Investigation Underway After Brandon Canfield, of South Lake Tahoe, Died In Custody At El Dorado County Jail —> GoFundMe Created To Support Family

pexels-rdne-stock-project-6519848SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIFORNIA (December 4, 2024) – An inmate identified as Brandon Canfield has tragically died in custody at the El Dorado County Jail.

El Dorado County officials are saying that the incident took place on Friday morning. Correctional officers noticed that Brandon Canfield was unresponsive in his jail cell.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the inmate. Despite those efforts, Brandon Canfield was later pronounced dead.

A full investigation into the cause of the incident remains ongoing at this time. A GoFundMe was created to help cover funeral expenses.


Legal Considerations for South Lake Tahoe Inmate Deaths

Jails are supposed to be temporary holding spots for those accused of crimes. Despite this, thousands of people have died in jails before they were ever tried for the crimes 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.” Jails should take several steps in order to avoid inmate deaths.

  • Jails should ensure that all inmates get a health screening before they are admitted.
  • Jails should be stocked with Narcan, which can be used to reverse an overdose.
  • Jails should be trained to identify the signs and inmate is having a medical emergency.

Jails have a legal obligation to protect inmates from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. To that end, all inmates must get medical care for all of their needs. Some inmates may need care for chronic conditions. Other inmates may need treatment for substance abuse. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. A jail may have made several mistakes that contributed to the death of an inmate.

  • A jail may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they needed.
  • A jail may have failed to place an inmate in a specialized cell if they were at risk of self-harm.
  • A jail may have failed to get an inmate to the hospital in a timely manner.

Inmate deaths are often highly preventable and involve major lapses in protocol. For example, inmates are supposed to have periodic wellness checks. But there have been a number of instances where jails have not properly checked in on inmates for many hours, only to find them dead. The family of any person who died in custody at a county jail may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating El Dorado County Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Brandon Canfield. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police.

Do you need more information about an El Dorado County inmate death? Our team of civil rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates get the support and justice that they are owed under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

legal disclaimer
Legal Disclaimer