A bill to establish Federal policies and procedures to notify the next of kin or other emergency contact upon the death, or serious illness or serious injury, of an individual in Federal custody, to provide model policies for States, units of local government, and Indian Tribes to implement and enforce similar policies and procedures, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · December 11, 2024
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
This bill establishes federal policies requiring detention agencies to notify families within 12 hours when someone dies in custody and as soon as practicable when someone suffers serious illness or injury while detained. The Attorney General must implement these notification procedures for federal detention facilities within one year and develop model policies that states, territories, tribes, and local governments can adopt for their own detention agencies. The policies must include best practices for compassionate notification, require detention agencies to collect emergency contact information from people upon booking, and ensure individuals can update their contacts and establish medical directives. The bill applies to all settings where people are held, including prisons, jails, police custody, and medical facilities, and requires the Justice Department to provide training and support to help state and local agencies implement similar procedures. No penalties apply to individuals who refuse to provide emergency contact information or provide inaccurate information, and the bill does not create a private right of action or obligate designated emergency contacts to accept any legal or financial responsibility.
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