Tell Your Legislators: Back the 'Sandra Bland Act' and Keep Texans Safe
A Texas state trooper's arrest of Sandra Bland for failure to signal a lane change – and her death in the Waller County jail after she couldn't make bail – captured the attention of the nation. Millions of people identified with the young teacher, who couldn't quite believe it was possible that her basic constitutional rights had become forfeit for failing to use her blinker.
Now, state Rep. Garnet Coleman has filed HB 2702, dubbed the "Sandra Bland Act," proposing an array of changes that, had they been in place at the time, would have protected her rights and her life. For example, eliminating arrests for non-jailable offenses would have prevented the episode from ever launching in the first place. If that were the law, she'd have finished her cigarette, been given a ticket, and gone on her way, grumpy but alive.
The bill also creates a presumption that nonviolent misdemeanor defendants may be released from custody unless a magistrate finds "good cause" to keep them in jail. That change would have likely ensured Ms. Bland didn't spend the weekend in jail for want of $500. The bill also includes numerous additional protections for people with mental illness and substance abuse throughout the process.
This bill will be heard soon and needs your support. This is our chance to prevent more Texas tragedies like Sandra Bland's untimely death.
Tell your Texas House member to support HB 2702 and sign on as a coauthor to keep civilians safe.
Subject: Sign on as a coauthor to HB 2702
Dear [Decisionmaker],
Sandra Bland's death in the Waller County Jail sent shockwaves across the nation. This is the first opportunity for the Texas Legislature to change the law since that terrible incident.
HB 2702 by Rep. Garnet Coleman would take new standards created in the settlement between Bland's family and the Waller County Jail and enact them statewide. This is a no-brainer. Jail suicides typically take place in the shadows and garner little attention. But Sandra Bland's death brought these issues into the light of day.
There are other important parts of bill, including measures to divert mentally ill people from jail and avoid interruptions in getting their medication.
It's also critically important that Texas pass the portion of the bill creating a presumption that people accused of low-level misdemeanors can make bail. There's simply no good reason Sandra Bland should have been kept in jail for want of $500. The public wasn't made any safer and jailing her ended up causing irreparable harm.
Finally, I strongly support the portion of the bill disallowing police officers from arresting people for non-jailable offenses. If jail time is not even a possible punishment for a low level "crime," why should people ever be arrested for them?
[Your Comment]
That's why I'm urging you to sign on as a coauthor to HB 2702 by Rep. Garnet Coleman and actively support it when it comes up. It's important to me that Texas faces these problems head on.
Respectfully,
[Your Name]
