Why Do Inmates Die in Oklahoma Jails?
Oklahoma has some of the highest jail mortality rates in the country. This is not an accident. It is the result of systemic failures:
- Understaffing: Guards failing to perform required 15-minute sight checks.
- Privatized Healthcare: Companies like Turn Key Health often prioritize profits over patient care, denying hospitalization to save money.
- Ignored Withdrawal: Alcohol and opioid withdrawal can be fatal if not medically managed, yet jails frequently leave inmates to "detox" in isolation cells until they die.
Proving Your Case
To win a Section 1983 claim, we must prove three things:
- Serious Medical Need: The condition was life-threatening (e.g., overdose, seizure, heart attack).
- Knowledge: The staff knew about it (we find this in medical logs, recorded calls, and witness statements).
- Disregard: They failed to act reasonably (e.g., refusing to call an ambulance).
Private Prisons
If your loved one was in a private facility (like those run by CoreCivic or GEO Group), the legal strategy changes. These are multi-billion dollar corporations that can be sued directly for their unconstitutional policies.