NCJ Number
235666
Date Published
May 2010
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This report from the Oklahoma Statistical Analysis Center examines arrest-related deaths in the State in 2009.
Abstract
Major findings from this report include: 1) in 2009, there were nine reportable arrest-related deaths in Oklahoma; 2) the average age of the decedents was 34, all were male, and five were White, two were Black, and two were American Indian; 3) seven of the deaths were caused by gunshot wounds, one from blunt force trauma as the result of an accident, and one from ingestion of illegal drugs; 4) 56 percent of the deaths occurred at the crime/arrest scene, while 44 percent occurred at a medical facility; 5) in 78 percent of the cases, homicide by law enforcement was listed as the official cause of death; and 6) over 50 percent of the decedents tried to flee or escape from custody during the arrest. This report provides information on the events surrounding arrest-related deaths in the State in 2009. Data for the report were obtained newspapers, television reports, Internet searches, and medical examiners' reports, and included information on demographic data, circumstances surrounding the death, weapons used by police, weapons used by the arrest subject, and behaviors of the arrest subject prior to death. 5 tables and 1 figure