56-Year-Old Inmate Died In Custody At George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa After Being Found Unresponsive In Jail Cell
OTAY MESA, CALIFORNIA (September 15, 2022) – A 56-year-old inmate died after being found unresponsive in their cell at the George Bailey Detention Facility in Otay Mesa.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident took place on Tuesday. A male inmate was found unresponsive in his cell.
Correctional officers began life-saving measures in order to help the inmate. Sadly, the inmate was pronounced dead around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Otay Mesa Inmate Deaths
San Diego County has one of the highest instances of inmate deaths across all of California. According to the San Diego Tribune, “San Diego has the highest number of “excess deaths” among California’s 12 largest county jail systems, according to a new study commissioned by the civilian review board that oversees the Sheriff’s Department.” Many of these deaths are totally preventable. There are a number of steps that jails should take in order to prevent inmate deaths.
- Correctional officers should be properly trained.
- Jails should be adequately staffed.
- Inmates should receive periodic safety checks.
All jails have a legal requirement to provide inmates with reasonably adequate healthcare. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. For example, in inmate may have been going through some type of medical emergency and not received proper care. An inmate may have not gotten the medication that they needed. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any inmate that died while in custody may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the expenses that come with the sudden loss of a loved one. Unfortunately, jails will often fight hard to deny responsibility for any inmate death. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating An Otay Mesa Inmate Death
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of the inmate that died at the George Bailey Detention Facility. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that measures will be taken to make this jail a safer place for all who stay there.
Do you need more information about an Otay Mesa inmate death? Our team of inmate’s rights advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. 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 a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
