Why Do Inmates Die in the Garfield County Detention Facility?
Oklahoma jails, including the Garfield County Detention Facility, are legally required to provide adequate medical care and protection from violence. Yet deaths continue to happen due to systemic failures:
- Medical Neglect: Ignoring serious conditions like heart attacks, seizures, or diabetic emergencies.
- Withdrawal Protocol Failures: Alcohol and opioid withdrawal can be fatal. Leaving an inmate to "detox" in a cell without medical supervision is unconstitutional.
- Failure to Protect: Placing a non-violent offender in a cell with a known violent predator.
Filing a Lawsuit in Garfield County District Court
To hold the Garfield County Sheriff or private jail contractors accountable under 42 U.S.C. § 1983, we must prove "Deliberate Indifference." This means the staff at the Garfield County Detention Facility knew your loved one was at risk and chose to do nothing.
We file these cases in federal court or the Garfield County District Court depending on the specific claims (Federal Civil Rights vs. State Negligence under the GTCA).