pexels-rdne-stock-project-6069522Investigation Underway Following Suspected Suicide At Los Angeles County Jail 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIOA (July 13, 2024) – A 38-year-old man tragically died while in custody at a Los Angeles County jail.

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

Jail staff and paramedics began lifesaving measures. The inmate was transferred to Cedars Sinai Hospital in order to receive care.

Despite those efforts, the inmate was later pronounced dead. Suicide is a suspected cause of death.

 

Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Jails can be awful places to live or stay, even in the best of circumstances. People who enter jails are more likely to be victims of abuse and other trauma. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “19% of State prison inmates, 10% of Federal inmates, and 16% of those in local jails and on probation had been physically or sexually abused before their most recent admission to a correctional population.” Jails should take a number of measures in order to promote the mental health of inmates.

  • Inmates should have a thorough mental health screening.
  • Jails should allow as much natural light as possible to enter inside.
  • Jails should consult with mental health professionals.
  • Jails should give inmates access to mental health services.

Jails have a legal obligation to provide for the mental and physical well-being of inmates. They must also protect inmates from reasonably foreseeable sources of harm. This includes protection from self-harm. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the prospect that an inmate may commit suicide, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are a number of ways that a jail may have failed to properly care for an inmate at risk of suicide.

  • A jail may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they required.
  • A jail may have failed to place an inmate in a specialized cell for monitoring.
  • A jail may have failed to perform periodic wellness checks.

Inmates suicides are nearly always completely preventable. They tend to occur when jails are not following safety protocols. Unfortunately, jails will often deny responsibility when someone dies in their care. The family of any person who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of responsibility through a wrongful death 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 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 LA County jail. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our hope that measures are taken to make this jail safer.

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate’s 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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