Sow! I think most of the people did the best they could given the situation at hand, it is too easy to arm chair quarterback in these situatins.
Think about patient care at a hospital, a patient that is unco-operative, manipulative and self destructive is never as cared for as the patient that is doing all they can and following the program.
The same is true in any institutional situation. Schools, Hospitals, Missions or even just the DMV! Go in there and raise some cane, see if you get your car registered! All services must be divided and spread out with a law of averages type of distribution. The most good for the most people!
We seem swept up in the stories of transitory economic and political turmoil, and it is easy to forget the larger and smaller responsibility of civic life. There may be no greater role for government than to protect the helpless, our youngest, our oldest, and our mentally ill. I have been scarred by a close friend’s unexpected suicide, and watched another childhood friend vanish before my eyes in an invisible tornado of mental illness. We paint the irrational with our own rational expectations and wonder why the paint runs into a puddle. Reading her medical log entries was revelatory, in contrast to their intended impersonal purpose. Your story reminds me that current events often overshadow meaningful events. I thank you for bringing this young woman’s shortened life to our thoughts; a thoughtful story that might otherwise have slipped by unnoticed. May her spirit and family (and all those she touched) find peace.
Kelly, What a sad story. My heart and deepest sympathy goes out to her family. What a terrible
end to a young girl’s life.
It’s true that we have far too many mentally ill people in jails and prisons
who are getting far too little or no help at all.
While I commend Captain Van Bushkirk and his staff for their reports, it was too little
too late for Victoria Sherman.
A whole lot more needs to be done for the mentally ill in jails and the population
in general.
Litha, your analysis is brilliant. In this case, after reading all of the information about Victoria’s incarceration, I’m struck by the fact that she was, intellectually, just a child. She couldn’t make mature adjustments to her environment. She could in no way associate her incarceration to her participation in a past event. A horrific event, but not one that she had planned, engineered or fully understood.
Humans are social animals and need social interaction to maintain mental health. My friends who have experienced incarceration established working friendships with other prisoners and corresponded to friends on the “outside” on a regular basis. Victoria may not have felt so connected to other people during her time in jail.
The staff at the jail does an incredible job under stresses and conditions that we may never experience. They follow strict protocol each step of the way. What if one little new step included a maturity or mental stability assessment that could give an inmate more personal support during their incarceration?