This bill requires the federal government to establish and enforce policies ensuring that families of people in custody are promptly notified if their loved one dies, becomes seriously ill, or is seriously injured. The Attorney General must implement these notification procedures for federal detention facilities within one year and provide model policies for states, local governments, and tribal nations to follow. The notification requirements include contacting emergency contacts within 12 hours of a death and 48 hours of serious illness or injury, providing relevant medical and circumstantial details, and ensuring notifications happen in a compassionate manner during reasonable hours. The bill also mandates that detention agencies collect emergency contact information upon intake, allow individuals to update it annually, return belongings and remains to families, share autopsy results when performed, and maintain documentation of all notification attempts. The legislation is motivated by documented cases where families learned of deaths or serious injuries in custody through unofficial channels or long delays, and notes that deaths in custody have reached record levels. The bill does not require individuals to provide emergency contact information and prohibits detention agencies from penalizing those who refuse.
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