In-Custody Deaths on the Rise
When people think about police overreach, they tend to think about aggression during arrests and traffic stops. However, the fact is that those in detention are also at risk of being harmed by police misconduct. Recent research indicates a worrying trend in California jails—a trend that has led to many preventable deaths and will continue to do so unless immediate action is taken.
Having the right in-custody death attorney in California is essential when someone you love loses their life while in police custody. Attorney Dale K. Galipo, founder of the Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo, has committed his career to helping the victims of police misconduct and aggression. For over 20 years, he’s advocated for victims of police abuse and held negligent officers and police departments accountable. Learn more about your legal options now by calling our in-custody death law firm at 818-347-3333.
The Numbers Behind the In-Custody Death Crisis
An in-depth investigation by CalMatters uncovered alarming trends in jails and prisons throughout California. There are thousands fewer inmates in California jails, so why are more of them dying? Jail deaths peaked at 215 in 2022, led by record-setting death numbers in Tulare, San Diego, Kern, Riverside, and San Bernardino.
There was some speculation that these deaths were the result of the pandemic, but deaths by natural causes did not account for the increase in 2022. Perhaps one of the greatest tragedies is that almost all of those who passed away were awaiting trial. Three-fourths of those held in jails were not convicted or sentenced.
In-custody death lawyers were hopeful when a state board promised to implement measures to decrease inmate deaths—but those efforts have not materialized.
Why Are These Deaths Increasing?
Patterns become apparent when you start looking at death numbers and reports in California jails. For years, death by natural causes has been the most common reason for in-custody deaths, a trend that has not changed. The second most common reason for in-custody deaths is suicide. Finally, the third most common reason is drug overdoses. Suicide numbers have increased, but the vast majority of this sudden jump comes from overdoses. Fentanyl overdoses are a serious problem in California jails, overtaking the methamphetamine problem that used to be the main issue in jails.
A few reasons are not quite as common but are equally important. Failures in health care, failures in psychiatric evaluations, violence among inmates, and violence by jail guards are all prominent issues seen by in-custody death law firms.
Oversight and Reform Efforts
This issue has reached a boiling point; while the report came out in 2024, conditions in 2025 indicate that no major progress has been made. The state of California just moved to sue Los Angeles County over the conditions of their jails. Attorney General Rob Bonta notes that those in custody deserve safety, dignity, and health care. Their investigations into deaths over the past 10 years showed that almost 40% of in-custody deaths in Los Angeles County jails were preventable, a devastating statistic for the loved ones left behind by those who passed away.
Oversight is a critical component of any major change that can improve living conditions for inmates—and oversight is the one thing that jails with avoidable deaths tend to avoid.
What’s at Stake
There are no quick and easy answers to the in-custody death problem in California jails. In-custody death attorneys see the pain left behind—children left without a parent who was meant to come home, the family of an inmate who died after being denied medical care, and the loved ones of an inmate whose mental health conditions were ignored.
The rise of in-custody deaths in the face of a decreasing jail population raises tough questions. Are jails properly staffed? Are burnt-out medical staff given the time and support they need to continue working in such demanding conditions? What safeguards can be put in place to keep drugs from getting into these facilities? How can we empower oversight agencies to enact meaningful, lasting change?
Seek Justice With the Law Offices of Dale K. Galipo
Inmates deserve better, which is why our team of in-custody death lawyers will continue fighting for inmates’ civil rights. If you’ve lost an incarcerated loved one due to negligence, we are sorry for what you’ve lost. Let’s talk about your next steps now. Contact us online or call us at 818-347-3333.
