Juan Mendoza Died In Custody Following Suspected Attack By Inmate at Kern Valley State Prison In Delano
DELANO, CALIFORNIA (April 6, 2022) – An inmate at Kern Valley State Prison in Delano identified as Juan Mendoza has tragically died following a suspected attack by another inmate.
Kern County officials are saying that the incident began around 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Juan Mendoza was found unresponsive in his cell and had visible injuries.
He was removed from his cell and died shortly thereafter despite life-saving measures. The victim’s cellmate was removed and placed in segregation as an investigation continued.
An investigation into the death of Juan Mendoza at Kern Valley State Prison remains ongoing.
Liability In Inmate Attacks At Kern Valley State Prison In Delano
Thousands of inmates are killed or seriously injured every year in state prisons. Many of these injuries and deaths are from inmates attacking each other. According to one report by Mother Jones, “19% of all male inmates in US prisons say they’ve been physically assaulted by other inmates. 21% say they’ve been assaulted by prison staff.” Private prison inmates were more likely to be victimized than their counterparts in state prisons. There are many steps that should be taken to help keep inmates safe.
- Prisons should be adequately staffed.
- Correctional officers should be properly trained.
- Surveillance cameras should be used in certain areas.
- Inmates should be protected from other inmates with known violent histories.
Depending on the specific facts of any case, a prison could potentially be liable if an inmate is attacked and killed by another inmate. Far from being totally unpredictable, inmate attacks can be reasonably predicted and mitigated in many circumstances. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the risk of an inmate attack, this could form the basis of a legal claim. Jail officials must had specific knowledge of a risk of harm to a prisoner and fail to address it. However, there are exceptions to this general rule. Consider, for example, the case of Pierson v. Hartley, No. 02-3491, 391 F.3d 898 (7th Cir. 2004).
A jail may have acted with deliberate indifference if they failed to protect inmates from perpetrators who were known to attack specific types of inmates based on race. Consider, for example, Brown v. Budz, No. 03-1997, 398 F.3d 904 (7th Cir. 2005). A white inmate was attacked by a black inmate with a known propensity for attacking other white inmates. The appeals court held that the plaintiff’s lawsuit was improperly dismissed. While the black prisoner did not make specific threats against the white prisoner, his propensity for attacking white inmates created a factual issue for a jury in deciding whether the guards acted with deliberate indifference. There are many steps that should be taken after any inmate attack.
- The history of the assailant inmate should be examined.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Jail records should be examined.
The family of any inmate that died in an attack may have legal recourse through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Sadly, though, prisons will often fight extremely hard to deny liability 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 Inmate Attack At Kern Valley State Prison In Delano
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Juan Mendoza. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what happened. What steps, if any, could have prevented this tragedy? This is one of many questions that will need to be answered.
Do you need more information about an inmate attack at the Kern Valley State Prison in Delano? Our team of inmate 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 investigation into an inmate assault we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
