[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24722]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 24722]]

               THE DEATH IN CUSTODY REPORTING ACT OF 2000

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ASA HUTCHINSON

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 25, 2000

  Mr. HUTCHINSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise to commend the work of this 
Congress in passing H.R. 1800, the ``Death in Custody Reporting Act of 
2000.'' This bipartisan legislation was passed unanimously by both the 
House and the Senate and will bring much-needed accountability to the 
operation of our nation's prisons and jails. Passage of this 
legislation brings to an end a seven year effort to increase public 
trust in our criminal justice system.
  Each year, an estimated 1,000 men and women die questionable deaths 
while in police custody or in jail. Many of these deaths are listed as 
suicides, but such conclusions are often tainted by inadequate 
recordkeeping, investigative incompetence, and contradictory physical 
evidence. In addition, many of these individuals have been arrested for 
relatively minor offenses--reducing the likelihood that they would take 
their own lives.
  Suspicious deaths occur throughout the country and require our 
immediate attention. One teenage boy who was found dead by hanging in 
an Arkansas jail had been arrested for failing to pay a fine for 
underage drinking. Another individual in an Arkansas jail was found 
suffocated by toilet paper that had been stuffed down his throat. 
According to press reports, no records existed as to why he was in 
custody.
  In any other atmosphere, unnatural deaths under questionable 
circumstances would not only be reported, but would raise serious 
concerns. State and local jails and lockups should be no different. 
This legislation will provide openness in government and will bolster 
public confidence and trust in our judicial system. In addition, it 
will serve as a deterrent to future misconduct as wrong-doers will know 
that their actions will be monitored.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to acknowledge the work of Mr. Mike 
Masterson, a veteran reporter and editor, who began investigating 
suspicious prison deaths some 5 years ago as the investigative projects 
editor at the Asbury Park Press. His comprehensive review of these 
cases, which was published by the Asbury Park Press in February 1995, 
led to increased public awareness of this issue and prompted my support 
for the idea of collecting better data on these deaths. While Mr. 
Masterson served only briefly at the Asbury Park Press, he continued 
writing about this issue during his tenure as editor of the Northwest 
Arkansas Times in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I am grateful indeed for Mr. 
Masterson's long-time support and dedication to this issue.
  Finally, I want to thank my colleagues, Representative Bobby Scott 
and Senator Tim Hutchinson for their support. These gentlemen began 
this debate many years ago and I am grateful for their foundational 
work on this issue.

                          ____________________