Publication of Study on Deaths in San Diego County Jails

April 29, 2026

The Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board for San Diego County has announced the completion of an independent study examining in-custody deaths within the county's jail system over approximately twelve years. The research, conducted by The Mountain-Whisper-Light Statistics & Data Science firm, was commissioned in 2023 and investigates fifteen specific areas of interest, including risk factors that may make certain incarcerated individuals more vulnerable to dying while detained. This study follows previous investigations by the California State Auditor in 2022 and another consulting firm that examined jail deaths and mortality rates.

Who is affected

Incarcerated people in San Diego County's seven detention facilities
The San Diego Sheriff's Office
The County of San Diego Citizens' Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB)
Families and communities connected to individuals who died in custody

What action is being taken

The full case study report is being made available for public viewing on the CLERB media page.

Why it matters

This study is significant because it examines over a decade of in-custody deaths to identify risk factors and vulnerabilities that contribute to mortality in San Diego County jails, potentially informing policy changes and safety improvements that could prevent future deaths of incarcerated individuals.

What's next

The study will be presented at the CLERB Public Meeting on May 7, 2026, at the San Diego County Administration Center, room 310 at 5:30pm.

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint