64-Year-Old Woman Died In Jail Cell At Sacramento County Main Jail After Experiencing Medical Emergency
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (May 23, 2022) – A 64-year-old woman died in her jail cell at the Sacramento County Main Jail after some type of medical emergency.
Sacramento County police officials are saying that the incident began early Tuesday. Jail staff discovered the inmate deceased in her cell after performing a safety check.
The woman had been in custody since March 2. Foul play is not suspected as being a factor in the death. Autopsy results are pending at this time.
A full investigation into the Sacramento County Main Jail death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Sacramento In-Custody Deaths
Far too many people die in-custody every year. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “In 2018, state prisons reported 4,135 deaths (not including the 25 people executed in state prisons); this is the highest number on record since BJS began collecting mortality data in 2001.” Many of these deaths were totally preventable. Far from being places of “rehabilitation,” prisons are often centers of abuse and neglect. There are a number of steps that jails should take in order to keep inmates safe.
- Jail staff should be properly trained.
- Jails should be adequately staffed.
- Inmates should receive periodic wellness checks.
- Inmates should receive adequate healthcare.
Inmates have a constitutional right to receive adequate healthcare. They should also be periodically checked by jail staff to ensure that they are ok. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. For example, an inmate may not have received care in the middle of an overdose or other medical emergency. There are many steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- An autopsy should be performed.
- Jail records should be reviewed.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- An independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any inmate that died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Sadly, jails, will often do everything in their power to avoid responsibility for an inmate that dies in their care. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Sacramento In-Custody Death
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the woman that died at the Sacramento County Main Jail. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened for the sake of the inmate’s family. It is our sincere hope that measures are considered to help curb other inmate deaths.
Do you need more information about a Sacramento County Main Jail in-custody death? Our team of inmate advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
