Inmate Jess Flores, of Calimesa, Died While Staying at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta

MURRIETA, CALIFORNIA (September 20, 2023) – A 46-year-old inmate identified as Jess Flores died following complications from an illness while staying at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta.

Riverside County officials are saying that the incident began on Monday. Jess Flores was transported to a local hospital in order to receive treatment for an unspecified illness.

At some point during his stay, the inmate began suffering from complications from his illness. While undergoing treatment, Jess Flores died at the hospital.

A full investigation into the in-custody death remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Murrieta Inmate Deaths

Thousands of inmates die in-custody every year across the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “Illness continued to be the leading cause of death for state prisoners, accounting for 79% of all state prison deaths in 2019, down from almost 90% in 2000.” There are many steps that jails should take in order to prevent inmates from dying in-custody.

• All inmates should undergo a medical screening before they are admitted into jail.
• Jail staff should follow the instructions given by doctors and nurses.
• Jails should understand the health profile of all inmates that they care for.
• Correctional officers should be trained to understand when an inmate may be in medical distress.

All inmates have a constitutional right to receive adequate healthcare for their medical conditions. Small medical issues like minor infections can turn into life-threatening illnesses if they are not treated properly. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. For example, a jail may have failed to give an inmate proper care in the event of a medical emergency. It is important that evidence is preserved after any in-custody death.

• An independent autopsy may need to be performed.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• Jail medical records related to the death should be examined.

Many inmate deaths are preventable and due to inadequate medical care. Part of the problem is that much of the healthcare that inmates receive comes from for profit corporations. These healthcare companies are primarily concerned with making money, not providing inmates with the best care possible. The family of any inmate that died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

 

Investigating Inmate Deaths At The Byrd Detention Center

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jess Flores. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to reduce the number of inmate deaths across Riverside County.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed while staying at the Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to help you. We are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of inmates and holding jails accountable for their neglect. 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.