Inmate Ashley Raisbeck (Full Name: Ashley Jo Raisbeck) Died Following Medical Emergency At Jefferson County Jail
GOLDEN, COLORADO (December 23, 2023) - A 27-year-old female inmate identified as Ashley Raisbeck has tragically died following a medical emergency at a Jefferson County jail.
Jefferson County officials are saying that the incident took place on Saturday. Ashley Raisbeck was on a detox protocol when correctional officers noticed that she appeared disoriented.
She was taken to the jail medical unit where she collapsed. Medical staff gave her three rounds of Narcan and began performing CPR.
Paramedics were called to the scene to take over support. Ashley Raisbeck was transported to the hospital where she was pronounced dead.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Jefferson County Inmate Deaths
Drug overdoses remain one of the leading causes of death in-custody. But people can also die due to the effects of drug and alcohol withdrawal. Inmates are particularly at risk. According to the Journal of Correctional Healthcare, “Among the 103 deaths associated with substance withdrawal, 66 involved alcohol, 21 involved drugs (primarily opioids), and 16 could not be determined. Drugs and alcohol likely contribute to more deaths in jails than has been recognized due to how deaths are coded.” There are a number of steps that jails should take to prevent inmate deaths.
- Inmates should get a thorough health screening when they are first admitted.
- Jail staff should be trained to recognize the signs an inmate is in medical distress.
- Inmates should get regular health checks during their stay.
All jails have a legal obligation to provide inmates with reasonably adequate healthcare for their needs. This includes care for acute health conditions such as drug and alcohol withdrawal. Inmates who are at risk of drug or alcohol withdrawal will typically need to go through medical detoxification. This is the process whereby a person has drugs or alcohol removed from their body under medical supervision. Medical detoxification involves several steps.
- Any person going through medical detoxification should be stabilized. This may include administering medication to east symptoms such as nausea, anxiety and seizures.
- The patients vital signs should be monitored and any complications should be promptly addressed by a healthcare team.
- Patients may also need psychological counseling to cope with the challenges of withdrawal.
Failing to give an inmate going through withdrawal proper care is dangerous and may lead to serious injury or death. It could also form the basis of a constitutional claim. The family of any person that died in custody may be able to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. A civil rights attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Jefferson County Inmate Deaths
We at Scott H. Palmer, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of Ashley Raisbeck. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of this woman’s family.
Do you need more information about a Jefferson County inmate death? Our team of civil rights advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that jails are held accountable for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any inmate death we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 214-987-4100.