COWLITZ, Wash. (AP) - A jury in a coroner’s inquest unanimously found that the death of a Cowlitz jail inmate was accidental.
The jury on Wednesday also said Britney Smith died at 2 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2016, four hours before jail staff reported finding her dead in her cell.
The Daily News reports that jurors recommended steps to prevent similar deaths.
Jail staff should perform more thorough checks on inmates and inmates under the influence of drugs should be monitored more carefully.
The inquest centered largely on Smith’s time of death, which the coroner fixed at about 2 a.m. Jail staff had said the death was at about 6 a.m.
The discrepancy raised questions about whether Smith was monitored adequately while in custody.
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Information from: The Daily News, http://www.tdn.com
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