Male Inmate, 63, Died At The Monterey County Jail In Salinas

SALINAS, CALIFORNIA (September 6, 2023) – A 63-year-old inmate has tragically died after being found unresponsive in his cell at the Monterey County Jail in Salinas.

Monterey County Jail officials are saying that the incident began around 11:00 p.m. on Monday. Correctional officers noticed that a man was unresponsive inside of his cell.

Medical staff entered the cell and began life-saving measures. Paramedics were also called to the scene in order to help. Sadly, the male inmate was pronounced dead at the scene.

A full investigation into the cause of the death remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For California Inmate Deaths

The United States has one of the highest rates of incarceration and inmate mortality. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “A total of 4,234 persons died in state and federal prisons in 2019, a 6.6% decrease from the 4,515 deaths in 2018 reported to the Bureau of Justice Statistics’ (BJS) Mortality in Correctional Institutions.” Many jail deaths are preventable and due to improper care. There are many measures that jails should take in order to protect inmates.

• All inmates should get a health screening before they are admitted.
• Jail staff should be properly trained to understand when an inmate may be in medical distress.
• Jails should be properly staffed at all times.
• Jail staff should have easy access to naloxone in the event an inmate is going through an overdose.

The Eighth Amendment to the constitution forbids cruel and unusual punishment. To that end, inmates must have access to reasonably adequate healthcare during their incarceration. Every inmate has different medical needs. Some inmates may need round the clock care. Others may require additional monitoring or medical detoxification. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate who dies, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are a number of common causes of in-custody death.

• Homicide
• Suicide
• Medical neglect
• Drug overdoses

Jails are often quick to claim that an in-custody death was natural. But in many instances, this is simply not the case. A large number of “natural” in-custody deaths involve inmates in their 20’s or 30’s. The family of any person 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 Monterey County Jail Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man that died at the Monterey County Jail. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that the jail is transparent about what took place.

Do you need more information about an inmate death at the Monterey County Jail? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to protecting the constitutional rights of inmates and holding jails accountable for their wrongdoing. 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.