Mass Overdose Incident At Men’s Central Jail In Los Angeles Leads to 7 Hospitalizations

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 29, 2024) – At least 7 people were hospitalized in a suspected mass overdose at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles County.
The incident took place early Tuesday morning. Correctional officers noticed that seven people were in some type of medical distress consistent with drug exposure.
The affected inmates were given lifesaving measures, including naloxone, before they were taken to the hospital. It remains unclear what may have caused the drug exposure.
One of the inmates was listed in critical condition. Another six were described as being in serious condition.
This incident comes just three weeks after another seven people were hospitalized from a suspected mass overdose. At least one person died during that incident.
Liability For Los Angeles County Inmate Overdoses
Drug overdoses remain one of the leading causes of inmate death in the United States. According to National Public Radio, “From 2001 to 2018, the number of people who have died of drug or alcohol intoxication in state prisons rose more than 600%, according to an analysis of newly-released data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. In county jails, overdose deaths increased by more than 200%.” Fentanyl has proven to be particularly deadly. There are a number of signs associated with a fentanyl overdose.
- Severe respiratory depression
- Unconsciousness
- Blue or grayish skin
- Weak or absent pulse
- Pinpoint pupils
Jails have a legal obligation to care for all of the medical needs of inmates. This includes providing care in the event of a drug overdose. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. A jail may have contributed to an inmate overdose in many different ways.
- A jail may have had inadequate inmate screening.
- A jail may have failed to confiscate contraband coming into the jail.
- A jail may have had an inadequate emergency response.
Inmate overdoses are nearly always preventable in a jail setting. They tend to be the result of systemic failures within a jail system as opposed to the wrongful actions of a single person. Los Angeles County jails have been notorious for the amount of contraband and drugs smuggled inside. Sadly, though, these same jails will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if someone in their care dies or is injured. This is why it is so important for inmates and their families to seek legal advice if they are harmed while in custody.
Getting Legal Help For Los Angeles County Inmate Overdoses
We at the Carrillo Law Firm, LLP extend our best wishes to all of the inmates who were hospitalized at the Men’s Central Jail. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. This is the second mass overdose to take place in under a month. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators.
Have you or someone that you care about been harmed at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles? You may have legal recourse. Our team of civil rights attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. 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 any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 626-799-9375.