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Monterey County approves new jail health contract aimed at Hernandez compliance
Summary
The Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a multi-year contract with Correctional Healthcare Partners to overhaul jail medical services, increase staffing and add enforceable performance metrics intended to speed the county toward compliance with the federal Hernandez settlement.
Monterey County on Nov. 13 authorized a new correctional health services contract with Correctional Healthcare Partners (CHP), a California-based physician-owned firm, in a unanimous roll-call vote.
Sheriff Tina Nieto told the board the agreement is intended to meet the county's obligations under the federal Hernandez settlement, requiring specific, enforceable performance measures. The contract ties staffing levels and measurable clinical timelines to financial credits or penalties: if staffing posts go unfilled or performance benchmarks are missed the county receives automatic credits; missed standards can also trigger penalties.
Chief Deputy Tim Lanquist, who helped lead the county's RFP evaluation, said the county's independent review team weighted proposals heavily on service and practice rather than solely on cost, and found CHP's approach would add roughly 36 full-time-equivalent medical positions to address backlogs and intake screening gaps identified in monitoring reports.
CHP CEO Dr. Peter Friedland described the company as a clinician-led organization focused on bringing more access points to incarcerated patients, such as expanded intake triage, module-level exam rooms and prompt initiation of medications. He told the board his firm had reduced mortality and other adverse outcomes in similar contracts and that the company accepts the contract's penalty structure tied to National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) standards.
Board members pressed staff and the vendor on how the contract would help the county reduce Hernandez-related liabilities and achieve 'substantial compliance,' as defined by federal monitors. Sheriff Nieto said increased staffing and performance-driven oversight should accelerate progress in monitoring metrics and could shorten the county's time under court supervision.
Public commenters voiced a mix of support and skepticism: current and former county staff praised continuity and increased resources, while some community members urged continued scrutiny of jail deaths and transparency around outcomes.
The board approved the contract by roll call (Alejo: Aye; Church: Aye; Root Askew: Aye; Daniels: Aye; Chair Lopez: Aye). Supervisors also requested follow-up options for additional oversight measures to ensure contract performance.
