Independent brief to OAG on custody death count
April 26, 2025
In March, the Tarrant County District Attorney sent a letter to the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) asking for clarification on the question of whether custody deaths outside…
Topics: Custody Death, Sandra Bland Act, TCJS
In March, the Tarrant County District Attorney sent a letter to the Texas Office of the Attorney General (OAG) asking for clarification on the question of whether custody deaths outside a jail, such as in a hospital, should be considered custody deaths. Read news coverage about this letter by Fort Worth Star-Telegram and KERA News.
It is important to note that this would drastically decrease the count of custody deaths and allow county sheriffs to avoid responsibility for deaths that could have been prevented, like suicides, homicides, and accidental deaths.
Since 2019, 75% of custodial deaths statewide occurred outside jails. That percentage is even greater in Tarrant County, where 85% of custodial deaths reportedly occurred outside of the County’s jail facilities.
Today, we submitted an independent brief to the OAG as a response to the DA’s question. Community members and advocates submitted 5 briefs in total.
Read our brief below.