Inmate Roger Morales Died After Being Held At Los Angeles County Jail

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (November 19, 2023) – An inmate identified as Roger Morales has tragically died following a medical emergency at a Los Angeles County jail.

Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place in October. Roger Morales was in some type of medical distress and transferred to the Los Angeles General Medical Center.

His condition continued to deteriorate at the hospital. Sadly, Roger Morales was pronounced dead on October 26.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

 

Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Los Angeles County has one of the highest instances of inmate deaths across California. This is a testament to the poor treatment that many inmates receive. According to Witness LA, “The OIG’s report for the second quarter of 2022, described how people experiencing mental health crises were chained to benches and chairs, sometimes for two or more days while they waited to be processed.” There are many other ways that LA County officials have mistreated inmates.

• Jail officials have denied inmates medical care.
• Jail officials have used excessive force on inmates.
• Jail officials have failed to intervene in fights between inmates.
• Jail officials have put inmates in prone positions for extended periods.

All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with adequate healthcare for all of their medical needs. The level of care that any particular inmate may need will depend on their unique health profile. This is why it is so important that inmates have a thorough medical screening when they are first admitted. 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 many common causes of inmate death.

• Cardiac arrest
• Septic shock
• Respiratory illnesses
• Drug overdoses

Losing someone in-custody can be incredibly difficult. To make matters worse, jails are rarely transparent about how any in-custody death takes place. Jails are quick to label inmate deaths as natural. But many supposedly natural in-custody deaths involve some amount of medical neglect. 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 Roger Morales. Any person that may have more information about what took place should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation for the sake of this person’s family.

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply 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.