pexels-rdne-stock-project-6069522Male Inmate, 37, Died In Cell At LA-Based Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles County

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (January 16, 2025) –  A 37-year-old man has tragically died inside of his cell at the men’s central jail in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the death took place on January 15, 2015. The inmate involved had only been partially sentenced.

Correctional officers noticed that the inmate was in some type of medical distress inside of their cell. Medical staff and sheriff’s deputies enter the cell in order to provide assistance to the inmate.

But efforts to revive him were not successful. The 37-year-old inmate was later pronounced dead inside of their cell.

This is the second death so far in 2025.

Legal Considerations for Los Angeles County Jail Deaths

Thousands of inmates die in custody every year in the United States. According to the UCLA Behind Bars Data Project, “Data analysis from UCLA Law found that while the U.S. has seen a significant increase in deaths in prisons in the past two decades, no year has seen anything like the steep increase in loss of life that occurred from 2019 to 2020.”There are a number of common causes of inmate death.

  • Homicide
  • Suicide
  • Drug intoxication
  • Excessive force
  • Cancer
  • Medical neglect

Many of the deaths that take place in jail are due to abuse or neglect. If this is the case, a jail could be held responsible for the death of an inmate. Pursuant to 42 U.S. Code § 1983, every person who, under the color of any statute, law or ordinance, causes a citizen of the United States to be deprived of their rights secured by the constitution, shall be liable to the injured party in an action at law. There are a number of situations where a jail may have caused the death of an inmate through excessive force.

  • Jail officials may have prevented an inmate from breathing through positional asphyxia.
  • Jail officials may have repeatedly tasered an inmate.
  • Jail officials may have used chemical agents on an inmate.
  • Jail officials may have struck an inmate in the head or slammed them against a hard surface.

Jails will virtually never accept responsibility when they caused the death of an inmate. They will claim that many deaths are natural. Even if a death involved the use of force, they might say that their correctional officers were acting in some type of self-defense. This is why it is so important that any death inside of a jail is properly investigated by an outside agency. In particular, a civil rights attorney can examine the unique circumstances of any in-custody death and determine if correctional officers failed to follow protocol.

Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the inmate that died at this jail. It is our sincere hope that there is a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. The number of inmate deaths at the Men’s Central Jail in recent years is deeply alarming.

Do you need more information about an in-custody death at the Men’s Central Jail? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help get you the answers that you need. We care deeply that jails are held accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any particular incident, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

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