Chelan County Regional Justice Center adds 44 more medical sensors to jail cells

WENATCHEE (NCW Life) — The Chelan County Regional Justice Center has installed an additional 44 medical sensors, bringing the total number of sensors in single-occupancy cells to 68.

The county jail began installing medical sensors, from Kentucky-based Reassurance Solutions, in August 2024 to detect sudden changes in the health of inmates. The sensors are waterproof, roughly the size of a smoke detector and are installed on cell ceilings. The sensor technology monitors vital signs such as heart and respiratory rates to warn staff of a collapse from overdose or other medical emergency.

“With today’s opioid crisis, we must do our part to ensure we are providing the safest environment possible for those people we are entrusted to care for,” said jail director Chris Sharp. “With the additional sensors installed, we hope to be able to process more people into the facility who we know will be detoxing.”

Opioid settlement dollars were used to purchase the additional sensors along with contributions from Douglas County and statewide county risk pool grant funding. The purchase, installation and maintenance of the sensors through 2028, was a total cost of $359,400.

The jail received the 2025 Detention Facility Innovation Award from the National Institute for Jail Operations for its use of technology, including the sensors.