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Hundreds Die in Police Custody Each Year

First federal figures break down causes of relatively rare events

By Lucas Laursen,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 12, 2007 3:20 PM CDT

(Newser) – More than 2,000 people died during arrests in 2003-05, the first Justice Department figures on suspect deaths reveal, and more than half of them perished at the hands of law-enforcement officers.  Officers reported 80% of suspects they killed had threatened or assaulted them with a weapon, the Times reports.

Overall, deaths occurred in fewer than one ten-thousandth of 1 percent of 40 million arrests. Drugs accounted for 13% of the deaths, followed by suicide, accidents, and natural injuries. The number of deaths rose 13% over the 3 years of the study, driven mostly by a 63% growth in suicides. Three hundred eighty officers died during arrests.

This frame from pool video provided by KCBS-TV in Los Angeles shows the interior of a typical jail cell  at the Century Regional Detention Facility in the Los Angeles suburb of Lynwood, Calif., seen Friday, May 4, 2007.  Paris Hilton has been transferred out of a medical ward at a...
This frame from pool video provided by KCBS-TV in Los Angeles shows the interior of a typical jail cell at the Century Regional Detention Facility in the Los Angeles suburb of Lynwood, Calif., seen Friday,...   (Associated Press)
Graphic shows number of arrest-related deaths by state and cause of death; 2c x 3 7/8 inches; 96.3 mm x 98.4 mm
Graphic shows number of arrest-related deaths by state and cause of death; 2c x 3 7/8 inches; 96.3 mm x 98.4 mm   (Associated Press)
  (AP Photo/David Richard))
An anti-war protester (R) is arrested by police during a march...
An anti-war protester (R) is arrested by police during a march...   (Getty Images)
  (Getty Images (by Event))
This undated picture provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept.  shows a typical jail cell where O.J. Simpson is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. Simpson was being held without bail Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2007 on six felonies in connection with sports memorabilia...
This undated picture provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept. shows a typical jail cell where O.J. Simpson is being held at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. Simpson was being...   (Associated Press)
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The study
US Department of Justice: Bureau of Justice Statistics

US

 
police arrest

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