With more than a month until the end of the year, it appears that Texas is trying to capture the title of “Worst State in America to Be Arrested,” as an ongoing report has shown that more than 550 people in the state have died in police custody so far this year. The office of Ken Paxton, the Texas Attorney General, has been tracking how many people have died in custody at every department at the local, county, and state level and the problem is widespread.

The report shows that “Custodial Deaths” have occurred at a wide range of law enforcement facilities, with more than half of the deaths occurring under the supervision of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. The remaining deaths have occurred at local police departments, sheriff’s offices, and medical facilities throughout the state.

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/criminal/custodial/report_deaths.php

Heavy scrutiny on police departments has continued due to hundreds of black suspects being killed in recent years, including the high-profile deaths of Mike Brown, Eric Garner, and Freddie Gray, which led to massive protests that began in the fall of 2014.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30341927

But after Sandra Bland died while in police custody following her arrest by a Texas State Trooper during a routine traffic stop in Waller County in July, people across the country began to ask questions regarding how those charged with a crime are processed and handled.

http://usuncut.com/news/sister-of-sandra-bland-to-arresting-officer-what-were-you-thinking-and-shame-on-you/

http://usuncut.com/news/550-people-have-died-in-police-custody-this-year-just-in-texas/