The care of detainees and inmates can be complex, often requiring significant monitoring due to pre-existing mental health issues.
In April, The Dallas Express reported on the death of two inmates in the custody of Tarrant County authorities in a period of just one week. Two jail employees were fired in the aftermath.
A San Francisco-based company has developed technology that may prevent such incidents from happening. The company’s state-of-the-art product, OverWatch, is designed to monitor the wellness and safety of individuals being held in custody. OverWatch uses advanced sensor technology, including wireless, wearable sensors, to report on a detainee’s physical condition and stress level, enabling staff to respond to any potential health crises that might arise.
The product has already managed to help save an inmate who suffered a diabetic crash and another who had ingested drugs.
The Rockwall County Herald Banner reports on the implementation of OverWatch at a local detention center. Here’s the start of the story:
The Rockwall County Detention Center is introducing OverWatch, an advanced biometric monitoring solution developed and implemented by 4Sight Labs, a provider of technology solutions for correctional facilities geared toward inmate wellnessOfficials say the addition to the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office “underscores the center’s commitment to improving its inmates’ safety, health and well-being.”.
Officials say the addition to the Rockwall County Sheriff’s Office “underscores the center’s commitment to improving its inmates’ safety, health and well-being.”
In recent years, the RCDC has addressed several operational challenges, according to county officials – including ensuring timely and adequate medical care, managing inmate behavior and maintaining safety for inmates and staff.
In a release from the public information office, the move is in response to several key factors – among them an increasing volume of inmates arrested with co-occurring behavioral health and substance use disorders, an aging inmate population and chronic health complications, leading the RCDC to take a proactive approach to detainee wellness.