SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 15, 2024):  The Orange County Sheriff’s Department, in partnership with the OC Health Care Agency (HCA), is launching a new program to better serve those experiencing homelessness or mental health disorders. 

Starting in early March of 2024, the Sheriff’s Department will triage non-violent and non-criminal behavioral health and homeless-related calls for service to determine if they can be diverted to OC Links, the 24-hour, 7 days a week Behavioral Health Line, an entry point for the OC HCA’s continuum of care providing information, referral, linkage, screening, homeless outreach, and dispatching of mobile crisis response teams. 

Dispatchers, using a series of intake questions, will triage calls to determine if a deputy response is required. If the call is determined to be non-violent and non-criminal, dispatch will transfer the caller to OC Links, where they will be connected with a trained navigator.

“When an individual is experiencing homelessness or a mental health crisis, our goal is always to provide the most effective response possible,” said Don Barnes, Orange County Sheriff-Coroner. “This diversion program allows us to connect individuals in need of expert behavioral health support with the best resources.” 

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department receives about 10,000 calls for service each year involving mental health, individuals experiencing homelessness, and similar crises. OC Links provides specifically trained navigators who specialize in connecting individuals experiencing mental health disorders, homelessness, or substance use disorders with appropriate behavioral health services and field outreach. OC Links dispatches counselors to non-violent and non-criminal calls instead of deputies, allowing deputies to be more readily available for in-progress crimes and proactive policing. 

If additional assistance is needed or requested, deputies and/or fire personnel will be dispatched. 

"This partnership between the Orange County Sheriff's Department and OC Health Care Agency exemplifies our commitment to providing comprehensive support for individuals in crisis,” said Dr. Veronica Kelley, Director of Behavioral Health Services at OC Health Care Agency. “By integrating law enforcement and behavioral health expertise, we can better address the complex needs of our community."

The Sheriff’s Department continues to deploy its Behavioral Health Bureau teams in partnership with OC HCA Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT), responsible for proactively contacting and supporting those experiencing mental health crises and homelessness in the community, and connecting individuals with resources including housing programs, counseling services, and other support services.   

The public can access OC Links 24/7 by calling (855) 625-4657 or (855) OC Links.

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On Monday, March 11, 2024, an Orange County Jail inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Module B died at the Orange County Global Medical Center, Santa Ana. The decedent was a 36-year-old Hispanic male who was awaiting trial.  The decedent's manner and mode of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.

On Friday, March 8, 2024, an Orange County Jail inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Module Q died while inside custody. The decedent is a 46-year-old white male who was awaiting to be transferred to Riverside County Sheriff’s custody.  The decedent's manner and means of death are awaiting final determination by the Orange County Coroner.

SANTA ANA, Ca. (March 11, 2024) – On Monday, March 11, 2024, an inmate housed at the Central Men’s Jail in Santa Ana died at a local hospital.

The 36-year-old inmate was booked into jail on March 6, 2024, by the Santa Ana Police Department for drug related offenses and possession of a firearm.  The inmate’s name is being withheld pending notification to next of kin.

The inmate was pronounced deceased at the hospital after being transferred there on the evening of March 10 for a medical issue. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology and an independent autopsy.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.  

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ORANGE, Ca. (March 9, 2024) – On Friday, March 8, 2024, an inmate housed at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange died in jail.

The inmate was booked into jail on March 7, 2024, by the Anaheim Police Department for a parole violation. His name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Orange County Coroner’s Division.

In the evening of March 8, 2024, the inmate was found unresponsive in his cell. Deputies and correctional medical staff attempted life-saving measures. He was pronounced deceased at the Theo Lacy Facility at approximately 6:40 p.m. Preliminarily, there are no suspicious circumstances. A final cause of death will be determined following toxicology testing and an independent autopsy.

The Orange County District Attorney’s Office will investigate the in-custody death. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will conduct an in-custody death review. No additional information will be released at this time.  

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In January of 2020, a deputy was found to be dishonest in the performance of duty.  The employee was terminated in February of 2022.

Please note that due to the size of the files, and depending on download speeds, it could take several minutes for the files to open.

https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Dishonesty/Sustained%20Findings%20of%20Dishonesty.20-077.zip

In September of 2016, deputies were involved in a use of force at the Central Women's Jail in Santa Ana.  The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued. 

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https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Unreasonable%20or%20Excessive%20Force/Sustained%20Findings%20Excessive%20Force.16-145.zip

In August of 2016, deputies were involved in a use of force at the Central Men's Jail in Santa Ana.  The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued. 

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https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Unreasonable%20or%20Excessive%20Force/Sustained%20Findings%20Excessive%20Force.16-122.zip

In June of 2016, deputies were involved in a use of force at the Theo Lacy Facility in Orange.  The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued. 

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https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Unreasonable%20or%20Excessive%20Force/Sustained%20Findings%20Excessive%20Force.16-089.zip

In June of 2015, deputies were involved in a use of force in the City of San Clemente.  The use of force was determined to be outside of policy with policy violations addressed and discipline issued. 

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https://cpraazlrshotprod1.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/cpraprod1/Mediazip/SF-Unreasonable%20or%20Excessive%20Force/Sustained%20Findings%20Excessive%20Force.15-120.zip