Apparent Suicide Attempt in County Jail
A 27-year-old inmate in the Santa Barbara County Jail tried to hang himself on July 9. He was transported to the hospital. He had been in custody for one week, booked on charges of possessing a controlled substance, driving under the influence and on a suspended license, possessing marijuana for sales, “and other drug related offenses.” According to the Sheriff’s Office, there were 18 attempted suicides last year, nine in 2015, and 20 in 2014. In the last six years, there were two deaths by suicide in jail — one in 2011 and another in 2016.