pexels-ron-lach-10475008Investigation Underway After Male Inmate Died In Custody At San Bernardino County Jail

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (November 23, 2024) – A male inmate has tragically died in custody while staying in a San Bernardino County jail.

San Bernardino County officials are saying that the incident took place around 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Correctional officers were patrolling the housing unit when they noticed that one inmate was unresponsive in their jail cell.

Jail medical staff began life-saving measures, which were taken over by paramedics. But efforts to resuscitate them were not successful.

They were later pronounced dead inside the jail. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.


Liability For San Bernardino County Inmate Deaths

California has one of the highest rates of inmate death in the United States. According to Axios, “In California, the death rate was 40.2 for every 10,000 inmates in 2020 — up 27% from 2019, according to the Marshall Project’s analysis of a study published in Science Advances.” There are a number of common causes of inmate death.

  • Inmates may not get adequate care for medical conditions.
  • Inmates may not be given care when going through an overdose.
  • Inmates may be attacked by inmates or correctional officers.

Jails have a legal obligation to take steps in order to avoid harming inmates. To that end, inmates must be given proper care from the moment they enter the prison system. This will typically begin with a medical evaluation. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Jails should take a number of measures in order to prevent inmate deaths.

  • Jails should be stocked with Narcan.
  • Jails should be staff with well-trained personnel.
  • Jails should work to de-escalate fights between inmates.

Inmate deaths are often highly preventable. They tend to be the result of jail officials who are indifferent to the well-being of inmates. This could manifest in a variety of different ways. For example, jail staff may fail to perform routine wellness checks. The family of any inmate who died in custody may have legal recourse through a civil claim.


Investigating California Inmate Deaths

We at the Sehat Law Firm extend our deepest condolences to the family of the inmate who died. There needs to be a thorough investigation and accountability for what took place. State officials should consider implementing additional levels of oversight to ensure compliance with legal and medical standards.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a San Bernardino County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help you. 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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