pexels-rdne-stock-project-6519848Inmate Died Following Attack While In Custody At The Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles County 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (September 12, 2024) – A 50-year-old male inmate has died in custody following a suspected attack at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on Tuesday. Correctional officers noticed that an inmate was being attacked at the jail.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, the inmate was later pronounced dead.

The death is currently being investigated as a homicide.

Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths 

Jails can be very dangerous places, even in the best of circumstances. According to the National Institutes of Health, “Of the 20,447 inmates at 14 facilities (13 for males and one for females) surveyed, Wolff and Shi (2009) found that approximately 20 percent of female inmates and 25 percent of male inmates reported being physically assaulted during their current sentence by either another inmate or a guard.” Jails should take a number of actions in order to keep inmates safe.

  • Jails should typically keep violent inmates away from non-violent offenders.
  • Jails should always be adequately staffed.
  • Jails should work to avoid overcrowding.

All jails have a legal obligation to protect inmates from reasonably forseeable sources of harm. This includes protecting inmates from homicides. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the prospect that an inmate would be harmed, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. For deliberate indifference to be established, a plaintiff would need to show that jail officials had specific knowledge of particular threats and failed to take action to prevent harm. It is important that certain steps are taken after any inmate homicide.

  • Medical records related to the attack should be preserved.
  • Surveillance footage should be sought.
  • The actions of jail officials leading up to the assault should be understood.

The vast majority of inmate homicides are preventable. These incidents are virtually never random occurrences. They tend to involve an escalating series of incidents between two or more inmates. Sadly, though, jails will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility when an inmate in their care dies. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim.

 

Investigating Inmate Deaths At Los Angeles County Jails

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the man who died at the Men’s Central Jail. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. The number of inmate homicides at Los Angeles County jails remains deeply concerning.

Do you need more information about an inmate death at a Los Angeles County jail? 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 are thinking about hiring an attorney, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

 

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