Investigation Underway After 38-Year-Old Inmate Died In Custody At High Desert Detention Center In Adelanto 

pexels-rdne-stock-project-6519848ADELANTO, CALIFORNIA (December 6, 2024) – A 38-year-old male inmate has tragically died in custody at the High Desert Detention Center in Adelanto.

San Bernardino County officials are saying that the incident took place on Tuesday. Jail staff noticed that the inmate was unresponsive in their jail cell.

Paramedics took over life-saving measures when they arrived. Despite those efforts, the inmate later died at the jail.

The results of an autopsy are pending at this time.


Legal Considerations for San Bernardino County Inmate Deaths

Jails can be very dangerous places even in the best of circumstances. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2019, a total of 3,853 prisoners died in state prisons or private prison facilities under a state contract, a decrease of 284 deaths from 2018.” There are a number of different factors that could contribute to an inmate death.

  • Jail deaths are more likely to occur at facilities that are overcrowded.
  • Jail deaths are more likely when jail staff are not well trained.
  • Jail deaths are more likely when jails fail to follow safety protocols.

When the state restricts the freedom and mobility of a person through incarceration, certain constitutional standards will apply. Among other things, inmates must get adequate treatment for all of their conditions. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any inmate death.

  • The cause of the death should be understood.
  • The actions of jail officials should be investigated.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.

It can be hard to know what to do if someone that you love has died in custody. To make matters worse, jails are virtually never transparent about how any inmate died in custody. They will often claim that some death is due to natural causes. But the fact of the matter is that many supposed natural deaths involve some amount of medical neglect. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

Investigating San Bernardino County Inmate Deaths 

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the inmate who died in custody. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Do you need more information about an inmate death at a San Bernardino County jail? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. 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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