A Santa Rita Jail inmate who had tried to take his life last month died one week later at a Pleasanton hospital, the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said.
On March 9, Leonard Brown was found unresponsive in his cell during a routine check at the jail; all efforts to revive the 36-year-old prisoner went unsuccessful and he was transported to the hospital where he died on March 15.
Sources said that Brown had been arrested for a parole violation. His passing marked the 58 death within the facility since 2014.
Sheriff’s Lt. Ray Kelly described the incident as “terrible” and promised the office will try to help inmates with mental health issues and prevent suicides at the Santa Rita jail.
“The jail is incapable as its set up of providing and caring for the people in its custody,” civil rights attorney Yolanda Huang said.
“People who are mentally ill do not belong in that jail. And they should be moved to someplace where they can get the care that they need.”
