Robert James Jr., 39, Died While In Custody At Inmate Reception Center (IRC) in Los Angeles County
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 15, 2025) – An inmate identified as Robert James Jr has tragically died in custody at the Inmate Reception Center (IRC) in Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident occurred on May 7. Robert James Jr was in a “Courtline – Holding Tank” when he went into medical distress.
Medical staff began rendering aid. Sadly, Robert James Jr was later pronounced dead. His death was deemed an “accident” due to the effects of fentanyl.
A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Every jail in California has a legal obligation to protect inmates from foreseeable sources of harm. This necessitates that all inmates receive reasonably adequate medical care for all of their conditions. Among other things, jails must consider the possibility that inmates are susceptible to drug overdoses. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of an inmate who dies from an overdose, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Jails should take certain actions to protect inmates from overdoses.
- Training: Jail staff should be trained to recognize the signs that an overdose is taking place.
- Medical Evaluation: Every inmate should undergo a medical evaluation prior to being placed in the jail cell.
- Emergency Procedures: Jails should have established emergency procedures to respond to any potential overdose. This will include having access to naloxone.
- Monitoring: Inmates who are vulnerable to a drug overdose or withdrawal should be placed in specialized units so that they can be closely monitored.
There could be many different causes of any inmate overdose in Los Angeles County. It is possible that inmates may be on the verge of an overdose prior to coming into the jail. They may simply not have received proper care in the time leading up to their death. Another major possibility is that the medical staff inside the jail gave an inmate an incorrect dose of a powerful medication like fentanyl.
Steps to Take After Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Drug overdoses remain a leading cause of inmate death in California and across the United States. According to Vera, “Just as punitive responses to drug use have driven incarceration, substantial evidence suggests that incarceration is associated with increased risk for overdose death. Research has confirmed that overdose is the leading cause of death among people recently released from prisons, as well as the third leading cause of deaths in custody in U.S. jails.” It is important that certain actions are taken after any inmate death.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to the death should be gathered. This includes any autopsy report that was produced.
- Jail Records: All of the jail records related to the inmate should be carefully reviewed.
- Internal Documents: Jails often have internal documents related to inmate care and treatment. These should be carefully studied to determine if a jail violated their own internal policies.
- Independent Review: There should be an independent review of the death by legal counsel experienced with civil rights violations.
A large portion of inmate deaths in Los Angeles County are totally preventable. They tend to involve situations where inmates failed to receive adequate medical care for serious conditions. Jails will virtually never accept responsibility for what happened. Instead, they may try to claim that any death was an “accident” or “natural,” but the truth of the matter is that these designations are often highly misleading.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Robert James Jr. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. The sheer number of inmate deaths across Los Angeles County in recent months remains deeply concerning. State officials need to do their job and provide greater oversight of these institutions.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that all people across California 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 (800) 541-3244.
