​The federal Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) of 2013 requires states to report all deaths occurring in state prisons, local jails, and in the process of arrest. Beginning October 1, 2019, all reportable deaths should be reported to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).

Based on the legislation, you must report any death that occurs when a law enforcement officer (LEO) is responding to a call or a decedent's freedom to leave was restricted by a LEO prior to, during, or following an arrest, regardless of the cause of death.

​Report all deaths occurring in custody or during interaction with law enforcement personnel and deaths in detention centers, jails, and prisons to PCCD beginning October 1, 2019.

​The agency who has custody of the decedent at the time of death is responsible for reporting the death to the PCCD. For example, if the person was held in a state prison, the prison will report the death; if the person had been arrested and was in a police department vehicle at the time of death, the police department is responsible for submitting the report.

​The legislation defines it as "the death of any person who is detained, under arrest, or is in the process of being arrested, is en route to be incarcerated, or is incarcerated at a municipal or county jail, State prison, State-run boot camp prison, boot camp prison that is contracted out by the State, any State or local contract facility, or other local or State correctional facility (including any juvenile facility)."

​A few examples of reportable deaths are:

• Law enforcement is in pursuit of arresting or detaining an individual and the individual suffers a sudden death. (e.g., heart attack, hit by motor vehicle, drowns).

• An individual (including juveniles) is being held in a jail or detention facility and dies from any cause.

• Use of force by law enforcement.

​The agency needs to complete the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA) form BJA Death in Custody Reporting Form and submit it to PCCD by email at ra-dic@pa.gov.  PCCD is responsible for collecting information on all deaths in custody for Pennsylvania and will submit all reports to BJA on a quarterly basis.

​Agencies are encouraged to report deaths in custody soon after each incident, but are required to submit on a quarterly basis:

• October 1st – December 31st report due January 15th

• January 1st – March 31st report due April 15th

• April 1st – June 30th report due July 15th

• July 1st – September 30th report due October 15th

​If there were no reportable deaths during a quarter, no action is needed.

​Please contact John Polheber at PCCD at 717-265-8716 or email ra-dic@pa.gov.