Did Your Family Member Die in Prison or Jail? What Happened Next?

Filed
4:15 p.m. EDT

04.10.2025

Your insights assist inform The Marshall Venture’s reporting on what households undergo when somebody dies in custody.

When somebody dies in jail or jail, their household is usually left with extra questions than solutions. Official studies may be obscure or delayed, and significant particulars about an individual’s last hours could by no means be absolutely examined or defined.

A staff of reporters at The Marshall Venture, a nonprofit newsroom that makes use of journalism to assist make the U.S. legal authorized system extra honest, clear and humane, is wanting into what individuals undergo when a relative or shut pal dies in custody — or shortly after returning residence. We need to perceive many facets of the household expertise. How did you be taught in regards to the loss of life? Had been you given clear details about what occurred? Had been you capable of declare your member of the family’s physique and private belongings? Did your member of the family die in a hospital or quickly after being launched from jail or jail? Have you ever struggled to get data or solutions for years?

We created a brief questionnaire for anybody who has misplaced somebody in jail or jail. Your enter may help be sure that our reporting is complete and displays the experiences of 1000’s of households throughout the nation. Together with your assist, we are able to uncover necessary patterns, akin to constant failures to inform subsequent of kin or lacking and conflicting info in official studies. And we are able to establish and reply widespread questions that households have when somebody dies in state custody.

We perceive that sharing your story or revisiting painful particulars may be tough. Please fill out the questionnaire provided that you’re feeling in a position, and please take into account passing this alongside to anybody else you already know who has been by way of the identical expertise. You possibly can share as a lot or as little as you’re comfy with. And you may cease at any time. If sharing these particulars can be too upsetting, please cease proper right here.

If you happen to’d wish to get in contact instantly with us, you’ll be able to attain out by way of electronic mail deaths-in-custody@themarshallproject.org or name or textual content us at‪ (929) 524-7282‬.

The Marshall Venture takes your privateness critically — your story is not going to be made public with out your permission. As soon as submitted, a journalist from The Marshall Venture could comply with up with you for extra particulars.