Inmate Craig Funk, 50, Died Following Medical Issue At Stanislaus County Jail
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (August 13, 2023) – An inmate identified as Craig Funk has tragically died after some type of medical issue at the Stanislaus County jail.
Stanislaus County officials are saying that the incident took place on Monday night. Craig Funk began suffering from some type of medical issue and was taken to the hospital.
Jail officials have not said what led to him being transferred to the hospital. Despite life-saving measures, Craig Funk later died at the hospital.
Prison officials said that they do not believe his death was tied to an assault, suicide or drug overdose. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Inmate Deaths In Stanislaus County
The United States leads the world in the number of people incarcerated. The U.S. is also a world leader in the number of people who die in custody. According to National Public Radio, “At least 6,182 people died in state and federal prisons in 2020, a 46% jump from the previous year, according to data recently released by researchers from the UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project.” There are many factors that could lead to an inmate’s death.
- Inmates may die from long term illnesses.
- Inmates may not get the medical care that they need.
- Inmates may be attacked by officers or other inmates.
- Inmates may die from a drug or alcohol overdose.
The United State’s constitution affords inmates a number of rights. Among other things, inmates must have access to reasonably adequate healthcare. This starts when an inmate is first admitted. They must be given any medications that they need to stay healthy. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. For example, jail officials may have failed to intervene in a timely fashion when an inmate was in the midst of a medical emergency. There are other ways a jail may have failed to properly care for an inmate.
- Correctional officers may have failed to follow the instructions of medical doctors.
- Correctional officers may have failed to give an inmate their medications.
- Correctional officers may have failed to recognize the clear signs that an inmate was in the midst of an overdose.
Jails often outsource the healthcare that they provide to inmates to private corporations. These corporations are primarily concerned with turning a profit. To that end, ensuring the constitutional rights of those that they care for is a second concern. This often leads to inmates getting less than optimal care for their health conditions. The family of any person that died in custody may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim.
Getting Legal Help After Inmate Deaths In Stanislaus County
We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Craig Funk. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this moving forward.
Do you need more information about an inmate death in Stanislaus County? Our team of inmate’s rights advocates are here for you. All inmates have dignity and worth and their lives matter. We are dedicated to helping victims of jail neglect and holding the institutions that harmed them accountable. 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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