Civilian In-Custody Death Report Submission Form

Death In Custody: Defined

The Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) (Public Law 113-242) defines “a death in custody” as “the death of any person who is either detained, under arrest, in the process of being arrested, en route to be incarcerated, or is incarcerated at a municipal or county jail, state prison, state-run boot camp prison, boot camp prison that is contracted out by the state, or any state or local contract facility, or other local or state correctional facility (including any juvenile facility)." (Death In Custody Reporting Act: Compliance Guidelines, Bureau of Justice Assistance, U.S. Department of Justice, December 2023)

Uncounted is a National Civilian-Led Data Collection Initiative for Tracking Custodial Deaths

Uncounted strives to collect critical information from civilians and other responsible citizens who are committed to attaining more accurate data on individuals who die in custody. Uncounted aims to address weaknesses in the current death-in-custody reporting systems of law enforcement agencies and governmental hospitals and departments. When deaths are not counted due to conflicting accounts of custodial responsibility or a desire to keep death counts artificially low, transparency measures meant to help eliminate deaths in custody are undercut. The failure to adequately count in-custody deaths not only deprives individuals—some innocent, many pre-trial, all deserving the right to be counted and respected as human beings—it also deprives Congress and the public of information about the size, scope, and causes of this problem. The lack of information impedes the identification of custodial death trends and hampers corrective actions to improve custodial, medical, and mental health care.

Mission Statement:
Uncounted is committed to bringing recognition of and transparency to custodial deaths across America by drawing upon civilians and responsible citizens to report individuals who die in prisons, jails, and detention centers, ensuring that their deaths are not overlooked, forgotten, or intentionally left unreported. Our goal is to provide an online portal where deaths in custody can be reported and investigated so that systemic issues can be better addressed.

Vision Statement:
We envision a future where every death in custody is reported, documented, and analyzed to drive meaningful reforms in the criminal justice system and prevent unnecessary loss of life.

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Decedent Information: Please tell us about the person who died in custody.

The cause of death may be natural, unnatural, or unknown. We define “in-custody” as a status that refers to an individual who is under the control of law enforcement, including those who are in the process of being arrested, detained, or confined in a correctional or holding facility. This encompasses individuals from the moment they are physically restrained or otherwise deprived of their freedom of movement by authorities, through transport, booking, formal incarceration, or under court order while being held at a hospital or some other facility. Please include individuals who have died shortly after being granted compassionate release, a provision that allows early release to inmates facing terminal illness, severe incapacitation, or other extenuating circumstances.

PART 1: Personal and Demographic Information About Decedent

Name

First

Last

Age

Gender

Race

Date of Birth

Address

Address Line 1

City

State

Part 2: Information About The Death of Decedent

Date of Death

Did decedent die within 48 hours after being released from custody?

Had a judge or court deemed the decedent incompetent to stand trial?

Who had custody of the decedent at the time of death? Please type your respond below.

In what city and county is the entity, agency, or department who had custody of the decedent at the time of death?

In what state is the entity, agency, or department who had custody of the decedent at the time of death?

Facility Type (Facility where death occurred)

Facility Name (Please provide the name of the facility where the decedent died.)

Location (Location where death occurred)

Custodial Status

Manner of Death

Has an autopsy been performed?

Means of Death (Please select or state manner of death if known)

Please provide additional comments to help our partners investigate death, for example:

(1) Is this a suspicious death?

(2) Do you know where the decedent's body is located?

(3) Is the decedent already buried?

Please provide any additional comments.

Statement of Declaration

I declare that the information submitted is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

Part 3: Contact Information

Contact Information:

I choose to submit my contact information.
I choose to remain anonymous and not submit my contact information.

The need for transparent reporting on custodial deaths is critical, as current federal and state governmental data are often incomplete or inaccessible. Uncounted is dedicated to shedding light on custodial deaths and holding institutions accountable. By serving as a critical data collection initiative that values the voice of civilians and responsible citizens, we seek to empower journalists, researchers, and advocates who strive to ensure that every life lost in custody is counted and remembered.

If you provided a contact email address, you will receive email confirmation of your submission form. Please know that we are moving forward to share the in-custody death that you reported and will contact you in the upcoming weeks.

Please access this form at incustodydeathreportform.com.

Terms of Use: Data Privacy and Usage
We are committed to protecting the privacy and security of the data collected through our platform. By using our platform and services, we agree to the following terms regarding data usage:

No Sell of Data
We will never sell, trade, or otherwise transfer personal or collected data to third parties for commercial purposes.

Purpose of Data Collection

Data collected will be used strictly for:
(1) Research purposes aimed at understanding and addressing issues related to deaths in carceral settings.
(2) Informing relevant entities, such as oversight bodies, advocacy organizations, and policymakers, about the deaths of individuals in custody to improve transparency, tracking, and reporting.

Data Security and Confidentiality

We employ appropriate security measures to protect collected data from unauthorized access, disclosure, or misuse. Only authorized personnel and research partners with aligned ethical commitments will have access to necessary data for approved purposes.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Our data collection and reporting practices comply with ethical guidelines to ensure responsible use.

Consent

By using our data collection platform and services, you acknowledge and consent to the submission of information outlined in this Terms of Use statement.

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PPCG teams are committed to working together and for our clients. PPCG addresses complex research and policy problems to meet the needs of clients who are responding to critical legislative issues, policy reforms, and political challenges and opportunities in communities and society. PPCG offers cost-effective solutions to clients while helping to build the skills and experiences of future policy leaders and decision-makers. We aim to increase diversity in the pipeline of prospective students interested in enrolling in degree programs or working in policy-related fields in the public and private sectors. Our goal is to provide clients with the information needed to make effective decisions and improve policymaking.

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