Kathleen Cooper Died At Stanislaus County Jail After Experiencing Medical Emergency
STANISLAUS COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (November 9, 2022) – A 41-year-old inmate identified as Kathleen Cooper has tragically died in custody at a Stanislaus County jail.
Stanislaus County officials are saying that the incident took place on Wednesday night. Kathleen Cooper was in a jail cell with her cellmate when she began experiencing some type of medical emergency.
Her cellmate called out to correctional officers who then entered the cell. Paramedics were called to the cell in order to help the inmate.
Despite life-saving measures, Kathleen Cooper was later pronounced dead. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Stanisluas County Inmate Deaths
California has one of the highest instances of inmate in custody deaths. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2019, a total of 3,853 prisoners died in state prisons or private prison facilities under a state contract, a decrease of 284 deaths from 2018. The number of federal prisoners who died in the custody of a facility operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) increased from 378 in 2018 to 381 in 2019.” There are a number of steps that jails should take to protect inmates.
- Correctional officers should be well trained.
- Correctional facilities should be properly staffed.
- Inmates should be adequately supervised.
All inmates have a constitutional right to receive 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. Many inmates die when they are not given adequate care during a medical emergency. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.
The family of any inmate that died 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. It is common for jails to deny all liability when an inmate dies in their care. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Stanisluas County Inmate Death
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Kathleen Cooper. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make this jail safer for all who stay there.
Do you need more information about a Stanislaus County 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 any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
