pexels-pixabay-236380Investigation Underway After 21-Year-Old Inmate Died After Being Taken to Los Angeles County Hospital

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 20, 2024) – A 21-year-old inmate has tragically died in custody after being placed inside of a Los Angeles County jail.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on Tuesday. Correctional officers noticed that an inmate was in medical distress.

He was taken to a Los Angeles County hospital in order to receive treatment. Despite being treated in the Intensive Care Unit, he was later pronounced dead.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Legal Considerations For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Many inmates die from preventable conditions every year in the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2019, a total of 3,853 prisoners died in state prisons or private prison facilities under a state contract, a decrease of 284 deaths from 2018.” Jails should take a number of measures in order to prevent inmate deaths.

  • All inmates should get a thorough health screening when they are first admitted.
  • Jails should be stocked with Narcan to prevent inmate overdoses.
  • Jails should be trained to recognize when an inmate is in medical distress.

When the state strips someone of their freedom through incarceration, certain constitutional standards must be met. Jails must work to ensure that inmates get the medical treatment that they need. To that end, inmates should get periodic wellness checks. 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 contributed to an inmate’s death in many different ways.

  • Jails may not have acted to quickly take an inmate to the hospital.
  • Jails may not have given an inmate the medication that they needed.
  • Jails may have contributed to an inmate’s medical distress through the use of excessive force.

Inmate deaths are often highly preventable. They are typically not caused by the wrongful actions of a single individual. Rather, it is more common that they are caused by faulty processes and systems within the jail. This could include jails that fail to keep out dangerous substances like fentanyl. The family of any person that died in a county jail may have legal recourse through a civil claim.

Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man who died at this Los Angeles County hospital. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. The number of deaths at Los Angeles County jails in recent months is deeply troubling.

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. 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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