Bob McCloskey is a retired union organizer and human rights activist. The phone at Carlos and Anna Herreras home rang about 7:45 p.m., and they were asked to come to the jail. Andre Erkins got into trouble with the law for the first time on Aug. 9, 2012. If youre republishing online, you must link to the URL of this story on propublica.org, include all of the links from our story, including our newsletter sign up language and link, and use our. For more information about canonical metadata, You cant edit our material, except to reflect relative changes in time, location and editorial style. We strive to serve and protect the interests of the community by determining the cause, circumstances and manner of sudden or unexplained deaths that occur within our jurisdiction. by Jason Pohl, The Sacramento Bee, and Ryan Gabrielson, ProPublica. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Community Alliance is a monthly newspaper that has been published in Fresno, California, since 1996. Please take a moment to navigate our site and learn more about the Sheriff's Office, its services and how it can better serve you. The men and women of the Fresno County Sheriffs Office are dedicated to providing the finest quality law enforcement and correctional services. Data compiled by WBUR show that 195 people died in the custody of sheriffs from 2008 to 2018. The average length of stay in 2011 was 16 days. It is up to us to stop stigmatizing and shunning jail inmates. Since 1993 the Fresno County Sheriff has been under a Federal Consent Decree which controls the number of inmates that can be held in jail at any given time. Who is accountable? (The bunkmate, now serving time in a state prison, requested his name not be used out of fear for his safety.). state prosecutions that end in convictions still wind up with little jail or prison time for the defendant. Fresno County inmate who attacked correctional officer committed suicide in cell. Additionally, the bureau is committed to the inmate's character development. addyc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03 = addyc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03 + 'fresnosheriff' + '.' + 'org'; Last Name (required): First Name: TIP: If you are unsure how the name is spelled, you can enter the partial spelling of the name followed by an asterisk (*), for example: smi*. What Do You Know About County Jails in California? Simmons, 23, was arrested and put in jail on Feb. 10, 2021, and died of blunt-force head trauma seven days later on Feb. 17, 2021, according to his custodial death report. How to File Taxes for Free Without TurboTax, Barricaded Siblings Turn to TikTok While Defying Court Order to Return to Father They Say Abused Them, A Christian Health Nonprofit Saddled Thousands With Debt as It Built a Family Empire Including a Pot Farm, a Bank and an Airline, Colorado Lawmakers Consider Reforms to the Way Family Courts Handle Abuse Allegations, New Bill Could End Police Ticketing in Illinois Schools. We believe that each person we serve has a basic right to quality in their death. The fates of Herrera, Brock and Erkins set the stage for the deadliest year in at least two decades at the jail, a sprawling complex of jam-packed cells, filled with inmates working their way through a clogged criminal justice system. What was so important it couldnt wait? she wondered. For her part, Mims has established herself as a voice on national immigration policy. This guy needs medical attention ASAP, the bunkmate remembered telling an officer. Fresno County. Enter the inmate's name (below) then click. Experts say apathy among officials in many of Californias 56 counties with jails has fostered a crisis. We accomplish our mission through the use of pathologists, consultants, and other methods of investigation. Staff called the Fresno Fire Department and an emergency medical team arrived shortly before 9 p.m. Brock had trauma to the neck and knuckles, firefighters reported. The problems are compounded because county jails were never meant to accommodate these different inmates with yearslong sentences. Its okay to put our stories on pages with ads, but not ads specifically sold against our stories. Investigators said that during his booking, he reported having high blood pressure but wasnt taking medication. Herrera was working as a janitor at the local high school, and as far as his parents knew, the only thing he had ever stolen was a family barbeque smoker he used to party with friends and never returned, his father said. County leaders don't want to repeat that this year after reports of four inmate deaths already. Herrera didnt get a trial or a plea deal. A list of names that begins with smi will display. The facility will replace a dilapidated 1947 jail annex, where female inmates are housed, that is dangerous and in disrepair. California Prison Gladiator Fights, Again! Fresno Countys jail system has been teeming with prisoners for decades. To ease the load, counties received billions of state taxpayer dollars to pay for new jail facilities, treatment programs and staff. All members of the group must clear the metal detector or they will not be permitted access into the facility. Jail staff began CPR, and an ambulance whisked him to a hospital five blocks away. She also said one of the most painful moments of her time in office was releasing inmates during the economic downturn. About 25% of the current inmates would have previously gone to state prisons, jail records show. And according to a March court filing, they had been awaiting DNA test results from evidence. That extended to 21 days the following year as prison reform began. Realignment changed the whole game, the sheriff said. But theyre prepared to do it.. To obtain any of the above mentioned information, you may contact the Booking Sergeant at the facility that houses the inmate. The sheriff is legally allowed to overcrowd the jail, but only to a point. addy5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d = addy5aba5b4c3f45a5c70aa7fe29b2b82d1d + 'fresnosheriff' + '.' + 'org'; Inmates stayed in Fresno County 35 days, on average, in 2018. Lorenzo was dead. Direct media inquiries can be made to Public Health Communication at (559) 259-1798 or (559) 974-2302. booking# jid name age release_date releasetype arrestagency charges; 2313934: 0262609: easley, michael james: 52: 3/2/2023 7:28:00 pm: probation release: fsd13 - transportation / warrants Whether Brock reported his fears about his cellmate to jail staff is unclear. FRESNO, CA - During the early hours last Monday morning, it was reported on Fresno's local news channel, ABC30 Action News, that there was a death of an inmate inside the Fresno County Jail and that deputies are conducting an ongoing investigation. These less affluent counties in Californias Central Valley watched inmate homicides triple. It also taught me that if you treat people like animals, they can become more antisocial and more prone to commit crimes when released. Herrera had no previous criminal history, according to court records. PA - Feb 18, 2023. I have had the unfortunate experience of incarceration in a county jail. As has . The legislation rerouted people convicted of nonviolent, nonsexual and nonserious crimes to serve sentences in county jails. The 48-hour period in which Herrera, Brock and Erkins entered the Fresno County Jail illustrates the failures of county jails since the 2011 realignment. It provides an online inmate locator tool to search for specific inmates by name or booking number. The jail staff failed to notice his worsening health until it was too late. FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno County investigators say they've unraveled a series of conspiracies and murders tied to a single death in Malaga earlier this year. 1:21-at-00761. Erkins family tried to get lawyers to pressure the sheriffs office for answers, but they eventually gave up, tangled in the county bureaucracy. Deputies investigating death of inmate at Fresno County Jail, Long Island group helps incarcerated women return to society, Video shows deputies repeatedly tase inmate in cell before death, Inmate killed after hostage situation at OK jail, Condemned killer dies while on San Quentin's death row, Fresno County Sheriff's Office investigating death of inmate at the Fresno County Jail, Fresno County inmate who attacked correctional officer committed suicide in cell, 2 ex-deputies acquitted of manslaughter in stun gun death, 3 Santa Clara County correctional deputies charged in death, DPS: Sandra Bland arrest dash cam video not edited. You cant state or imply that donations to your organization support ProPublicas work. Live Scan costs vary, so please contact the office for more details. The place was already crowded, and the place was already old, and the mission was already complex, and the budget was already not very good.. But the rest of his family urged him to resolve it. His father, Carlos Herrera, saw the image as a survival tactic and said self-identifying as a gang member is part of living in the Central Valley and being Hispanic. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office was established in 1856 and has a proud history and tradition of providing professional law enforcement services to the nearly one million citizens of Fresno County. How do I contact the Deputy Coroner in charge of my loved one's case? This is still the case. The Board of Parole H There Has Been an Explosion of Homicides in Californias County Jails. Welcome to Fresno Superior Court's online Case Management and Information System. She traveled with President Donald Trump to the U.S.-Mexico border, Barricaded Siblings Turn to TikTok While Defying Court Order to Return to Father They Say Abused Them, How to File Taxes for Free Without TurboTax, A Christian Health Nonprofit Saddled Thousands With Debt as It Built a Family Empire Including a Pot Farm, a Bank and an Airline, Heres How TurboTax Just Tricked You Into Paying to File Your Taxes, New Bill Could End Police Ticketing in Illinois Schools, Colorado Lawmakers Consider Reforms to the Way Family Courts Handle Abuse Allegations. Sign up for the Overcorrection newsletter to receive updates in this series as soon as they publish. Date: August 4, 2021. Board Chair Nathan Magsig cut me off after my allotted three minutes. var addy_textc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03 = 'jon.alvarado' + '@' + 'fresnosheriff' + '.' + 'org';document.getElementById('cloakc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03').innerHTML += ''+addy_textc322882bb3c122834ca34f39ed082c03+'<\/a>'; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.7 days a weekNot open to the public. . Is he alive? Deijon Erkins demanded. The increase in violence and death in Fresno started soon after the state was ordered in 2011 by the U.S. Supreme Court to reduce its prison population. Fresno County SO said his co-worker's gun accidentally fired and shot him in the chest. It is up to us to demand that the Board allocates funds and fixes the deplorable conditions in the jail. How do I reclaim the property that was taken by the Coroner's Office? You may also request a copy by sending your request in the mail to the: Fresno County Sheriff-Coroners Office at 3333 E. American Avenue, Ste. According to a fellow Davis Vanguard reporter, Ned Meiners, Without accurate data to rely on, it is impossible to understand the true scope of the pandemic in Californias jails, and how to best ensure the safety of those living there in the future.. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office reported the person's death Sunday night. Appearances for Superior Court are set by the Superior Court and scheduled for the next available court date. Talk to Us. The Fresno County Sheriff's Office reported the person's death Sunday night. More than an hour later, an officer called to tell her that Brock might not survive. Being a peace officer, Mims said, you know, you want to keep people locked up.. Fresno County prosecutors charged him with felony grand theft and simple assault, and he pleaded guilty in January 2013. But their lives were at increased risk at the troubled facility, in part, because of it. Gonzalez worked as a correctional officer between 2016 . Pontotoc County Sheriff's Office, OK. EOW: February 19, 2023. The inmate population is supervised by over 350 Correctional Officers, Correctional Sergeants, and Correctional lieutenants. As soon as someone walks in, theyre our responsibility, he said. How long will my relative/friend be at the Coroner's Office? She repeatedly checked the online inmate search tool that evening to see if Brock had been moved to a different, safer cell. The family created pendants to hold Erkins ashes. He told me there was a guy in there and he was crazy and he needed his psych medicine, Rankin recalled. Mims does not attend these meetings and sends her jail administrators instead. Thirteen other people were beaten and hospitalized. However, the state data shows Fresno County recorded far more inmate deaths, and particularly violent deaths, than some larger California jails. We have official accounts for ProPublica on. Erkins knew he was in trouble, but his relationship with longtime friend Natalie Meza was going well. Herrera survived the violent chaos of the Fresno County Jail for 66 days, including living through a brawl that left another inmate unconscious. A female California corrections officer with a "depraved mind" has been jailed for reportedly having sex with an inmate in full view of 11 other jailbirds . n have proven to be difficult for agencies to attain. v. County of Fresno et al. Among the memorabilia adorning Mims office is the hard hat she wore Jan. 25, 2018, at a ceremonial groundbreaking for the departments new $110 million jail. While Fresno County struggled with jail crowding and staffing, the state faced increasing pressure on its three dozen prisons. We Want to Hear From You. We identify the deceased and notify their next-of-kin, while insuring that the deceased and their property are treated with the utmost respect and dignity. You cant republish our material wholesale, or automatically; you need to select stories to be republished individually. I was nearly raped, I was physically attacked and, like all the other inmates, I was treated like an animal by sadistic guards. He and two other young men were accused of smashing into a home southeast of Fresno and fleeing in a pickup. If you use canonical metadata, please use the ProPublica URL. Only one Fresno County inmate killed another in the seven years before realignment. 2200 Fresno Street, Fresno, Calif. 93721 | Records (559) 600-8400 | Non-Emergency Dispatch Line (559) 600-3111 During the drive toward downtown Fresno, they wondered if their son would be released. Sign up for the Overcorrection newsletter to receive updates in this series as soon as they publish. The Voice of the Progressive Movement since 1996, The degree of civilization in a society is revealed by entering its prisons.Fyodor Dostoyevsky. 2 ex-deputies acquitted of manslaughter in stun gun death. Any person requesting a tour should be aware of the following: The Jail Division is proud of its facility operations, and the professionalism of the correctional staff assigned to maintain the care and custody of persons incarcerated in Fresno County. The Fresno County Jail death toll illustrates how some counties have failed to institute reforms, keep up with federal court orders to improve conditions, and prioritize inmate well-being. The jail classified Herrera as a gang member and assigned him to one of the pods for maximum security inmates. Fresno County has denied all wrongdoing in the case. The cellmate was incarcerated for six months, awaiting trial in a rape case, court records show, and a psychiatrist prescribed medicine for psychosis. Stay informed on the latest information and get access to important details about your community. There were more meth deaths than suicides or homicides; more . Specter, with the Prison Law Office, said a sheriffs absence sends a clear message. i have alot of my friends who have died n there ther gangmembers but ,there not there humans with nno guidence .noones talks bout it ., my boyfriend is n there now n my brother was once also a gujinney pig for this fuckd up sysytem i keep fresno county n my prayers, 2023 Community Alliance | Privacy Policy. The prolonged homicide investigation is but one of Mims challenges in managing the chaotic Fresno jail. For more information on modified visitation procedures, Automated License Plate Readers (ALPR) Policy, Orange Cove Shooting Hospitalizes Young Woman, Red Cross Opens Emergency Shelter for Residents Of Dunlap, Miramonte & Squaw Valley, Detectives Arrest Del Rey Elementary Employee for Child Sex Abuse, Program Allows Female Inmates to Learn Valuable Sewing Skills, Public Access to Road Closure and Detour Map, Winter Storm Map Allows Citizens to Monitor Risk Zones, Public Civil Unit Window Moves Out of FSO Downtown Headquarters, Sheriff's Office Cracking Down on Illegal Trash Dumping, Fresno County Jail Gets New Phone Service for Inmates. Fresno County Data Hub. Click the image above or visit this link to download the app for your Android or iOS device. Groups that exceed ten (10) persons will be divided into smaller groups. A judge on Feb. 5 ordered that he spend four weeks in jail to resolve the theft charge. E-mail Chair Nathan Magsig at District5@fresnocounty.ca.gov. He remained unconscious for two weeks, clinging to life. Thank you for your interest in republishing this story. The increase in violence and death in Fresno County lockups started soon after the state was ordered in 2011 by the U.S. Supreme Court to reduce its prison population. An officer pulled him over and ran his name. Pacheco, 29, is the only person charged in Herreras murder. FRESNO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA: Tina Gonzalez, a 26-year-old correctional officer from Fresno County Jail has been described as "depraved" by her boss. She traveled with President Donald Trump to the U.S.-Mexico border earlier this month to advocate tougher federal enforcement. Mims said 2018s record number of fatalities inside her jail was predictable. Herrera survived the violent chaos of the Fresno County Jail for 66 days, including living through a brawl that left another inmate unconscious. Any website our stories appear on must include a prominent and effective way to contact you. They bundled the first reforms in 2011 into Assembly Bill 109, referred to as realignment. A few years ago, Mims said, an inmate hid a razor blade in his nasal cavity and cut his co-defendant in court. According to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office, the deputy who was killed in an accidental shooting on Monday has been identified as Sgt. By. Do what a civilized human being would do. The Superior Court of California, County of Fresno, will serve the community and enhance public trust and confidence in the administration of . Then he missed a court date. The evening before Herrera entered the jail, Ernest Brock, 20, was also arrested and booked pending trial. In January 2018, Lorenzo Herrera, 19, Ernest Brock, 20, and Andre Erkins, 30, were booked into the Fresno County Jail. Pacheco broke into the backyard of a pregnant womans home in Fresno, forced her inside, choked her and then stole thousands of dollars before fleeing. Jerry Brown and state lawmakers reduced the number of convicts sent to the prisons. Throughout 2017, the sheriffs office hired 40 new officers but lost 39. Jail staffers feel overwhelmed at times, said Lt. Russell Duran, a jail officer for 17 years. This may take several hours from the time the criminal offender was "released" in court. We do not generally permit translation of our stories into another language. Fresno County Jail Inmate Information Line: (559) 600-8600 or (559) 475-9491 Main Jail: 1225 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 North Annex Jail: 1265 M Street, Fresno, CA 93721 South Annex Jail: 2280 Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93721. We are dedicated as a team to provide the highest level of service to our population. If there is . Erkins rarely talked with Meza about his probation violation. It is the mission of the Fresno County Sheriff-Coroner's Office to provide excellence in public service through our uncompromising belief in dignity in death. Find local obituary news for Fresno County, the Central Valley and California. The deadline for hiring new officers is October, but Mims doubts the office will make the deadline. Meza misses her partner and the better life they were trying to build. FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Authorities are investigating the death of an inmate at the Fresno County Jail. The South Annex Jail built in 1947, the Main Jail built in 1989 and the North Annex Jail built in 1993. Ryan Gabrielson is a reporter for ProPublica covering health care. Climate Whiplash Is in Californias Future, Farmworkers in Tulare United to Confront Unfair Eviction. The jail population has grown since 2000, of course, but jail deaths have grown more. Fresno County Sheriff's Office, California. He just looked drained, Erkins bunkmate said. The inmate population is supervised by over 350 Correctional . Lorenzo Herrera had no previous criminal history, according to court records. Add to My Heroes . Realignment and subsequent sentencing reforms brought relief to state prisons and new burdens for many local governments. One was beaten into a coma. In the past seven years, some counties took advantage of the billions of dollars attached to Californias realignment efforts to address overcrowding. Coroners Reports are provided when the investigation is completed. Police said Herrera pointed a gun at an officer before surrendering. 1, 2021 at 11:52 AM PDT. The selection will result in the display of the Inmate Information page where public information on the inmate can be reviewed. View all arrests reported by Fresno County Sheriff Local Crime News provides daily updates of arrests in all cities in California. And the jails issues continue to fester. Within the past two months, three dozen correctional officers have retired or quit their posts. On Jan.17, 2018, Lorenzo Herrera called his parents, Carlos and Anna, to say he was OK but was under arrest. Erkins mother, Chrisie Collins, wrote to the court complaining that she was getting the runaround. A year later, when contacted about the letter in Erkins court file, she said, Finally, somebodys paying attention.. I was incarcerated at Wayside Honor Rancho, aka Gladiator School, in a dormitory with 90 other inmates. Sheriff Mims and the Board of Supervisors should be aware that L.A. County Sheriff Lee Baca was convicted in March 2017 of obstructing an FBI investigation of similar abuses in L.A. County jails. Fresno County Main Jail 1225 'M' Street Fresno, CA 93712. Firefighters and emergency medical technicians arrived, loaded Erkins onto a stretcher and wheeled him away. On April 28, 2019, the Fresno Bee published a front-page article about the Fresno County Jail. She urged her son to report problems to staff. The main reason that people call 559-475-9491 is to find out if a particular person is in custody, although you can look up an inmate online by going here. For a timeline of completion, please reach out to your assigned deputy coroner. If you share republished stories on social media, wed appreciate being tagged in your posts. This site is in furtherance of our ongoing effort to work with our communities to keep Fresno County safe by providing up to date information and access to you, the public we serve. The Fresno County Jail is also holding all inmates for much longer periods of time than before realignment. Twenty-seven inmates died in custody at the Harris County Jail in 2022. It is up to us to demand human rights and human treatment for inmates. When Erkins was released, he tried in his own way to get his life back on track. Nationwide, there were 1,120 deaths reported, or a rate of 154 deaths per 100,000 people in jail, the highest levels since BJS' first report on this topic in 2000.
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