local news reporter
This story is produced as part of a larger project by Matthew Brannon, a participant in the 2020 California Fellowship.
A lawsuit filed in federal court accuses Shasta County Jail deputies of repeatedly beating a man in custody, causing his death, and then covering it up.
In recent years, the jail has also seen the number of deaths in custody tick upward. Most of those deaths are suicides, a category of deaths some jail experts have deemed “mostly preventable.”
The Record Searchlight reviewed 53 of California’s 58 counties with available data. The review showed some jails have death rates double or triple that of their neighbors or other jail systems of similar size.
Interviews with law enforcement officials, attorneys and outside experts indicate that changes in policing, initiative in leadership and a prioritization of health can save lives.
This story is produced as part of a larger project led by Matthew Brannon, a participant in the 2020 California Fellowship.
John Adena's death in custody is one of 25 reported by the Shasta County Jail since 2006 — a number that one former California jail manager and expert witness described as “way too many, obviously.”
In September of 2019, three people in the Shasta County Jail died within a two-week span. Does that mean my county is an outlier? A reporter seeks some answers.
Reporting on county jails and jail deaths? Use these tips from Matt Brannon of the Redding Record Searchlight to sharpen your efforts.
