Fatal Overdose at SCORE Jail Highlights Safety Protocol Questions

Fatal Overdose at SCORE Jail Highlights Safety Protocol Questions
SLUG: inmate-fatality-report-score-jail-issues
EXCERPT: A recent report into the death of an inmate at the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail has raised concerns about drug infiltration and response times, despite official praise for staff.
CATEGORY: policy-governance
TAGS: SCORE jail, inmate fatality, drug overdose, fentanyl, public safety, jail protocols, King County
SEO_TITLE: SCORE Jail Fatality Report Raises Safety Concerns Over Drug Overdose
SEO_DESCRIPTION: An investigation into a fatal drug overdose at SCORE Jail reveals potential lapses in safety protocols and unanswered questions about how drugs entered the facility.
MEDIA_QUERY: SCORE Jail exterior, Des Moines, Washington
IMAGE_ALT: Exterior view of the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) Jail facility in Des Moines, Washington.

New questions have emerged regarding safety protocols at the South Correctional Entity (SCORE) jail following the release of a fatality report detailing the overdose death of an inmate. The report, examining the March 2025 death of Said Ali Abdulkadir, a 36-year-old Black man, highlights a significant delay in medical assistance and an inability to determine how illicit drugs entered the facility.

The incident, which occurred at the Des Moines, Washington-based jail, has prompted calls for greater accountability and a thorough review of existing procedures. Abdulkadir died in hospital on March 28, 2025, after being found unresponsive in his cell.

Initial Booking and Unit Transfer

Abdulkadir was booked into SCORE on the afternoon of March 21, 2025, following an arrest by the City of Tukwila Police Department on an outstanding warrant. He was initially housed in the Medical unit of the facility. After completing what the report describes as “medical protocols,” he was transferred to a General Population unit on March 25 at 1:23 pm.

Delayed Medical Response

Approximately three hours after his transfer, at 4:17 pm, security footage captured Abdulkadir appearing to inhale a substance. Critically, the report notes that his cellmate did not immediately summon help. Instead, the cellmate allegedly attempted to make it appear as though Abdulkadir was repositioning himself each time corrections staff passed by the cell. This delay meant that Abdulkadir did not receive medical aid from SCORE staff for nearly four hours after the suspected overdose event.

It was not until 8:09 pm that Abdulkadir’s condition prompted his cellmates to inform facility staff. Corrections staff, including two nurses, then began rendering aid. A fire aid unit arrived at 8:21 pm and took over, eventually transporting Abdulkadir to a hospital.

Drug Overdose Confirmed

The official cause of death, as detailed in the report, was a drug overdose involving a combination of fentanyl, diazepam, and methamphetamine. However, the report was unable to ascertain how these substances made their way into the secure environment of the jail. The report does indicate that Abdulkadir had been incarcerated at SCORE 13 times previously.

Contraband Discovery and Staff Response

Following Abdulkadir’s death and his subsequent departure from the unit, a “complete shakedown” of his cell block was conducted. This search, which included universal strip searches, resulted in the discovery of five separate contraband incidents, with suspected drugs being secured in SCORE evidence lockers.

Despite the significant four-hour lag time between the suspected overdose and the awareness of SCORE staff, an incident command debrief form obtained by The Urbanist characterized the staff’s response to the incident as “great.” The debrief further stated that the staff would be formally acknowledged in their performance logs. This assessment has drawn criticism from some local officials who believe it downplays the severity of the delayed response.

Official Recommendations and Criticisms

SCORE executives referred Abdulkadir’s cellmates for prosecution. The only additional recommendation made by SCORE executives in the report was to acquire a narcotics detection dog.

However, Renton City Councilmember Carmen Rivera expressed strong concerns about the death and the subsequent report, stating, “Mr. Abdulkadir was a human being, entitled to dignity and basic human rights. His death is a tragedy, and it is one that deserves honest, thorough accountability, not just another report.” Rivera’s comments followed a presentation by SCORE Director Devon Schrum to the Renton City Council shortly before Abdulkadir’s death, where she reportedly stated, “Our jail is safe and secure.”

Previous Fatalities and Contractual Agreements

This is not the first instance of fatalities at SCORE. Last year, reporting indicated that 10 individuals died in SCORE custody between 2023 and 2025. At least two more deaths have occurred since that reporting: Abdulkadir in March 2025 and Ronald Gunter in October 2025.

SCORE jail is a public facility owned and operated by six south King County cities: Auburn, Burien, Des Moines, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila. It functions through interlocal agreements, with various municipalities and entities contracting for jail space. For example, the Port of Seattle pays a daily rate for guaranteed beds, with surcharges for specialized units.

The usage of SCORE by surrounding cities has been a point of discussion among local officials. While some, like Seattle City Attorney Erika Evans, have expressed a stance against sending individuals to SCORE due to concerns about detainee well-being, others, such as Councilmember Bob Kettle, have criticized the City of Seattle for not maintaining a SCORE contract, citing finite capacity at the King County Jail and a desire for tougher crime policies. The Mayor’s Office did not provide clarification on the current status of Seattle’s contract with SCORE.

Key Facts

The ongoing issues at SCORE, highlighted by this latest fatality report, underscore the complex challenges surrounding corrections facilities, including drug interdiction, timely medical care, and the need for robust oversight. The questions raised by Abdulkadir’s death will likely fuel further debate among local governments regarding the safety and efficacy of regional correctional agreements.

Source: Inmate Fatality Report Points to Ongoing Issues at SCORE Jail – The Urbanist (https://www.theurbanist.org/inmate-fatality-report-points-to-ongoing-issues-at-score-jail/)