pexels-rdne-stock-project-6519848Investigation Underway After David Dominguez Died In Suspected Homicide At Wasco State Prison In Kern County

KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (August 27, 2024) – An inmate identified as David Dominguez has died while in custody at the Wasco State Prison in Kern County.

Prison officials are saying that the incident took place around 2:30 p.m. over the weekend. Jail officials were called to help after reports that David Dominguez was injured in the dayroom of the prison.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the inmate. Despite life-saving measures, David Dominguez died due to his injuries.

Authorities believe that he may have been attacked by as many as four other inmates. Those inmates have since been moved to restricted housing.

Liability For California Inmate Prison Deaths

Jails can be very dangerous places. Many of the people who die or are injured were never even convicted of the crimes that they were being held on. According to Reuters, “Unlike state and federal prisons, which hold people convicted of serious crimes, jails are locally run lockups meant to detain people awaiting arraignment or trial, or those serving short sentences. The toll of jail inmates who die without a case resolution subverts a fundamental tenet of the U.S. criminal justice system: innocent until proven guilty.” A number of different factors may contribute to violence in a jail setting.

  • Violence is more likely to occur in jails that are overcrowded. This can lead to inmates competing over limited resources.
  • Violence is more likely to take place when jails are understaffed by trained correctional officers.
  • Violence is more likely to take place when jails fail to adequately supervise inmates.

Jails have a legal obligation to protect inmates from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. When jails are aware that an inmate is at risk from other inmates, they must take action. Consider, for example, Pierson v. Hartley. In that case, jail staff allowed an inmate with a known violent history to roam an open-space dormitory. He was also previously convicted of possessing a weapon while incarcerated. He attacked another inmate, causing him to be seriously injured. Victims of prison attacks tend to suffer very serious injuries.

  • Lacerations
  • Stab injuries
  • Organ damage
  • Fractures

Homicides are often highly preventable in a jail setting. They tend to involve situations where jails fail to follow safety protocols. Sadly, though, jails will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if someone in their care dies. The family of any person that died in a jail setting may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating Kern County Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm were deeply concerned to hear about the tragic death of David Dominguez. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Do you need more information about a Kern County inmate’s death? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

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