Correctional officers assigned to the Maguire Correctional Center discovered an inmate dead in his cell after he did not respond to the call of authorities. This is the second body found inside the penitentiary in just a few days.
On Saturday, October 21, at approximately 9:18 p.m., correctional officers found a 34-year-old white male alone in his cell and unresponsive. It was discovered as part of the hourly checks staff conduct to ensure the well-being and safety of incarcerated people.
Once discovered, prison officials immediately began life-saving measures by administering CPR until medical personnel arrived inside the facility, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
Unfortunately, the individual was pronounced deceased at the Maguire Correctional Facility by the Redwood City Fire and EMS Department, authorities said.
Detectives of the San Mateo County Sheriff, the District Attorney's Office, and the Coroner's Office were notified and responded to the scene.
In that sense, it was reported that the three agencies are carrying out independent investigations to determine the cause of death.
While initial information so far suggests the cause of death was suicide, the Coroner's Office will make the final decision once it has completed its examination and investigation.
It was explained that, out of respect for the privacy of his family, the name of the deceased will not be revealed until notifications have been completed.
However, the report detailed that the incarcerated person was housed in the Behavioral Health Unit, which offers educational programs, increased out-of-cell leisure time and evidence-based clinical programs to treat serious mental illnesses.
?Residents who were previously unable to function successfully in a group setting have more opportunities to socialize, integrate, and receive clinical and programmatic support. Correctional Health Services and the Sheriff's Office also work closely with San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services and community partners to design comprehensive release plans for each BHU participant.
In this regard, the authorities asked to understand that these investigations are exhaustive and take time to be done correctly and that, once the investigation is completed, they will be fully transparent and will publish any additional information through press releases and social media.
?The death of anyone in our care affects our entire organization, as we take great pride in caring for our communities. Our employees who responded and provided life-saving measures are receiving peer support resources, as incidents like this have a profound impact on the mental well-being of our employees.”
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