After a notable spike in deaths at the state’s largest jail, in April 2023 the former warden reached out to a company that promised a solution — biosensor wristbands that monitor an at-risk inmate’s vital signs and alert authorities if anything is wrong.
A year later, six more people had died in custody of the jail, four of whom were in the detox unit.
None of them had been wearing the monitors, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Detention Center said. The devices were made by 4Sight Labs, and purchased locally through APIC Solutions.
About half of the people who died since the beginning of 2020 were detoxing from drugs and alcohol.
On Wednesday, hours after City Desk asked questions about the contract, MDC spokesperson Daniel Trujillo sent out a news release announcing the county had canceled it in April, more than two years early.
“Vendors had assured MDC that Overwatch™ would work within current IT infrastructure,” Trujillo wrote. “However, it was unable to integrate with MDC’s inmate management system. Overwatch™ relied on Bluetooth and could not maintain a reliable connection with the sensors. Battery life was two hours and made charging impractical during jail operations. Inmates complained about the wristbands being uncomfortable. Some inmates exercised their right not to participate in the bracelet program during intake.”
However, a representative from 4Sight Labs said after they were notified of some technical difficulties with the first generation model, they offered to replace it with the second generation and were rebuffed. After this story was published a spokesperson clarified that “Overwatch” is the second generation model that the jail did not use.
“I don’t know if it was a change of commands, I don’t know if they got too busy,” said COO Dave Sanders. “We definitely attempted, and have reached out to help, and would be more than happy to get it in there. It was paid for as part of their initial year.”
Sanders said 4Sight Labs, which was launched three years ago, is used by 50 agencies around the country. The devices are in facilities in six counties around the state and several more are interested.
“If used and reacted to appropriately, it does have the ability to save lives,” he said. “That’s been proven by the 16 that have been reported to us.”
In response to questions, Trujillo said the “manufacture (sic) of the Gen 2 devices experienced delays, and therefore were not used at the facility.”
“Beginning July 2023, through the decision to terminate the contract, the county met with both vendors numerous times to resolve the issues that affected usage at MDC,” Trujillo said. “Solutions to the problems never came.”
The $1.2 million contract included monitors for 200 inmates for approximately $467,425. The decision to terminate it early means it will save $732,575, Trujillo said.
He would not answer questions about whether correctional officers or medical staff were tasked with monitoring the devices.
“MDC will continue working with our healthcare partners to proactively monitor at-risk inmates, and pursue innovative ways to assist in those efforts,” Trujillo said.
Of the 32 people who died in custody over the past four and a half years, 17 were in the detox unit.
The county has changed medical providers twice in the past four years and the University of New Mexico Hospital now has the contract. Six people have died since UNMH took over in July 2023.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to clarify the model of the device that the jail used.