At least five black women have died in jail in the month of July alone, ThinkProgress reports. What is going on?
Many facts are still unknown when it comes to Sandra Bland's death, but some are clear — black drivers are disproportionately likely to be searched by law enforcement officials. Black women are disproportionately likely to be taken to jail, and twice as likely to be held before a trial. And 73 percent of deaths in jail occur among people not convicted of a crime. Sandra Bland's death may be mysterious, but it is not an anomaly.
As an award-winning media producer, JP Keenan has worked on a variety of projects, most recently as the Multimedia Director at Sojourners.
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