Santa Cruz County Correctional Officer arrested for having sexual contact with inmate

UPDATE 03/29/18 5:45PM A correctional officer with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested for having sexual contact with an inmate.

The Sheriff’s Office said 29-year-old Marco del Real was fired for having sexual contact with a female inmate in July of 2017. Rumors began surfacing about the sexual relationship then but jail management didn’t hear about it until December, which is when the investigation started.

Sheriff Jim Hart says “the investigation determined that there was a single sexual contact between Del Real and a female inmate that occurred in July of 2017.”

The Sheriff’s Office announced the correctional officer’s arrest Wednesday afternoon. “Del Reals action is an embarrassment to our profession. And it sickens me that this happened or it happened in one of our facilities. I hope there are no other incarcerated women or formally incarcerated women who have been victimized. I encourage those women to contact our investigations unit and report it,” says Sheriff Jim Hart.

Del Real had worked at the jail for four years. He was in custody but posted the $50,000 bail.

Del Real was faces felony charges including sexual activity with an incarcerated person. Inmates cannot legally give consent so it is considered sexual assault.

The Sheriff’s Office also announced all jail staff will be issued body warn cameras, “”we will be purchasing and outfitting all correctional officers with body warn cameras. Body warn cameras will be activated any time a correctional officer enters a housing unit to ensure inmate contacts are reported and we are currently increasing the number of facility cameras to improve blind spot coverage.” said Correctional Chief Deputy Steve Carney.

Sheriff Hart says while having any sexual interactions with incarcerated people has always been against policy, there will be a full jail policy and procedure review. The Sheriff’s Office will also bring in a third party to speak will all female inmates about any health or safety issues they might have.

Del Real will be back in court on April 2 for arraignment. The case has been referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The identity of the inmate will not be released to protect her privacy. She was offered counseling and her attorney was brought in to ensure her there would be no further contact with Del Real.

The Sheriff’s Office said they do not believe Del Real had relations with any other inmates.

“Knowing this occurred in the jail makes me sick. This behavior is totally unacceptable, both legally and morally. Officers are supposed to protect inmates, not harm them or take advantage of them. This officer, this suspect, violated his oath of office. I am committed, as is our staff, to the proper treatment of incarceration persons, which is why I took strong action in this case,” said Sheriff Hart.

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A correctional officer with the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested for having sexual contact with an inmate.

The Sheriff’s Office said 29-year-old Marco del Real was fired for having sexual contact with a female inmate in July of 2017. Rumors began surfacing about the sexual relationship then but jail management didn’t hear about it until December, which is when the investigation started.

The Sheriff’s Office announced the correctional officer’s arrest Wednesday afternoon. Del Real had worked at the jail for four years. He was in custody but posted the $50,000 bail.

Del Real faces felony charges. Inmates cannot legally give consent so it is considered sexual assault.

Sheriff Jim Hart said body worn cameras will now be issued to jail staff. All body cameras will have to be turned on when correctional officers make contact with inmates.

Del Real will be back in court on April 2 for arraignment. The case has been referred to the District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The identity of the inmate will not be released to protect her privacy. The Sheriff’s Office said they do not believe Del Real had relations with any other inmates.

“Knowing this occurred in the jail makes me sick. This behavior is totally unacceptable, both legally and morally. Officers are supposed to protect inmates, not harm them or take advantage of them. This officer, this suspect, violated his oath of office. I am committed, as is our staff, to the proper treatment of incarceration persons, which is why I took strong action in this case,” said Sheriff Hart.

KION’s Ashley Keehn will have more at 5 and 6 p.m.