GEORGETOWN COUNTY, S.C — The Georgetown County Sheriff’s Office has introduced a new technology aimed at preventing overdose deaths behind bars, becoming the first agency in South Carolina to deploy the system, WCBD reports.
The tool, called OverWatch, is a biometric monitoring system that tracks vital signs in real time, including heart rate, respiration, oxygen levels, stress and skin temperature. If readings indicate a potential medical crisis, staff receive an immediate alert, allowing them to intervene quickly.
Sheriff Carter Weaver said the decision to implement the system comes in response to the growing overdose crisis in correctional settings. National data shows overdose deaths in local jails increased by 400% between 2000 and 2018, largely driven by opioids such as fentanyl.
“Every life entrusted to our care matters,” Weaver said. “By implementing OverWatch, we are strengthening accountability, protecting detainees, and giving our staff the tools they need to respond quickly when every second counts.”
Despite safety measures already in place — including medical staff on site, hospital evaluations prior to incarceration and abatement programs — officials say overdoses can still occur. The addition of OverWatch is designed to give correctional staff another tool to detect and respond before tragedy strikes.
The sheriff’s office described the program as a new standard in safety and duty of care, one they hope will serve as a model for agencies across the state and the country.
