Investigation Underway After Brandon Robinson, of Pinon Hills, Died in Custody at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA (October 3, 2025) – A 44-year-old man identified as Brandon Robinson has tragically died following some type of medical emergency while staying at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga.
San Bernardino County officials are saying that the incident began around 5:17 p.m. on August 15. Correctional officers noticed that Brandon Robinson was unresponsive.
Deputies and medical staff were called to the scene to help him. He was transported to a local hospital to receive additional care. Sadly, his condition continued to decline at the hospital and he was later pronounced dead.
A full investigation into the death of Brandon Robinson at the West Valley Detention Center remains ongoing. An autopsy is scheduled to be conducted.
Liability for San Bernardino County Inmate Deaths
Every jail has a legal obligation to properly take care of all of the inmates in their custody. They must provide for the safety and medical needs of inmates. This will necessitate that inmates receive care for any outstanding medical conditions that they have. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. There are several ways that a jail may have been deliberately indifferent to an inmate’s needs.
- Improper Monitoring: Jail officials may fail to properly monitor an inmate in their care. This is particularly problematic when an inmate is at risk of having a medical emergency.
- Delayed Response: Jail officials may not have gotten an inmate timely care when they were in the midst of a medical emergency.
- Neglected Orders: Jail officials may have ignored the medical advice of doctors and nurses.
- Medication Errors: Jail officials may give an inmate too much of a certain medication. They could also fail to give an inmate the medication that they need.
One of the major factors driving jail deaths is overcrowding. When jails are overcrowded, this can have an adverse impact on the care that all inmates receive. Jail staff may begin skipping required procedures. One of the most common mistakes is that correctional officers will allow inmates to go for extended periods of time without being monitored.
Steps to Take After Any Inmate Death
In-custody deaths remain all too common across California and the United States. According to one report by Cal Matters, “California jails are holding fewer people than they have in decades, but they are deadlier places than ever. The number of people dying surged during the COVID-19 pandemic. Then a wave of overdoses and suicides kept death rates at record levels.” It is important that certain actions be taken after any in-custody death.
- Medical Records: All medical records related to the death should be recovered. In some cases, an independent autopsy should be sought.
- Jail Records: Jails keep detailed records on all actions related to every inmate. These can provide a great deal of insight into what went wrong.
- Surveillance Footage: All of the surveillance footage that may have captured any in-custody death should be sought.
- Legal Review: It is important to determine if jail officials violated any laws and contributed to an in-custody death. This can be done by someone experienced with civil rights claims.
Jail deaths are rarely the result of the negligent actions of a single individual. It is more common that they are the result of systemic failure within any jail system. For example, correctional officers may routinely fail to conduct wellness checks because a jail is short-staffed. The family of any inmate who died in a jail may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil rights claim.
Investigating San Bernardino County Inmate Deaths
We at Carrazco Law extend our deepest condolences to the family of Brandon Robinson. 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 our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a San Bernardino County inmate death? Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that all people across California are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their unconstitutional actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (800) 541-3244.
