Fact Check: People die in custody in jails and prisons across the United States.

Fact Check: "People die in custody in jails and prisons across the United States."

What We Know

The claim that people die in custody in jails and prisons across the United States is supported by data collected under the Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA). This act mandates that states report deaths occurring in various correctional facilities, including municipal and county jails and state prisons. According to the DCRA data collection, there have been numerous reported deaths in custody from fiscal years 2020 to 2023, with ongoing efforts to improve the accuracy and completeness of these reports (source-1).

In addition, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that as of midyear 2023, local jails held approximately 664,200 individuals, and the number of deaths in custody reflects a significant concern regarding inmate safety and health (source-3). Reports indicate that many of these deaths occur due to natural causes, suicides, and other factors, highlighting the risks faced by incarcerated individuals (source-1).

Analysis

The evidence supporting the claim is robust, with multiple sources confirming that deaths do occur in custody. The DCRA data collection provides a systematic approach to reporting these deaths, although it acknowledges challenges in data completeness and accuracy (source-1). The Bureau of Justice Statistics also corroborates this by providing statistical data on the number of individuals in custody and the conditions they face (source-3).

However, it is important to note that while the DCRA aims to collect comprehensive data, there are still gaps and limitations in reporting, which can affect the overall understanding of the issue (source-1). For instance, some deaths are reported with causes marked as "unknown," which complicates the analysis of mortality causes in custody (source-5).

The reliability of the sources is generally high, as they are derived from government reports and statistical analyses conducted by reputable institutions. However, the potential for underreporting or misclassification of deaths should be taken into account when interpreting the data.

Conclusion

The verdict for the claim "People die in custody in jails and prisons across the United States" is True. The available data clearly indicates that deaths do occur in correctional facilities, supported by systematic reporting under the DCRA and corroborated by statistics from the Bureau of Justice. While there are limitations in data completeness, the existence of reported deaths in custody is undeniable.

Sources

1. Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) Data Collection
2. BOP Statistics: Sentences Imposed
3. Jail Inmates in 2023 – Statistical Tables
4. Individuals in the Federal Bureau of Prisons
5. Hundreds of Deaths in State Prisons Go Unexplained
6. Understanding and Reducing Deaths in Custody: Final Research Report
7. Mortality in Correctional Institutions (MCI) Series
8. Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2025 - Prison Policy Initiative