1,000 Deaths from “Non-Lethal” Force, Jail Visitation Lawsuit & More
"Any time anyone dies before their day in court, or dies in an environment where the federal government or the local government’s job is to take care of you, it needs transparency. It cannot be in the dark of night."
The tactics law enforcement use to restrain and deescalate suspects aren’t supposed to lead to death. Yet, they have. Deaths following the use of Tasers or physical restraint don't always make national headlines, which means just how often and in what ways police tactics are leading to death can be difficult to track, until now. This week, the Associated Press published a first-of its kind database and investigation into more than 1,000 of these deaths at the hands of police from 2012 through 2021. In hundreds of cases, officers weren’t taught or didn’t follow best safety practices for this force, creating a recipe for death.
"...kids have been able to visit with their parents in person and hug them and look into their eyes and touch them. This is something that is increasingly going away in jails across the country."
Two county jails in Michigan are facing lawsuits alleging that their bans on in-person family visits for those in custody were implemented to increase revenue from phone calls and electronic messaging. While increasing access to communication through electronic means is a generally positive thing, doing so at the expense of in-person visitations deprive children and family members from meaningful contact while their loved ones are incarcerated.
"We want to have an alternative response to a much wider array of situations than just non-crime crisis."
Efforts to improve interactions between first responders and those experiencing a mental health crisis are gaining momentum as civilian co-responder and alternative responder programs are emerging in more jurisdictions. Focused on de-escalation and minimizing force, some programs avoid arrests or police use of force in 95% of responses, as promising alternatives. This week, the Marshall Project details these programs, their successes, and issues that continue to persist as more jurisdictions create their own.
"We think about people dying in interactions with the justice system when they’re saying, ‘I can’t breathe,’ with a knee on their neck. But a lot of these deaths are happening in ‘I can’t breathe’ scenarios due to neglect and a lack of access to healthcare."
Last year was a deadly year in Los Angeles County Jails, with 45 deaths of individuals in custody despite a decrease in the jail population over the past decade. For people like Tawana Hunter whose father, Jubal, was among them, the surge is an urgent call to address systemic issues. This week a Los Angeles Times report gives credence to their concerns, revealing instances of delayed responses to medical emergencies, failure to conduct required safety checks, inadequate monitoring of those in custody, and the presence of drugs behind bars.
"As of Thursday, more than 2,500 people are without an attorney statewide, including more than 100 in custody, according to the Oregon Judicial Department, which updates those figures daily."
Oregon has long struggled with providing adequate legal representation for criminal defendants, leaving thousands who are facing criminal charges without access to lawyers. A recent report funded by Oregon’s Office of Public Defense Services found the state needs roughly 500 more attorneys to meet its public defense obligations, and highlights the pressing need for policy changes. With Oregon lawmakers passing legislation this year that recriminalizes drug possession, the state will need to add even more criminal defense attorneys to meet its obligations. Oregon is just one of several states facing shortages when it comes to providing adequate legal representation for criminal defendants.