SINCE SANDRA

[smilesammich 10,727]

Because it is so difficult to obtain details of fatalities that occur in jails, many of the deaths in this database have not previously been reported. A number of states collect some form of death data from all their jails. In others, the reporting process is far from comprehensive. Some, like Texas, collect information from counties but not from municipalities. Others, like Louisiana, only track deaths of inmates in state custody — a tiny fraction of the jail population. (Jails are short-term holding facilities in which many inmates have not been convicted; our study does not include deaths in prison.)

To supplement these figures, we scoured news reports and press releases, gathered official records, filed public records requests, and called hundreds of jails. When news reports omitted details like the date of arrest or official cause of death, reporters requested that information, either from the jail or the office of the medical examiner who conducted the autopsy. We particularly focused on jails with more than 500 inmates. The Bureau of Justice Statistics doesn’t collect data on deaths in facilities that hold people for less than 72 hours, such as police lockups, even though people are at significant risk of hurting themselves during that period. We included such institutions in our count.

Despite our efforts, the true number of deaths is still unknown. Not all jails responded, and we almost certainly missed deaths at smaller jails and police holding facilities. We are continuing to research and will update this page with deaths as we uncover them. If you know of someone who died while in jail or police custody between July 13, 2015, and July 13, 2016, you can contact us using this form.

http://data.huffingtonpost.com/2016/jail-deaths

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Damn shame...

[smilesammich 10,727]

Damn shame...

it is and more so that more people aren't asking why 815 people have died in the past year since sandra bland. why don't we have a way of tracking deaths in local jails that are not natural in manner, this is where our attention should be. like the article says, this is the demographic that contains people that might not even have been charged with a crime, let alone guilty. i don't get it.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

it is and more so that more people aren't asking why 815 people have died in the past year since sandra bland. why don't we have a way of tracking deaths in local jails that are not natural in manner, this is where our attention should be. like the article says, this is the demographic that contains people that might not even have been charged with a crime, let alone guilty. i don't get it.

I agree but let's be real. This country treats anyone whose locked up for ANY reason as a worthless criminal. Their lives are automatically forfeit.