DuPage County under-sheriff details mental-health staffing increases after jail death; board presses for sheriff to appear

Under Sheriff Eddie Moore told the DuPage County Board on April 8 that the DuPage County Correctional Facility has nearly doubled its mental‑health staff and implemented new procedures following the death of an inmate in mid‑2023.

The change comes after a string of four deaths in a three‑month period in 2023, Moore said, and a later settlement that the board authorized for $11,000,000. Moore said, “The number of mental health staff has nearly doubled to enhance care and oversight.” He described a new “mental health step down program,” individual treatment plans for detainees with mental‑health needs, and new authority for security supervisors to initiate hospital transfers in addition to medical staff.

Board members said the changes are a step forward but asked for clearer accountability and for the elected sheriff to appear before the board. Chair Deborah A. Conroy and several members said Sheriff Mendrick, the elected official ultimately responsible for the sheriff’s office, was invited but did not attend; Conroy said, “We appreciate you being here, Under Sheriff, very much. But I think we all know at the end of the day, the person who is responsible for this is the sheriff, and unfortunately, he's not willing to come and talk to us.”

Why it matters: County leaders and the public raised questions about how detention facilities manage people with severe mental illness, how long state agencies take to accept custody, and whether internal changes are sufficient to prevent future tragedies. Several members pressed Moore and jail staff on whether outside independent review would be allowed; one board member asked specifically whether the jail would accept a review by the John Howard Association. Moore replied he could not speak for the sheriff and that such a decision would need the sheriff’s approval.

Key facts from the presentation and board questioning: - Staffing and roles: Moore said mental‑health staff headcount rose from four to a headcount of eight, with seven positions filled. He said the jail’s mental‑health team includes one licensed psychologist and several licensed clinical professional counselors (LCPCs). Moore also said the facility has two psychiatrists (separate from the eight clinicians). Deputy Chief Tim confirmed the count and described clinicians as county employees rather than contractors. - Inmate population and care: Moore said the facility population was 572 at the time of the meeting. He described approximately 200 inmates who are seen by psychiatric services and identified about 40 people as “severely mentally ill”; board members asked for clarity on the distinction between “severely mentally ill” and “mentally ill.” The jail maintains a list of detainees found unfit for trial and communicates status changes to command staff and the state’s attorney, Moore said; he later said the number of unfit inmates currently was nine. - Transfers and state custody: Moore said the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) extended timelines for accepting custody of detainees deemed unfit for court from 60 days to 90 days in some cases, and he described that statewide bed shortages make transfers difficult. When asked whether lack of available hospital or state mental‑health beds contributed to the 2023 death, Moore said there was not a bed available at the time and that systemic statewide shortages limit options. - Audits and accreditation: Moore said the jail receives oversight from three entities: Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC) annually, and both the American Correctional Association (ACA) and the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) on a three‑year cycle. He said the facility was recently audited and, for the most recent cycle, was “compliant in all measures” though final written reports were still pending. - Accountability and staffing discipline: In response to questions about why a detainee who later died was not transferred earlier, Moore said he could not discuss specific medical records without family authorizations because of HIPAA and privacy protections, but he told the board that some staff involved in the weekend when the death occurred are no longer employed and that staff had been disciplined. - Settlement and civil liability: Multiple board members referenced an $11 million settlement tied to the jail death in mid‑2023; legal staff clarified that the amount reflected a settlement reached through mediation rather than a jury trial.

Board concerns and follow‑up requests: Members repeatedly requested the sheriff appear at a future meeting and asked for copies of the final audit reports from ACA and NCCHC when available. Several members suggested evaluating outsourcing options for medical care or bringing in third‑party medical providers to reduce risk and insurance costs; Moore said the county is “weighing all options” and that the jail is in negotiations with medical staff and providers. At least one board member asked the undersheriff to seek clarity from the state’s attorney on whether the board could formally notify DHS or otherwise press for timelier transfers when beds are needed.

Public‑safety context and next steps: Board members expressed bipartisan concern about detainees’ safety and county liability. Member Honig said, “No amount of money can ever compensate for the profound loss of her and to her family,” and urged that officials use the board’s oversight opportunities to prevent future deaths. The board asked staff to provide copies of pending accreditation reports and to coordinate a future meeting where the sheriff could respond directly to questions. Under Sheriff Moore said the office would provide the pending reports when available and that he would relay board requests to the sheriff’s office.

Ending: The board’s discussion ended without a formal vote on new county policy or an independent review; several members said they will press the sheriff to appear at a future meeting and asked county staff to return with the requested accreditation reports and further details on transfers, staffing ratios, and outside review options.