pexels-rdne-stock-project-6069522Inmate Hunter Bergner Died While In Custody at The Maguire Correctional Facility 

SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA (August 6, 2024) – A 46-year-old inmate identified as Hunter Bergner has tragically died while in custody at the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City.

San Mateo County officials are saying that the incident took place around 3:15 p.m. in March. Correctional officers noticed that Hunter Bergner was unresponsive in his jail cell.

Life-saving measures were taken, but those efforts were not successful. Hunter Bergner was later pronounced dead. A full investigation into the death remains ongoing at this time.

Liability For San Mateo County Inmate Deaths

Thousands of inmates die in custody every year in the United States. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “A total of 4,234 persons died in state and federal prisons in 2019, a 6.6% decrease from the 4,515 deaths in 2018 reported to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) Mortality in Correctional Institutions (MCI, formerly the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program) data collection.” Jails should take a number of steps in order to prevent inmate deaths.

  • Jails should have clear use of force policies.
  • Jails should be stocked with Narcan.
  • Jails should have well-trained staff.

All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with reasonably adequate care for their medical conditions. This includes mental health conditions. In particular, suicide remains a leading cause of inmate death in the United States. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. It is crucial that evidence is properly preserved after an inmate’s death.

  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • Medical records related to the incident should be preserved.
  • Jail records related to the incident should be collected.

Many jail deaths are completely preventable. This is particularly true when any death is due to suicide or a drug overdose. Sadly, though,  jails will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if an inmate dies in their care. This is why it is so important that the cause of any in-custody death is properly understood.

Investigating San Mateo County Inmate Deaths 

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Hunter Bergner. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. State officials need to do more in order to ensure that this jail is complying with constitutional standards.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed while staying at the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City? You may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. 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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