Families Sue After Two Die from Neglect in San Diego Jails

URGENT UPDATE: Families of two individuals who died from neglect while incarcerated in San Diego jails have filed separate civil rights lawsuits in federal court, accusing the Sheriff’s Office and its medical contractors of systemic failures. Callen Lines, 31, died from drug withdrawal on May 11, 2022, just a day after her arrest, while Corey Dean, 43, succumbed to neglect in July 2022 after enduring weeks in solitary confinement.

These lawsuits, filed last week by attorneys Grace Jun and Danielle Pena, allege that both Lines and Dean faced severe medical neglect despite repeatedly begging for help. The legal actions highlight urgent concerns over the treatment of inmates in San Diego jails, with families claiming a pattern of avoidable deaths linked to inadequate care.

Callen Lines, a mother of two and former nursing assistant, was arrested while struggling with substance abuse following a traumatic event. According to the lawsuit, Lines had experienced a withdrawal-related seizure just two weeks prior to her arrest, which was documented in her medical records. Despite her openness about her history, she reportedly received insufficient monitoring and medication for her withdrawal symptoms. Eyewitness accounts from fellow inmates detail her desperate cries for help, which were ignored by jail staff.

In a shocking account, Lines’ cellmate recounted how she pressed her intercom multiple times, pleading for assistance as her condition deteriorated. Instead of receiving help, deputies dismissed her as a liar. Tragically, when a deputy finally checked the cell, Lines was found unresponsive, exhibiting signs of severe distress.

Corey Dean, who suffered from schizophrenia, was also subjected to neglect. His family’s lawsuit claims that despite his known mental health issues, he was placed in the general population without a psychiatric evaluation. Dean reportedly spent days crying out for help, resorting to extreme measures like flooding his cell to gain attention. The lawsuit alleges that staff failed to address his deteriorating mental state, leading to his tragic death 15 days after being placed in solitary confinement.

Both lawsuits point to long-standing issues within the Sheriff’s Office, noting previous warnings from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and other audits highlighting severe gaps in medical and mental health care in jails. The families are demanding accountability, emphasizing that the county has been aware of these problems for years but has failed to implement necessary reforms.

In 2022 alone, 19 inmates died in San Diego jails, raising serious questions about the conditions and care provided to those in custody. Sheriff Kelly Martinez has acknowledged the need for improvements and pledged to address these issues, but families fear that without immediate action, more lives could be lost.

As these lawsuits unfold, they underscore an urgent call for systemic change within the jail system. The tragic deaths of Callen Lines and Corey Dean serve as a stark reminder of the critical need for adequate medical care and humane treatment of inmates.

What’s Next: The families await a response from the Sheriff’s Office, which has refrained from commenting on pending litigation. As the cases progress, they could spark significant discussions about the treatment of vulnerable populations in the criminal justice system.