Santa Clara County jail deaths reached a 20-year high in 2024.
Ten people died in the custody of the Sheriff’s Office last year across the main jail, Elmwood Correctional Facility and county hospitals where deputies transported incarcerated people for medical care. More than half of the total deaths happened at the Elmwood facility in Milpitas. The number of deaths doubled from five in 2023.
While the causes of two deaths are pending further investigation, five deaths were attributed to natural causes. One death is attributed to a fatal drug overdose while the incarcerated person was awaiting a plea hearing, and two deaths were by suicide — with one of those people waiting for their first court date…