In abstract
Inland Empire inmates make up 19% of those that die in custody. Essentially the most harmful interval for inmates is earlier than they get via trial.
Jail time or arrests turned loss of life sentences for 442 individuals who died in custody within the Inland Empire from 2011 to 2022, a legal justice nonprofit discovered.
That features 216 deaths in custody in San Bernardino County and 226 deaths in Riverside County, in accordance with Inland Empire Lives Misplaceda report launched in early October by Care First California.
“Advocates across the state are demanding accountability for in-custody deaths as there is a tendency by law enforcement to downplay or outright deny their role in these deaths,” the report acknowledged.
The authors analyzed public information from the Legal professional Normal’s Workplace from January 2011 via December 2022.They counted at the least 2,312 individuals who died whereas in custody in California. About 19% of these deaths occurred in Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, though the Inland Empire makes up about 12% of the state’s inhabitants.
Its disproportionate loss of life price is in step with a CalMatters investigation by CalMatters reporters Nigel Duara and Jeremia Kimelman. They concluded a number of the state’s deadliest jails are in Riverside County and counted 45 individuals who have died in lockup there since Jan. 1, 2021.
Essentially the most harmful interval for inmates is earlier than they get via trial, Care First reported. Statewide solely 14% of deaths occurred after sentencing. Practically 1 / 4 of deaths occurred throughout arrests, and 40% came about in the course of the first week in jail, the report discovered.
Why is that first week so lethal?
“When you’re bringing someone in who has documented mental health concerns and they’re put in an isolated and not well monitored cell, the early days of incarceration are vulnerable,” stated Marcella Rosen, media coordinator for the nonprofit.
The Lives Misplaced report didn’t analyze causes of loss of life due to disputes over how they’re recorded and categorized.
“A lot are listed as natural deaths, and we have problems with that terminology since most deaths are preventable if given proper care,” Rosen stated.
Broadly talking, folks usually die in custody from suicide, overdose, disruption of treatment or accidents sustained throughout arrest, she stated.
The group recommends a number of methods to forestall these deaths, together with ending the money bail system, imposing the best to a right away trial, creating diversion applications for folks with psychological well being or substance use situations and oversight by coroners who’re separate from sheriff’s departments, Rosen stated.
