CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE CALLS UPON U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO INVESTIGATE SUSPICIOUS DEATH IN CUSTODY OF SANDRA BLAND IN WALLER COUNTY, TEXAS

Washington, DC - Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations released the following statement today calling upon the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the suspicious death in custody of 28-year old Sandra Bland in Waller, County, Texas:

“The facts and circumstances surrounding the death of 28-year old Sandra Bland, is a matter of great concern to me, to her family and loved ones, and to the nation. A young woman who has her whole life ahead of her and is about to begin a new job is found hanging by a plastic bag in jail cell three days after being pulled over for a routine traffic stop is beyond shocking and heartbreaking.

“I have called upon the Department of Justice to conduct a full investigation into the pattern and practice of unconstitutional policing in Waller County, Texas.  Additionally, this weekend I visited the site of the traffic stop and reviewed the dash cam video documenting the fateful arrest of Ms. Bland. Too many questions remain unanswered which is why I also met with the Texas Department of Public Safety, the Texas State Rangers, District Attorney Elton Mathis, and Waller County Sherriff Royce Glenn Smith.

“In a time where the nation is demanding heightened scrutiny of all too frequent deaths that occur while in police custody, it is important that those law enforcement officers who commit abuse their authority or commit criminal acts held accountable. The circumstances known to date surrounding the death in custody of Ms. Bland demands thorough review and investigation. All Americans are entitled to equal justice and have a right to expect that laws will be enforced fairly, impartially, and without regard to race, national origin, religion, gender, or economic status.

“This tragedy is another example of why criminal justice reform is so urgently needed, especially legislation that will rebuild trust and maintain respect between law enforcement agencies and the communities they are to protect and serve. This week, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers and I will be unveiling two pieces of legislation that will bring reform to policing policies and practices, and more humane treatment of incarcerated youth. I call upon Speaker Boehner to set criminal justice reform as a legislative priority – the need is great, the time is now.”

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Congresswoman Jackson Lee is a Democrat from Texas’s 18th Congressional District. She is a senior member of the House Committees on Judiciary and Homeland Security and is Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations.