LOS ANGELES, California – The Los Angeles County jails saw a troubling surge in deaths in 2023, with 45 individuals dying in custody. Among these deaths were at least nine related to drugs, three suicides, three homicides, and one case where hypothermia was suspected. This spike in deaths raised concerns, especially because the number of fatalities exceeded pre-pandemic levels when the incarcerated population was much larger in the county.
Such data on jail deaths is not commonly reported in many other jurisdictions, where the lack of transparency poses a significant challenge. In their 2023 book “Death in Custody: How America Ignores the Truth and What We Can Do About It,” authors Jay D. Aronson and Dr. Roger A. Mitchell delve into the national problem of insufficient data on deaths in jails and prisons. They underscore how some counties or states may track this information well, but overall, there is a lack of comprehensive data on the extent of such fatalities across the country.
The authors emphasize the absence of systematic data collection on deaths in jails, citing the lack of enforcement or incentive for law enforcement agencies to provide such critical information to the federal government. This dearth of data collection points to a broader societal issue of neglect towards incarcerated individuals, leading to a lack of understanding and acknowledgment of the magnitude of the problem.
The authors also call attention to the contrasting systems of death investigations in California, stressing the need for a shift away from the antiquated sheriff-coroner system in favor of a more robust medical examiner system. By highlighting examples of systemic issues in death investigations, such as those in San Joaquin County, the authors raise concerns about the accuracy and transparency of reporting on deaths in custody.
Ultimately, the authors emphasize the need for comprehensive and systematic data collection on deaths in custody, highlighting the importance of understanding the scope of the problem to develop effective prevention strategies. Through their work, they aim to shed light on the national problem that requires intervention from the federal government to address the systemic issues impacting incarcerated individuals.