"A state office created in 2024 to scrutinize local investigations into jail deaths has yet to complete a single review of the more than 150 people who have died in custody in California's county jails over the past year-and-a-half. That's because it hasn't received the records needed to fully analyze the deaths, according to the Board of State and Community Corrections, a regulatory body appointed by the governor to oversee the state's jails and juvenile halls."
"But the new law's limitations quickly became apparent once the division began collecting data on deaths that occurred after its formation in July 2024. The initial information submitted by counties lacked sufficient detail, with the majority of the means and manners of death listed as pending investigation. Such internal investigations can take months sometimes even years to complete. In early discussions, the counties made it clear they would not send nonpublic information, such as medical records or investigatory materials,"
A state In-Custody Death Review Division created in 2024 has not completed any reviews of more than 150 county jail deaths because counties have not provided full investigative records. Initial submissions lacked detail, with most causes and manners listed as pending while internal probes proceed over months or years. Counties resisted sharing nonpublic materials such as medical files and investigatory documents; some sent no records and others provided redacted versions. The Board of State and Community Corrections worked with the governor's office, Legislature and Department of Finance to add trailer-bill language clarifying ICDR staff can access unredacted investigative and medical records.
Read at www.dailynews.com
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