Statement on Jail Death Settlement 

October 30, 2025 – San Diego County Sheriff’s Office officials issue a statement on 2022 jail death settlement.

First and foremost, any loss of life in our custody is profoundly felt—these individuals are not statistics or case numbers. They are someone’s family member, friend, and loved one. We take these tragedies to heart, and they deepen our commitment to ensuring that every person entrusted to our care is treated safely, humanely, and with dignity.

In March 2022, Hayden Schuck was arrested for driving under the influence of drugs and other charges. The San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office ruled the cause of his death was the result of complications of cocaine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) toxicity, and the manner of death was accidental.

Mr. Schuck died prior to Sheriff Kelly Martinez taking office in 2023. Since that time, significant improvements have been made to our jail system. 

Much more is needed, which will require significant investment from the County of San Diego.

It is important to note that the money for the settlement will come out of the Sheriff's Office's budget. Despite this fact, the Sheriff's Office had no participation or input on the recent settlement decision by the County of San Diego.

San Diego County Jail System

With an average daily population of approximately 4,400 individuals across seven detention facilities, the San Diego County jail system is one of the largest and most complex in California. Many of the individuals in our custody arrive with serious untreated medical conditions, mental illness, or substance use disorders, making a structured and evidence-based model of healthcare essential.

Improvements To San Diego's Jails Have Been Significant

Under the leadership of Sheriff Martinez, the Sheriff’s Office has implemented significant reforms focused on accountability, expanded access to healthcare, and enhanced staff training. In collaboration with our contracted medical partners, nearly 50,000 individuals receive care within our facilities every year, and our operations align with national standards, including those established by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).

Many of our detention facilities were constructed decades ago, and some continue to operate with aging infrastructure and outdated technology.

With support from the County of San Diego, we are advancing major modernization efforts, including ADA-compliance upgrades across multiple facilities and moving into the design phase to replace our oldest jail in Vista with a modern, purpose-built facility that enhances safety, healthcare delivery, and transparency.

As infrastructure funding becomes available, these older systems are being systematically replaced with modern camera platforms that support longer retention, improved coverage, and greater reliability.

Positive Results

These reforms are producing measurable results. Over the last year, San Diego County jails recorded the lowest number of in-custody deaths in more than a decade, experienced a 65 percent reduction in overdoses, and saw zero suicides in 2024; the first time that has occurred in more than 20 years.

In Conclusion

We understand and respect that litigation is an important part of accountability.

At the same time, improvements made since 2022 are improving the operations, expectations, medical processes, and technology within our jails. The Sheriff’s Office remains committed to learning from the past while continuing forward progress and ensuring that past deficiencies are not repeated.

We will continue to share data, reforms, and outcomes publicly as we modernize our jail system and improve the care and conditions for every person entrusted to our custody.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Office