Inmate Joel Landers , 61, Died Following Medical Emergency At Corpus Christi City Detention Center
NUECES COUNTY, TEXAS (November 25, 2023) - A 61-year-old inmate identified as Joel Landers has tragically died after a medical emergency at the Corpus Christi City Detention Center.
Nueces County officials are saying that the incident began around November 17. Correctional officers noticed that Joel Landers was unresponsive.
He appeared to be sleeping but he was still unresponsive when paramedics arrived. He was taken to the hospital where his condition declined.
Joel Landers was later pronounced dead at the hospital. Correctional officers said that the inmate appeared to be “highly intoxicated” before becoming unresponsive.
Liability For Corpus Christi City Inmate Deaths
Drug intoxication remains one of the leading causes of in-custody deaths in the United States. According to the Vera Institute of Justice, “Just as punitive responses to drug use have driven incarceration, substantial evidence suggests that incarceration is associated with increased risk for overdose death. Research has confirmed that overdose is the leading cause of death among people recently released from prisons, as well as the third leading cause of deaths in custody in U.S. jails.” There are many steps that jails should take to prevent overdose deaths.
- Inmates should get a thorough health screening when they are first admitted into a jail.
- Inmates who show signs of intoxication may need specialized medical care including medical detox.
- Jails should have access to drugs like Nalaxone which can be used to reverse the effects of an overdose.
All inmates have a legal right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare for their medical needs. This includes care for acute health emergencies. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a constitutional claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any in-custody death.
- Medical records related to the deaths should be sought.
- The actions of jail staff leading up to the death should be known.
- The autopsy results after any in-custody death should be reviewed.
If an inmate is intoxicated when they enter a jail, this could lead to numerous serious health issues. Failing to give an inmate any type of care in such a situation could easily lead to a death. The family of any person that died in-custody may have legal recourse through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know if any in-custody death was the result of medical neglect.
Investigating Corpus Christi Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Joel Landers. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent other tragedies like this.
Do you need more information about a Nueces County inmate death? Our team of civil rights attorneys are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that inmates 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 may be able to help you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.