Death of Marlin Anderson Marks 8th Death at Troubled Men’s Central Jail in 2025, Years After It Was Supposed to Close
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (October 23, 2025) – A 50-year-old man identified as Marlin Anderson died after staying at the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on October 21, 2025. Marlin Anderson was staying in a jail cell.
For undetermined reasons, he needed medical assistance. Jail staff and paramedics entered the cell. Unfortunately, Marlin Anderson could not be revived and was pronounced deceased at the jail.
It remains unclear if the incident was brought on by a medical emergency or something else. This is the 8th inmate death at the Men’s Central Jail in 2025.
A full autopsy has been scheduled.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
The Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles has a long and sordid history with respect to the care that inmates have received over the years. According to Vera, “It was back in 2021, too, that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (LACBOS) voted to close the city’s deadliest facility, Men’s Central Jail (MCJ), with the aim to place many of the people detained there in community treatment programs. In fact, almost one-fifth of the people who’ve died in custody this year were detained at MCJ.” There are many factors that could contribute to inmate deaths.
- Overcrowding: Many of the jails across Los Angeles are overcrowded. This can impact the quality of care that all inmates receive.
- Contraband: Los Angeles County jails have had significant problems keeping fentanyl and other dangerous drugs out.
- Violence: There have been a number of violent altercations between inmates throughout Los Angeles County.
- Inadequate Care: Inmates may not receive the medical care that they need in a timely manner.
Jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with all the medical treatment and care that they need. Failing to provide inmates with adequate medical care is considered a form of cruel and unusual punishment and therefore unconstitutional. In particular, jails must not be deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of any person in custody. This could include instances where jails fail to provide inmates with prompt emergency care when they are in medical distress.
Steps to Take After Any Los Angeles County Inmate Death
Jails and prisons are supposed to be places of rehabilitation. But in far too many situations, inmates in Los Angeles County are harmed through medical neglect and inattention. In fact, most of the people held at local jails have not been convicted of the alleged crimes they are held for. This subverts a fundamental principle of the justice system – that all people are innocent until proven guilty. Certain steps should be taken after any inmate dies in Los Angeles.
- Medical Records: All of the medical records related to the death should be collected.
- Jail Records: The history of deaths, abuse, and mistreatment in the jail should be understood.
- Surveillance Footage: Any surveillance footage from the jail that could shed light on what happened should be reviewed.
- Legal Review: The death of any inmate in Los Angeles should be closely reviewed for any civil rights violations.
Inmate deaths in Los Angeles are often highly preventable. Jails may claim that deaths are “natural” or “accidents,” but these designations should never be taken at face value. Systematic reviews of inmate deaths have revealed that many deaths listed as natural actually involved neglect. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of accountability and transparency through a civil action.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Marlin Anderson. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. It is deeply concerning that so many inmates continue to die at a jail that was scheduled to be closed years ago.
Do you need more information about an inmate death at the Men’s Central Jail? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their illegal actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any case, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
