Inmate Joseph Bayardo Died In Custody At Valley Jail Section In Van Nuys

VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA (October 8, 2023) – A 35-year-old man identified as Joseph Bayardo has tragically died while in custody at Valley Jail Section in Van Nuys.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident began around 12:35 p.m. on Friday. Joseph Bayardo was booked into the jail on suspicion of battery.

Correctional officers noticed that the inmate had become unresponsive in his cell. Medical staff entered the cell and began CPR.

Los Angeles County paramedics arrived at the scene and took over life-saving measures. Sadly, Joseph Bayardo did not respond to medical treatment and was shortly thereafter pronounced deceased.

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

 

Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Los Angeles County has a very poor track record with respect to the treatment that it has given inmates over the years. According to the Vera Institute for Justice, “Overcrowded facilities are the biggest single factor driving jail deaths in Los Angeles. The jail system is currently operating at about 3.4 percent over capacity and has reached as high as 16 percent this year. Those figures not only crowd the facilities physically but also stretch resources past their breaking point.” There are many other factors that have contributed to inmate deaths.

• Inadequate medical care
• Inmate-on-inmate attacks
• Inadequate mental health care
• Inadequate training for correctional officers

Jails have a legal obligation to take reasonable measures to keep inmates safe. This includes providing inmates with reasonably adequate healthcare for their medical needs. The level of care that an inmate may need will depend on their unique health profile. If a jail fails to care for the serious medical needs of an inmate who later dies, they could be held accountable through a constitutional claim. A jail may have failed to act in a number of ways that lead to an inmate deaths.

• Jail officials may not have given an inmate a proper health screening.
• Jail officials may have deliberately ignored the medical guidelines of healthcare professionals.
• Jail officials may have failed to properly monitor an inmate at risk of suicide.

In far too many situations, jail staff will not intervene to help an inmate until they are in the midst of a medical emergency. But by the time this happens, it may already be too late. Going to jail should never amount to a death sentence by means of neglect. The family of any person that died in-custody may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.

Investigating Inmate Deaths At Valley Jail Section In Van Nuys

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Joseph Bayardo. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Regardless of what crime any person is accused of committing, they are still owed a level of decency, respect and care.

Have you or someone that you care about been harmed at Valley Jail Section In Van Nuys? You may have legal recourse through a constitutional claim. Our team of civil rights attorneys are committed to defending the constitution 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.