Inmate Jeffrey Concepcion Killed In Suspected Homicide At High Desert State Prison in Susanville

SUSANVILLE, CALIFORNIA (July 20, 2023) – An inmate identified as Jeffrey Concepcion has tragically died in a suspected attack in the prison yard at the High Desert State Prison in Susanville.

Lessen County officials are saying that the incident took place on Saturday evening. Two inmates attacked Jeffrey Concepcion while he was in the prison yard.

Corrections officers intervened and managed to break up the fight. They began life-saving measures, but the victim was unresponsive.

Jeffrey Concepcion was transported to an on-site medical facility where he was pronounced dead around 7:45 p.m. that same day.

A full investigation into the deadly fight at the High Desert State Prison remains ongoing.

 

Liability For Lessen County Inmate Homicides

Far to many inmates are killed or seriously injured every year after they were attacked by other inmates. According to Statista, “In 2019, 143 inmates of state and federal prisons in the United States were killed by homicide. This is a significant increase from 2008 levels, when 40 inmates were killed in state or federal prisons in the United States.” Fights can start over small disputes. They can also be the consequence of gang rivalries. There are a number of steps that jails should take in order to prevent fights among inmates.

• Violent inmates should typically be segregated from non-violent offenders.
• Jails should be properly staffed with well trained correctional officers.
• Jails should not be overcrowded.
• Inmates should be treated well and taken care of.

Jails have a legal obligation to provide a reasonably safe environment for inmates. This includes taking steps to prevent inmates from attacking one another. When correctional officers have specific knowledge of particular threats, they must take action to protect the person(s) at risk. For example, officers may overhear inmates planning on attacking a specific person in the yard of a prison.

However, specific knowledge of particular threats may not always be necessary to demonstrate liability. Consider, for example, Pierson v. Hartley, No. 02-3491, 391 F.3d 898 (7th Cir. 2004). An inmate with a known violent history was allowed to roam an open-spaced dormitory. This was allowed even though he was previously convicted of having a weapon while incarcerated. That inmate seriously injured another inmate in a brutal attack. Victims of jail attacks tend to suffer very serious injuries including:

• Broken bones
• Head trauma
• Lacerations
• PTSD

Violence within a prison is rarely random. It is much more likely to take place when jails are failing to implement policies to prevent it. Distracted guards and understaffed prisons are a prime environment for violent inmate assaults. The family of any inmate that was killed in an attack may be able to seek justice through a constitutional claim. Unfortunately, jails will almost never accept any responsibility if an inmate dies in their care.

 

Investigating Inmate Attacks At High Desert State Prison

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jeffrey Concepcion. Any person that may have more information about what happened should speak with investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about an in custody death at the High Desert State Prison? Our team of experienced civil rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are held to account for the death of inmates in their care. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any in-custody death we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at  (949) 825-5200.