After Inmate's Death, Santa Clara Co. Cadets Receive Training On Handling Mentally Ill Inmates
SAN JOSE (KPIX 5) – After three Santa Clara County correctional officers were charged with murder in the death of a mentally ill inmate, a new group of cadets receive training in crisis intervention as they prepare to graduate.
These correctional cadets would have lined up to get their badges and be sworn-in Wednesday. Instead, 70 members of this academy class filed into the courtroom of Judge Stephen Manley, to get a crash course on how to deal with mentally ill inmates from a recognized expert.
"People who hear voices really do, it's not funny. To them it's real," Manley told the cadets.
"This academy class was actually supposed to graduate today. Instead we're keeping them in here an extra 40 hours and giving them crisis intervention training," said Sgt. James Jennings of the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office.
This immediate extra training was ordered by Sheriff Laurie Smith, in the aftermath of the in-custody death of mentally ill inmate Michael Tyree.
Tyree was allegedly beaten to death in his cell by three correctional deputies, who are now standing trial for murder.
"It's just a higher level of dealing with people with mental health issues," Smith told KPIX 5.
Sheriff Smith said the training normally happens well after cadets' graduate, but she moved it up hoping it will be more effective before they hit the jailhouse.
The cadets saw how the judge treated inmates with respect, holds them accountable, and is firm but fair. They also saw something else the judge says he does every time: positive re-enforcement.
"What they'll be able to do is to really recognize the differences, know better how to handle people that have mental health issues, knowing the signs, the symptoms, and the techniques," Smith said.