FATAL HEAD INJURY AT THE NORTHERN BRANCH JAIL
A Custody-related Death Investigation
An inmate, AAO, died at Marian Regional Medical Center 19 days after he fell from standing height and struck his head on the floor of Santa Barbara County’s Northern Branch Jail due to an apparent seizure. This seizure occurred approximately seven hours after he arrived at jail on August 29, 2024.
While the cause of his seizure is impossible to know for certain, the 2024-25 Santa Barbara County Grand Jury learned that AAO had a history of and was at risk for alcohol withdrawal—which, in some cases, can include seizures—when he arrived at jail. That risk was not properly recognized or shared among relevant staff during the intake process.
In case after case, previous Grand Juries have noted that the first 72 hours of an inmate’s arrival at jail is a time of particular sensitivity, requiring careful attention from custody and medical staff. In the course of this investigation, the current Grand Jury discovered several deficiencies in the medical receiving screening process, the electronic health record, and staff communication…