Michael Munoz (Full Name: Michael Posada Munoz) Died In Custody At The Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (November 7, 2023) – A 31-year-old Hispanic inmate identified as Michael Munoz has tragically died in-custody at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on June 16. Correctional officers noticed that Michael Munoz was in some type of medical distress.

Jail medical staff began life-saving measures which were later taken over by paramedics. Sadly, Michael Munoz was later pronounced dead.

One of the contributing factors for his death was listed as “ischemic heart disease.” A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Thousands of people die each year behind bars in the United States. Many of these inmates were never even convicted of a crime at the time of their death. According to the UCLA Behind Bars Data Project, “In 2020, at least 6,182 people died in U.S. prisons.  This is a 46% increase in the lives lost behind bars from 2019, despite a 10% decrease in the overall prison population. The U.S. has seen a significant, continual increase in deaths in prisons over the past two decades, but never before have the country’s prisons seen such a steep increase year-to-year.” There are many steps that jails should take to prevent in-custody deaths.

• Jails should do everything in their power to avoid overcrowding.
• Jails should typically perform welfare checks every 30 minutes or so.
• Jails should make sure that all inmates get a proper health screening.

When the state assumes control of a person’s autonomy through incarceration, certain constitutional standards will apply. Jails must give inmates reasonably adequate healthcare for their medical needs. This is particularly important when an inmate has pre-existing health conditions which make them vulnerable. If a jail fails to treat the serious health needs of an inmate who later dies, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Several steps should be taken after any in-custody death.

• All medical records related to the death should be sought.
• Body camera footage from all officers involved should be reviewed.
• The actions of correctional officers leading up to the death should be understood.
• An experienced civil rights attorney should be contacted.

It is common for jails to do everything in their power to deny responsibility if any person dies in their care. Having experienced legal counsel can often mean the difference between winning or losing any dispute with a jail. An attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know if an in-custody death was due to neglect. If jail officials did act improperly and caused a death, a civil rights attorney can help you navigate the legal systems so that you can get a just outcome.

Getting Legal Help After Inmate Deaths At The Men’s Central Jail

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of Michael Munoz. There have been so many deaths at the Men’s Central Jail this year. It is our sincere hope that greater oversight of this jail will lead to lasting reform.

Do you need more information about an inmate death at the Men’s Central Jail? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are upholding constitutional standards. 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.