A recent surge of inmate deaths in Utah jails prompted the improved jail standards. According to the most recent report available by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, more inmates died in Utah jails in 2014 than in any other state. And the Associated Press reported, “Records gathered by the Standard-Examiner show at least 24 deaths involving Utah jails occurred in 2016, a 17-year high.”
The Legislature is responding as well. Sen. Todd Weiler is drafting a bill that would require county jails to report the number of jail deaths annually and which, if any, medications they refuse to administer.