pexels-pixabay-236380Male Inmate, 58, Died In Custody At Los Angeles County Jail From Suspected Case of Septic Shock

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 27, 2024) – A 58-year-old inmate tragically died in custody at a Los Angeles County jail.

The Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department said that the incident took place on Tuesday. Correctional officers noticed that the inmate was in some type of medical distress.

He was taken to Los Angeles General Medical Center in order to receive care. Despite lifesaving measures, he later died due to his injuries.

His suspected cause of death was listed as sepsis. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Legal Considerations For Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths

Thousands of inmates die in custody from medical complications every year in the United States. Inmates tend to have worse health outcomes from similar medical conditions. According to one study in the Journal of Correctional Health, “The study cohort included 8,568 cases of sepsis, of which 8,448 were noninmates and 120 were inmates. Overall mortality was 15.7%; for noninmates, the rate was 15.3%, and for inmates, 42.5%. The risk of death among inmates was 2.8 times that of noninmates.” Jails should take a number of measures to protect inmates from adverse health outcomes.

  • Inmates should get a health screening when they are first admitted.
  • Jail staff should be trained to recognize the signs an inmate is in medical distress.
  • Jails should be stocked with Narcan, which can be used to prevent overdoses.

When the state takes control of a person by placing them in jail, certain constitutional standards will apply. Jails are not permitted to use cruel and unusual forms of punishment. Failing to give an inmate medical care for their serious health conditions is considered a form of cruel and unusual punishment. It is therefore prohibited. Deaths from sepsis are often highly preventable.

  • Medical staff may have failed to detect an inmate was suffering from sepsis.
  • Medical staff may have failed to provide antibiotics.
  • Medical staff may have failed to implement infection control measures.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any inmate death. Jails are often quick to claim that deaths are naturally and thus unavoidable. But many deaths are caused by systemic failures within a jail. This could include instances where jails are understaffed. 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 the inmate that died at this Los Angeles County jail. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.

Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping inmates and holding jails accountable for their unconstitutional actions. 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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