Policy Text
Detectives Page 1 of 1 2/04.1 (REV 3/99)
INMATE DEATHS
The purpose of this order is to outline the procedures for noti fication and investigation to
be followed in the event of homicides, deaths under suspicious circumstances, and all
other inmate deaths. I. General
The custody facility watch comma nder shall immediately report t he death or likely
death of an inmate due to homici de or suspicious circumstances involving
possible criminal activity on t he part of other inmates, staff members, and/or
officers to the Homicide B ureau for investigation.
II. Responsibility
A. Homicide detectives shall a ssume responsibility of the crime scene from
jail staff and shall conduct a cri minal investigation. Jail sta ff shall assist by
gathering copies of all jail docum ents pertaining to the inmate , inmate
housing lists, and names of officer s and staff present at the t ime of
discovery.
1. Issuing Miranda stat ements and questioning of any suspect(s) in a
criminally-related death will be done by homicide detectives.
2. Homicide Bureau detectives will notify the Coroner’s Office in
criminal cases of death.
B. A copy of the completed crim inal investigation report will b e forwarded to
the Chief Deputy of Correctional S ervices for distribution to t he California
Attorney General pursuant to Sec tion 12525 of the Government Co de.
C. The Homicide Bureau shall be notified in all other types of inmate deaths.
A copy of the casualty death r eport shall be forwarded to the H omicide
Bureau for review.