Bryce Jones, 28, Died in Custody of Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department After Being Hospitalized
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (September 22, 2025) – A 28-year-old man identified as Bryce Jones has tragically died while in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on September 10, 2025. For undetermined reasons, Bryce Jones needed to be hospitalized.
Very few details about the incident have been released at this time. Sadly, Bryce Jones’ condition worsened at the hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
A full investigation into the death remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Jails and other law enforcement agencies have a legal obligation to protect inmates from foreseeable sources of harm. Among other things, every inmate in California has a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate medical care for their conditions. This is guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this can be considered cruel and unusual punishment. There are many ways that a jail may have failed to protect an inmate in their care.
- Health Screenings: A jail may fail to properly screen an inmate for underlying health conditions that could harm them.
- Harm Prevention: A jail may fail to protect an inmate from being attacked by other inmates. It is also possible that a jail could be liable for failing to prevent an inmate from harming themselves.
- Overdoses: A jail may fail to properly treat an inmate who is going through an overdose or withdrawal.
- Medical Care: A jail may delay getting an inmate the medical care that they need in a timely manner.
Keeping an inmate healthy and safe during their confinement requires a holistic approach. But in far too many instances, sheriff’s departments fail to take the basic steps necessary to protect the people in their custody. In many situations, jails rely on outside for-profit health agencies to provide for the needs of inmates. These companies may scale back the care that they give inmates to save money.
Preventing Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
In-custody deaths remain far too common across California and the United States. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, “In 2019, a total of 3,853 prisoners died in state prisons or private prison facilities under a state contract, a decrease of 284 deaths from 2018.” Jails and law enforcement agencies should take several measures to prevent inmate deaths.
- Mental Health Services: Jails should offer counseling, crisis intervention, and other mental health services.
- Training: Jails should ensure that all of their correctional officers are well trained. They should be able to recognize signs an inmate is in medical distress.
- Emergency Preparedness: Jails should be stocked with AEDs, naloxone, first aid supplies, and other equipment necessary in the event of an emergency.
It is fairly common for jails to list in-custody deaths as “natural.” But this designation is often highly misleading, particularly when the person who dies was very young. Many of these allegedly natural deaths involve some amount of medical neglect. This is why it is so important that in-custody deaths be properly investigated by an outside party that is experienced in constitutional law.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Bryce Jones. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. The sheer number of in-custody deaths across Los Angeles County in recent months remains very concerning. It is our sincere hope that steps will be taken to prevent similar tragedies.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County in-custody death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping people get the information, resources, and answers that they are entitled to under the law. You can rest assured that we will get to the bottom of any incident. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any in-custody death, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
