Inmate Jeffrey Barra Died After Being Found Unresponsive In His Ventura Jail Cell
VENTURA, CALIFORNIA (April 20, 2022) – An inmate identified as Jeffrey Barra has tragically died after a cellmate found him unresponsive at the main jail in Ventura.
Ventura County police officials are saying that the incident began around 5:30 a.m. on Thursday. Jeffrey Michael Barra began experiencing some type of medical emergency in his cell when his cellmates notified guards.
Medical staff and emergency personnel began life-saving measures, but the inmate could not be saved. Jeffrey Barra was declared dead at the scene.
There were no signs of physical injury or trauma that might indicate foul play. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability In Ventura County Inmate Deaths
Far too many inmates die in-custody every year. According to the Prison Policy Initiative, “Nationwide, there were 1,120 deaths reported, or a rate of 154 deaths per 100,000 people in jail, the highest levels since BJS’ first report on this topic in 2000. The jail population has grown since 2000, of course, but jail deaths have grown more.” There are a number of different causes of inmate death including:
- Drug overdoses
- Heart disease
- Assaults
All inmates have a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare. Failing to give inmates adequate healthcare is a deprivation of their constitutional rights. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a civil claim. For example, a jail may have failed to take the adequate actions to save an inmate experiencing an overdose. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Jail records should be sought.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
The family of any inmate that died in custody may have the right to pursue a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, jails will often fight hard to deny any responsibility for any inmate’s death. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Ventura County Inmate Death
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jeffrey Michael Barra. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to make this jail a safer place for the sake of all the inmates housed there.
Do you need more information about an inmate death in Ventura? Our team of inmate’s rights 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 being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
