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Onondaga County, Spurred On By Recent Deaths, Approves Jail Oversight Committee

Chris Bolt/WAER News

  What goes on inside the Onondaga County Justice Center jail might be under just a bit more scrutiny after a Jail Oversight Committee was approved Tuesday by County lawmakers. 

Rae Kraemer had a first-hand look at at least one of the alleged problems, going a week before getting routine blood pressure medication she needs every day.  But she says this committee isn’t about blame…but improvement.

“How many people are there; what is the nature of medical situations; how long do they have to wait for medical service?  The intention here is to improve, to recognize that most people at the Justice Center have not even been adjudicated.  These are people just like us, accused, indicted but not adjudicated.  If our approach is to blame, then people will not talk about what’s wrong.” 

The most serious incidents that brought more pressure for this move were Deaths in the jail in 2009 and 2010.  Chuniece Patterson died of an ectopic Pregnancy – which is rarely fatal – amid reports she called our repeatedly for medical attention.  Raul Pinet died of pressure to his back, which some called excessive force against someone who was not struggling.  Legislature Chair Ryan McMahon helped shape the legislation into something that passed unanimously today…and acknowledged those incidents.

“This should l have been done a long time ago and it wasn’t.  And through this official action today by all of us elected to represent you and everyone else in the community, of all different races and all different  colors, that hopefully this can be part of the healing process with some of the incidents that shouldn’t have happened and it’s a recognition that hopefully we can heal.” 

McMahon praised several dozen residents who came to the vote, many of whom spoke in favor right before the vote.  The committee will make recommendations to the Sheriff and County Legislature, based on complaints and reviews.  County Lawmakers also approved creating the position of Human Rights Commissioner…who will head up the oversight committee.  

Chris Bolt, Ed.D. has proudly been covering the Central New York community and mentoring students for more than 30 years. His career in public media started as a student volunteer, then as a reporter/producer. He has been the news director for WAER since 1995. Dedicated to keeping local news coverage alive, Chris also has a passion for education, having trained, mentored and provided a platform for growth to more than a thousand students. Career highlights include having work appear on NPR, CBS, ABC and other news networks, winning numerous local and state journalism awards.