Investigation Underway After Shanika Thomas, 38, Died In Custody At Los Angeles County Jail
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (September 23, 2025) – A 38-year-old woman identified as Shanika Thomas has tragically died in custody at the Century Regional Detention Facility in Lynwood.
Los Angeles County officials are saying that the incident took place on August 29. Shanika Thomas was in her jail cell when paramedics and jail staff were called to help.
Despite life-saving measures, she was pronounced dead at the jail. Very little information about what took place prior to her death has been released at this time.
A full investigation into the in-custody death of Shanika Thomas remains ongoing.
Liability for Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Every jail and correctional facility in Los Angeles has constitutional obligations related to the care that they must provide inmates. This is required under the Fourteenth Amendment, which forbids cruel and unusual forms of punishment. In particular, jails must take reasonable measures to keep the inmates in their care safe.
- Adequate Supervision: Jails must maintain adequate staff to monitor all of the inmates in their care. These staff should be trained to properly respond to medical emergencies.
- Separation: Inmates should be separated based on their risk level and potential gang affiliations.
- Protection from Violence: Jails must take certain measures to protect inmates from known and foreseeable risks of harm. This includes protection from attacks by other inmates.
- Contraband Control: Jails should do their best to prevent illicit drugs and weapons from entering the facility. Los Angeles County jails have a huge problem with fentanyl and other dangerous drugs being smuggled inside jails.
Every correctional facility must be particularly attentive to the medical needs of the inmates in their care. They must give every inmate health screenings and properly address any medical issues. If a jail is deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim.
Common Causes of Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
Many people die in jail every year before they are even formally convicted of a crime. According to one study in Health Affairs, “jails are locally managed, and the majority of their populations are unconvicted and awaiting trial. In 2019, people detained pretrial made up two-thirds of the 734,500 people serving time in US jails and 76 percent of jail deaths.” There are many common causes of inmate death.
- Inadequate Care: Jail officials may not have taken an inmate to the hospital in a timely manner as they were in the midst of a medical emergency.
- Homicides: Jails can be dangerous places even in the best of circumstances. Jail officials may have failed to protect vulnerable inmates from attacks involving other inmates.
- Overdoses: Drug overdoses remain another major cause of inmate death. In some cases, inmates may be on the verge of an overdose as they are being admitted. In other cases, medical staff may give inmates the incorrect dose of an opioid.
Los Angeles County corrections facilities are often quick to label many of the deaths that take place in their care as “natural.” But this designation can be incomplete and highly misleading. Many of the supposedly natural deaths that take place are actually the result of improper medical care. The family of any person whose loved one dies in jail custody may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating Los Angeles County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Shanika Thomas. Every single person in custody has rights afforded under the constitution and must receive adequate care, regardless of what they may be accused of. Any person who may have more information should reach out to investigators. It is our sincere hope that this incident is properly investigated and that any potential safety failures are properly remedied.
Do you need more information about a Los Angeles County inmate death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that all people across California are aware of their constitutional rights and that jails are held to account for their neglect. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any in-custody death, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
