Sheriff’s department responds to ‘incorrect’ advocacy group that ‘exaggerated’ number of prisoner deaths 

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is clearing the air after an advocacy group posted on social media that 20 inmates have died at county correctional facilities this year. 

The name of the advocacy group and the platform on which they posted their claims was not released by SBSD, but in a bulletin issued late Tuesday morning, deputies referred to the group’s findings as “incorrect” and “exaggerated.” 

“It is unknown where they received their information; however, they are incorrect and have exaggerated their numbers,” the SBSD bulletin said. 

As of Tuesday, there have been a total of ten in-custody deaths at the county’s four correctional facilities in 2024, SBSD said, half of what the advocacy group claimed. The facilities have a combined daily population of about 4,700 inmates and have booked 49,208 arrestees. 

“Of those deaths, six succumbed while under medical care at local hospitals,” SBSD stated. “The remaining four [died] within the facilities.” 

According to the SBSD’s in-custody death public records search, of the reported inmate deaths this year, all but one occurred at the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga. The lone death at a different facility – the Central Detention Center in San Bernardino – was reported on May 21. 

Authorities outlined their inmate death investigation procedure, which includes collaborative reviews from homicide investigators, medical and mental health staff and facility administration within a week of the incident. 

An internal review into whether the actions of the personnel involved were within policy or whether additional policies, training or equipment need to be implemented is also conducted by SBSD. 

Under California law, the agency with jurisdiction over the local correctional facility with custodial responsibility for the person must post specific information surrounding the death of an inmate online. 

Any records relating to an investigation of an in-custody death must also be made available for public inspection, although they must be thoroughly reviewed to ensure no confidential information is released inadvertently. 

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is clearing the air after an advocacy group posted on social media that 20 inmates have died at county correctional facilities this year.  The name of the advocacy group and the platform on which they posted their claims was not released by SBSD, but in a bulletin issued late […]