Suicides at Pinal jail has experts concerned

Tucson, Arizona | Published: 08.20.2008 MESA — Recent suicides at the Pinal County Jail are raising concerns about supervision, medical care and management of the facility. Two inmates killed themselves July 8 and 16. There have been two other suicides and five suicide-related injuries in the Pinal County jail since 2005. Experts said the number of jail deaths raises questions for a facility the size of the Pinal County jail. "Two deaths in a week for a jail that size certainly stands out," said Lindsay Hayes, a consultant who works with the U.S. Justice Department to analyze jail suicides. "I can't say anything for sure without studying them. But when you see a group of suicides like that, there are often factors that could have contributed." Dan Pochoda, legal director for the Arizona American Civil Liberties Union, said... [read full story]