Vertex Medical Review stands as the premier authority in independent investigations of correctional and detention centers, delivering unsurpassed experience and expertise rooted in a profound understanding that every in-custody death is a tragedy—yet also a critical opportunity for correctional systems to examine what occurred, identify opportunities for improvement, and strengthen practices that help prevent future deaths.
With thousands of people dying in U.S. jails and prisons each year—Bureau of Justice Statistics data document roughly 4,000–4,200 deaths in state and federal prisons annually in recent years (for example, 4,234 in 2019) and about 1,200 deaths in local jails in 2019, amid mortality rates that have risen in some periods—leading causes such as illness (particularly heart disease and cancer), suicide, and drug- or alcohol-related events underscore the urgent need for rigorous review. Many of these deaths, especially among younger individuals, involve factors that systems-level improvements can mitigate.
Vertex Medical Review provides independent, expert in-custody death reviews for correctional facilities, health care providers, and government oversight agencies. Its multidisciplinary team conducts objective assessments designed to determine root causes, identify systems and individual errors, and recommend practical corrective actions that improve patient safety and operational performance. Our team at Vertex Medical Review believe that the purpose of an in-custody death review is not simply to determine what happened; it’s to understand why it happened and identify meaningful opportunities for improvement. By taking an objective, systems-based approach, we help our partners strengthen clinical practices, improve collaboration, and reduce the risk of similar events in the future.
This approach aligns with longstanding professional standards. The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) requires thorough reviews of all deaths in custody—administrative, clinical mortality, and (when applicable) psychological autopsy—to evaluate the appropriateness of care, identify needed policy or practice changes, and drive continuous quality improvement.
Through this depth of specialized knowledge and proven methodology, Vertex Medical Review transforms individual tragedies into lasting systemic learning, offering correctional systems an unmatched level of insight and actionable guidance.