A bill, nicknamed the “dying from detox” bill, aimed at seeking solutions to an increase of detox related deaths in jails throughout Utah is making progress in the Utah Legislature.
HB410 Alcohol and Substance Use Withdrawal in County Jails
received support in the House after its 3rd reading on Tuesday, February 27th. Bill sponsor, Representative Carol Spackman Moss, has explained that the death of Madison Jensen in the Duchesne County Jail in December 2016 was among the incidents that inspired her to pursue
HB410
. Madison Jensen’s family had reported Madison to law enforcement authorities and she was taken into custody and then died at the Duchesne County Jail as a result of complications related to opioid withdrawal. The main aim of the bill is to establish a workgroup through the Utah Substance Use and Mental Health Advisory Council to study alcohol and substance use withdrawal in Utah’s county jails. As it is currently written, the workgroup would identify the number of deaths in county jails in the state after December 31st, 2012 and before January 1st, 2017 that are related to offender alcohol or substance use withdrawal. It would also identify what treatment or resources are available to offenders in county jails and the standard used by county jails in offering these resources, among other items. If it passes, the Council would be required to report findings to the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee before November 30th, 2018.
