WAUKEGAN – Three Lake County corrections officers recently saved the life of an inmate assigned to periodic imprisonment.
On June 2, Officers David Juarez and Daniel Pennington were conducting evening rounds in the Community Based Correctional Center. While conducting rounds, they discovered a 23-year-old male inmate on the floor in the shower, according to a news release.
The inmate was unresponsive and had shallow breathing. After assessing the inmate, they believed he was suffering from some type of drug overdose, police said.
Juarez and Pennington immediately called for Naloxone to be brought to their location. Correctional Officer Mark Gaines responded with Naloxone and provided the inmate a nasal dose.
After receiving the Naloxone, the inmate regained consciousness. He was taken to an area hospital for medical evaluation.
Further investigation revealed the inmate ingested opioids just before returning to the Community Based Correctional Center, police said. When the inmate returned, he entered the shower, where he began suffering overdose symptoms and collapsed.
“It is always a top priority to treat those in our custody with dignity and respect,” Sheriff John Idleburg said. “The quick lifesaving actions by correctional officers Juarez, Pennington and Gaines perfectly highlight this philosophy, and I am extremely proud of them for saving the life of an inmate.”
The Community Based Correctional Center is a section of the jail used to house inmates assigned to periodic imprisonment, often referred to as “work release.” This is an area where inmates have been sentenced, but under the conditions of their sentence they are allowed to leave for work, job appointments, medical appointments and other qualifying events. Inmates must return to the Community Based Correctional Center upon the conclusion of work or their appointment.