Investigation Underway After 68-Year-Old Donell Duckett Died Following Medical Emergency at San Diego Central Jail
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (January 13, 2025) – A 68-year-old man identified as Donell Duckett has tragically died in custody after a medical emergency in his cell at the San Diego Central Jail.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident took place around 1:09 a.m. on Friday. Correctional officers noticed that Donell Duckett was showing signs of medical distress inside of his cell.
Medical personnel and deputies entered the cell in order to evaluate him. He was eventually transported to the hospital.
Despite lifesaving measures at the hospital, Donell Duckett was ultimately pronounced dead. A full investigation into the cause of the death remains ongoing at this time.
But jail officials are saying that the death is being classified as “natural.”
Legal Considerations for San Diego County Inmate Deaths
Thousands of inmates die in custody every year. Many of these deaths are listed as “natural,” but this designation can often be highly misleading. According to one investigation by National Public Radio, “NPR found that potential issues such as medical neglect, poor prison conditions and a lack of health care resources were left unexplained once a “natural” death designation ended hopes of an investigation.” Jails should take a number of measures in order to prevent inmate deaths.
- Jails should ensure that all inmates have a medical screening.
- Jails should be stocked with Narcan, which can be used to reverse overdoses.
- Jails should perform routine wellness checks on the inmates in their care.
All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with reasonably adequate care for all of their medical conditions. Failing to give inmates adequate medical care is considered a form of cruel and unusual punishment and therefore unconstitutional. In particular, if a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate who died, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are a number of ways that a jail may have inadvertently contributed to an inmate’s death.
- Jail officials may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they needed.
- Jail officials may have failed to take an inmate to the hospital in a timely manner.
- Jail officials may have failed to properly diagnose an inmate’s condition.
Jails are supposed to be proactive about keeping inmates healthy. But far too often this does not take place. The problem is particularly pronounced in San Diego County. The county has been sued many times for violating the constitutional rights of inmates. This includes instances where inmates have been denied proper medical care. There have also been numerous instances where inmates have died due to the excessive force of correctional officers.
Investigating San Diego County Inmate Deaths
We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Donell Duckett. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. The sheer number of inmate deaths in San Diego County in recent years remains deeply concerning.
Do you need more information about an inmate death at the San Diego Central Jail? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that people are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.
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