In 2017, Sheriff Bill Elder laid out illegal marijuana enforcement, addressing mental health in the community and reducing the average daily jail population as his top priorities for the next four years of his administration.
In March, we increased our efforts to reduce the jail population by transferring the backlog of Department of Corrections inmates to the Park County Jail and reducing the number of beds available for parole. The BHCON Unit prevented the unnecessary incarceration of individuals with mental illness by providing on scene crisis intervention and connecting them to community mental health services. We continued our collaboration with agency partners to stop the diversion of legal marijuana to the illegal marijuana market.
El Paso County Jail Population and Inmate Assaults on Inmates and Staff March 1- March 31, 2019 Statistics:
• Average Daily Population (ADP) 1689 inmates
• Inmate Bookings – 1811 / Inmate Releases – 1717
• 8 Inmate vs. Staff Assaults with five resulting in injury to staff
• 16 Inmate vs. Inmate Assaults with seven resulting in injuries to inmates
• 15 Inmate vs. Inmate Fights with 13 resulting in injuries to inmates
Behavioral Health Connect Program (BHCON) March 1 – 31, 2019 statistics:
• Responded to 40 calls for service
• Provided services to 43 clients
• Attempted 24 follow-ups with clients
• 19 clients were treated on scene and provided mental health resources
• 12 clients were transferred to a local medical facility or walk-in center
• 0 clients were arrested
Illegal and Black-Market Marijuana Enforcement March 2019 statistics:
• 5 Search Warrants and 17 Knock and Talks Compliance Checks
• 141 plants seized (Street Value of $141,000 at $1,000 per plant)
• .25 pounds of processed marijuana seized (Street Value of $875 at $3500 per pound)
• 0 Arrests