pexels-rdne-stock-project-6064908Inmate Marco Cruz (Full Name: Marco Salinas Cruz) Died In Custody At Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles County 

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (August 1, 2024) – A 43-year-old inmate identified as Marco Cruz has died while in custody at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles County.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on July 22. Correctional officers noticed that Marco Cruz was in some type of medical distress.

Jail medical staff began life-saving measures in order to help the man. Despite those efforts, Marco Cruz was pronounced dead at the jail.

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

Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Thousands of people die in custody every year. Many of those who died were never even convicted of the crimes for which they were being held. According to Reuters, “Unlike state and federal prisons, which hold people convicted of serious crimes, jails are locally run lockups meant to detain people awaiting arraignment or trial, or those serving short sentences. The toll of jail inmates who die without a case resolution subverts a fundamental tenet of the U.S. criminal justice system: innocent until proven guilty.” Jails should take a number of measures in order to prevent inmate deaths.

  • Jails should ensure all inmates have a thorough health screening.
  • Jails should be stocked with Narcan in the event of an overdose.
  • Jails should ensure that they are properly staffed and that those staff are well trained.

When the state assumes control of an inmate through incarceration, certain constitutional standards will apply. For example, all inmates must receive adequate medical care for all of their medical conditions. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are a number of ways that a jail may act with indifference.

  • Jail officials may have failed to take an inmate to the hospital in a timely manner.
  • Jail officials may have ignored an inmate’s request to be seen by a nurse.
  • Jail officials may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they needed.

Jails are supposed to be places of rehabilitation. But far too often, they are where people go to be abused and neglected. This is particularly true in Los Angeles County. It has a long and sordid history of mistreating inmates. The family of any inmate who 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 Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths 

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Marco Cruz. Any person who may have more information about what took place should reach out to investigators. Steps need to be taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate’s death? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping inmates understand their rights and holding jails accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (949) 825-5200.

 

 

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