David Reimann Died In Rockford Jail Following Medical Emergency
Wrongful Death - April 12, 2022
David Reimann Died In Winnebago County Jail In Rockford After Being Found Unresponsive In His Cell
ROCKFORD, ILLINOIS (April 12, 2022) – An inmate identified as David Reimann has tragically died in Rockford after being found unresponsive in his jail cell.
Winnebago County officials are saying that the incident began around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday. David Reimann was found unresponsive in his cell and taken to the Swedish American Hospital.
Investigators believe that the inmate may have experienced a seizure prior to being admitted. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, David Reimann was pronounced dead at the hospital.
A full investigation remains ongoing at this time. This death follows a string of other inmate deaths across Illinois. James Everett, Christopher Cunico, Robert Vaughan and London Marquez all died in-custody in recent weeks.
Liability In Rockford Jail Deaths
In custody deaths are unfortunately very common in the United States. According to data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), there are around 1,120 deaths reported in jails every year. Suicide is the leading cause of death in custody and accounts for nearly 30% of jail deaths. Another 50% of all inmate deaths were due to heart attacks or cancer. There are a number of steps that jails can take in order to protect inmates in their care.
- Inmates should undergo periodic health screenings.
- Inmates should be properly monitored.
- Correctional officers should be properly trained.
- Jails should be adequately staffed.
All prisoners have a constitutional right to receive reasonably adequate healthcare. Failure to provide inmates with adequate healthcare is a violation of their right to be free from cruel and unusual punishment. When a jail is deliberately indifferent to the serious medical needs of an inmate, this could form the basis of a civil claim. For example, if any inmate has a seizure in custody they should receive further evaluations to determine if medical intervention is needed. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any inmate death.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- Medical records for the inmate should be examined.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- An independent autopsy should be performed.
The family of any victim that died in custody may have legal recourse through a civil claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and pain and suffering. Sadly, though, jails will often fight hard to deny any responsibility for the death of an inmate in their care. A wrongful death attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating A Rockford Jail Death
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of David Reimann. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. It is our sincere hope that measures will be put in place to help prevent additional tragedies at this jail. Every human life is precious and should be treated as such.
Do you need more information about a Winnebago County Jail death? Our team of inmate advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that inmates and their families are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an incident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.