LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles County jails experienced a total of 45 deaths in custody in 2023, marking a particularly deadly year for the institution. Among these deaths were nine drug-related cases, three suicides, three homicides, one hypothermia-related death, and several cases where the cause of death remains undetermined. By year-end, the county’s jails proved to be deadlier than they were just before the pandemic, despite the fact that the incarcerated population was much higher at that time.
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 explore the lack of data regarding jail and prison deaths, and delve into the intricate details of how this systemic issue came to be. The book sheds light on the fact that there is no accurate nationwide count of deaths in jails and prisons, with some counties or states tracking the data better than others.
Aronson and Mitchell discuss the lack of systemic data collected about deaths in jails, highlighting the absence of a federal authority responsible for overseeing this critical information. In addition, they point out the societal indifference towards individuals in jails and prisons, attributing it to a lack of awareness and understanding about the issues affecting this population. The authors argue that collecting data on deaths in custody is just the beginning of the process, emphasizing the importance of developing comprehensive prevention strategies once the data is available.
In terms of how different states handle in-custody deaths, California is singled out as a state that is significantly behind in its approach to this critical issue. The authors point to the antiquated sheriff-coroner system still present in California, where a conflict of interest exists in cases of deaths in custody. They emphasize the urgent need for California to transition away from sheriff-coroner systems and adopt medical examiner systems to better address deaths in custody.
Moreover, Aronson and Mitchell stress that the issue of deaths in custody serves as a signal highlighting the suffering, pain, and abuse that persists within the system, requiring the intervention of the federal government to systematically collect data across the country. They underscore that every death in custody tells an important story and signals the presence of a broader problem that necessitates immediate attention and intervention.