Benjamin Willhite Died In Jail Cell AT The Pima County Adult Detention Complex In Tucson
TUCSON, ARIZONA (October 11, 2022) – A 41-year-old inmate identified as Benjamin Willhite died inside his Tucson jail cell at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex.
Pima County officials are saying that the incident took place on Thursday, October 6. Benjamin Willhite was found unresponsive in his cell by jail officials.
Jail staff began life-saving measures as paramedics were called to the scene. Despite life-saving measures, Benjamin Willhite was pronounced dead at the scene.
This death comes just three days after a 30-year-old inmate also died while in custody.
Liability For Tucson Inmate Deaths
Thousands of inmates die in custody every year. 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 common causes of inmate deaths.
- Drug or alcohol intoxication
- Inadequate medical care
- Heart attacks
- Inmate assaults
Many inmates die of natural causes. But a large number of inmate deaths are preventable and due to improper medical care by jail officials. All inmates have a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate medical care. They should also get a health screening when they are admitted into jail. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- Body camera footage from officers should be examined.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Inmate records should be reviewed.
- 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 lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Unfortunately, jails will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any incident. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Tucson Inmate Death
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Benjamin Willhite. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. This is the second inmate death at this jail in the past few days. There needs to be a thorough investigation into the care that inmates are receiving at this jail.
Do you need more information about an inmate death or injury at the Pima County Adult Detention Complex? 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 incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991.
