Steven Curren, 35, Died Following Medical Emergency in Custody at San Diego Central Jail
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA (September 25, 2025) – A 35-year-old man identified as Steven Curren has tragically died in custody at the San Diego Central Jail.
San Diego County officials are saying that the incident took place on August 29. Steven Curren was arrested and placed in custody at the jail.
Just one day after being placed in jail, Steven Curren experienced some type of medical emergency around 3:08 p.m. on August 30. Sheriff’s deputies and paramedics were called to his cell to help him.
He was transported to a nearby hospital to receive additional care. Despite life-saving measures at the hospital, he died roughly one hour later.
A full investigation into the in-custody death of Steven Curren remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for San Diego County Inmate Deaths
Jails and other correctional facilities have a constitutional obligation to provide adequate care for all of the inmates in their custody. Every inmate is different and will therefore have different medical needs. Medical staff at these facilities must give inmates a medical evaluation and treatment for their specific conditions. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the medical needs of an inmate who died, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. Certain elements must be demonstrated when pursuing these types of claims.
- Foreseeability: Jail officials knew of the risk (or should have known) and consciously disregarded it.
- Causation: The action of jail officials more than likely led to the death. In other words, the death or injury would not have happened but for the action or inaction of jail workers.
- Overcoming Immunity: Plaintiffs must demonstrate that the plaintiff is not shielded by some government code that allows for immunity.
Many lawsuits have been filed against jails in San Diego County after inmates have died due to medical neglect. Consider, for example, Sandoval v. County of San Diego. A man died of a suspected methamphetamine overdose while staying at the San Diego Central Jail. According to the lawsuit, he was left unmonitored for 8 hours, even though he was showing signs of being under the influence. Allegedly, jail staff then failed to get timely medical care after he was found unresponsive in his cell.
Preventing San Diego County Inmate Deaths
Many people have died in custody across San Diego County every year. According to Cal Maters, “From 2006 through 2020, 185 people died in its jails, including a record high of 18 deaths in 2021. Things haven’t gotten better in recent years: 2023 was the county’s third-highest on record.” Many different measures can be taken to help prevent these deaths.
- Medical Care: Keeping inmates safe during their stay should start from the very moment that they are incarcerated. Inmates must undergo a thorough health assessment. This includes screening for mental health issues.
- Monitoring: Inmates should be properly monitored throughout the duration of their stay. If a person is at a greater risk of having a serious medical emergency, they may need to be more closely monitored.
- Adequate Staffing: Jails are not able to adequately treat the needs of inmates in their care if they are understaffed. Staff are essential to monitor inmates and provide emergency care when necessary.
- Mental Health Services: Being incarcerated is often one of the most difficult and stressful periods of a person’s life. It is vital that inmates have plenty of access to mental health services.
- Overdose Prevention: Jails should have naloxone available in all housing units so that overdoses can be prevented.
Inmate deaths are often very complex events. The factors that contribute to any death could take place hours, days, or even weeks beforehand. Inmate deaths are not evenly distributed across California. Certain counties, including San Diego County and Los Angeles County, have a long history of failing to provide inmates with adequate care. The family of any inmate who died in custody may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim.
Investigating San Diego County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Steven Curren. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. There are a number of questions that still need to be answered. How many inmates have died at this facility in recent years? Did this man receive a proper health screening before being admitted? Did jail officials provide timely medical care after he went into medical distress?
Do you need more information about a San Diego County inmate death? Our team of civil rights investigators is here for you. We care deeply that inmates and their families are aware of their rights and that law enforcement agencies are held accountable for their negligence. Every person in the United States is owed due process, regardless of what they may be accused of. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free investigation into any in-custody death, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
