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119-hr-10909119th Congress

Deaths in Custody Reporting Reform Act

Sponsored By: Representative Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

Introduced

Summary

Standardizes and expands reporting of deaths in custody across jails, prisons, immigration detention, juvenile facilities, and related transfers to create a public, machine-readable national database and stronger federal oversight.

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  • Families: Faster and clearer information when someone dies in custody, including 48-hour congressional notice and 90-day case reviews for immigration detention deaths.
  • State, local, and federal custodial agencies: Must submit standardized data fields and follow consensus definitions to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, which will publish annual searchable reports and accept open-source submissions.
  • Researchers, public health officials, and advocates: Gain a death-certificate checkbox from the National Center for Health Statistics, free access to related National Death Index matches, NIJ studies and grants, and recurring public analyses.

*Authorizes $6.0 million per year from 2027 through 2037 to carry out the Act.*

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Faster reporting for immigration deaths

If enacted, the bill would require ICE and CBP to notify Congress and publish a notice within 48 hours after a covered immigration-related death. It would require a formal investigation and an individual public report within 90 days that explains cause and manner of death and whether medical care met professional standards. ICE and CBP would also provide a joint annual report analyzing patterns and prevention recommendations.

Funding and research for custody deaths

If enacted, the bill would authorize $6 million per year for fiscal years 2027 through 2037 to support reporting, a Federal Review Panel, research, and related data work. The National Institute of Justice would study reported deaths, issue an interim report within one year and a final report within three years, and could fund grants or contracts to support research. The National Center for Health Statistics would add a death-in-custody checkbox to the U.S. standard death certificate within one year and provide free National Death Index records and matches for qualified requests about custody deaths.

Expanded national reporting on custody deaths

If enacted, the bill would move national reporting authority to the Bureau of Justice Statistics and require a public, searchable, machine-readable database and annual report by July 31. The bill would widen what counts as a death in custody, including some deaths during transport, arrests, and certain deaths within 30 days after release. It would make information reported under the Act public even if other privacy rules normally restrict it. The bill would also repeal two prior subsections of the old law related to reporting.

State reporting deadlines and support

If enacted, the bill would change the deadline states must meet from 120 days to 270 days for certain reports and shift specified responsibilities to the Bureau of Justice Assistance Director. For the first fiscal year after enactment, a State that fails to comply could use funds that otherwise would be reallocated to other States to help come into compliance. The bill does not set a dollar amount for that help.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

TN • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 10/26/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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