H.R. 3971, The Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2007

• This item is from the 110th Congress (2007-2008) and is no longer current. Comments, voting, and wiki editing have been disabled, and the cost/savings estimate has been frozen.

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H.R. 3971 would encourage States to report to the Attorney General certain information regarding the deaths of individuals in the custody of law enforcement agencies.

Detailed Summary

Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2008 - Requires states that receive criminal justice assistance grants under the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to report to the Attorney General on a quarterly basis information on the death of any person who is detained, under arrest, or incarcerated in a municipal or county jail, state prison, state-run boot camp, contract facility, or other state or local correctional facility (including any juvenile facility). Requires such information to include: (1) the name, gender, race, ethnicity, and age of the deceased; (2) the date, time, and location of death; (3) the law enforcement agency that detained or arrested the deceased; and (4) a description of the circumstances surrounding the death. Grants states 120 days from the enactment of this Act to comply with such reporting requirements. Permits the Attorney General to grant additional time to states to comply with reporting requirements and to waive such requirements in states where compliance would be unconstitutional.

Grants the Attorney General discretion to reduce by up to 10% the amount of the criminal justice assistance grants of states that fail to comply with the reporting requirements of this Act.

Requires the Attorney General to collect information and provide for a study on the deaths of persons held in custody and to report to Congress on the findings within two years after the enactment of this Act. Authorizes appropriations.

Status of the Legislation

Latest Major Action: 9/25/2008: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 1087.

Points in Favor

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Points Against

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