Jason Driskell (Full Name: Jason Scott Driskell) Died After Being Held In Custody at the Shasta County Jail
SHASTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (November 5, 2025) – A 56-year-old inmate identified as Jason Driskell has tragically died shortly after being released from custody at the Shasta County Jail.
Shasta County officials are saying that the incident took place around 8:45 a.m. on Thursday, October 30. Medical staff at the jail requested that Jason Driskell be transferred to the hospital so they could treat his medical condition.
He was transferred to the hospital, where his condition continued to deteriorate. Sadly, Jason Driskell later died at the hospital not long after he was released from custody.
The Sheriff’s office alleges that his death was the result of “natural” causes. A full investigation into the incident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Shasta County Inmate Deaths
When the state assumes control of a person’s autonomy through incarceration, certain constitutional standards will apply. Among other things, every inmate in custody must have access to reasonably adequate medical care. The level of care that any inmate will need will depend entirely on the medical conditions they face. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate who dies in custody, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are many ways that a jail may have acted with deliberate indifference.
- Delayed Care: Jail staff may have delayed getting an inmate medical care.
- Ignored Warnings: Jail staff may have ignored the medical advice of doctors or nurses.
- Overdose: Jail staff may have failed to provide an inmate proper care when they were going through an overdose.
- Medication Errors: Jail staff may have failed to give an inmate the medication that they needed. They could have also made medication errors.
The factors that contribute to any inmate death are not typically the result of the negligent actions of a single person. Rather, it is more likely that they are the result of systemic problems and failure within any particular jail. For example, many of the jails across California are understaffed and overcrowded. When a jail is overcrowded, this can negatively impact the quality of healthcare that all inmates receive.
Preventing Shasta County Inmate Deaths
Far too many inmates die every year in jails across California and the United States. According to the UCLA Behind Bars Data Project, “In 2020, at least 6,182 people died in U.S. prisons. This is a 46% increase in the lives lost behind bars from 2019, despite a 10% decrease in the overall prison population. The U.S. has seen a significant, continual increase in deaths in prisons over the past two decades, but never before have the country’s prisons seen such a steep increase year-to-year.” Jails should take certain measures to prevent inmate deaths.
- Medical Screening: All inmates should receive a thorough medical screening when they are first admitted.
- Monitoring: All inmates should be adequately monitored throughout the duration of their stay. Some inmates may need to be monitored under medical supervision.
- Separation: Violent inmates should typically be separated from non-violent inmates.
- Training: Jail staff should be trained to recognize when an inmate is in medical distress.
Jails are often quick to claim that any inmate death was from “natural” causes. But this designation can be highly misleading. Many deaths listed as “natural” actually involve some amount of medical neglect. Jails tend to use this term to avoid scrutiny. It is important for inmates and their surviving family members to understand that they do have legal rights. The family members of any inmate who died in custody may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Shasta County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jason Driskell. 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. The number of inmate deaths across California in recent months remains deeply concerning.
Do you need more information about a Shasta County inmate death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that inmates are aware of their rights and that law enforcement agencies are held fully accountable for their illegal actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
