Revised Attachments with Table of Contents

Attachment Table of Contents
Attachment 1.

2013 CJ-11 Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents

Attachment 2.

2013 CJ-11A Arrest-Related Deaths Incident Report

Attachment 3.

2013 CJ-11A Arrest-Related Deaths Incident Report (CJ-11A) Questionby-Question Guide

Attachment 4.

Screen shot of the web-based 2013 CJ-11A Arrest-Related Deaths
Incident Report

Attachment 5.

State Reporting Coordinator (SRC) Instructions for Navigating the ARD
Program Website and Web-based Data Entry Tool

Attachment 6.

Screen shot of the ARD Program Website: www.bjsard.org

Attachment 7.

Arrest-Related Deaths Terms and Definitions (available on ARD Program
Website)

Attachment 8.

Screen shots of web-based Training Tutorial: Understanding the Purpose,
Definitions, and Scope of the Arrest-Related Deaths Program

Attachment 9.

Arrest-Related Deaths Frequently Asked Questions

Attachment 10. Arrest-Related Deaths Program Flyer

Print Form

Form CJ-11
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT:
RTI INTERNATIONAL

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OMB No. 1121-0249 Approval Expires 12/31/2015

ARREST-RELATED DEATHS
SUMMARY OF INCIDENTS, 2013
DATA SUPPLIED BY

Name: _________________________________________________

Title: _____________________________________________________

Agency: ________________________________________________

Telephone: (__ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __

_______________________________________________
State: __________________________________________________

(__ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __

Fax:

E-mail Address: ____________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPORTING
•

•
•
•

Report all civilian deaths in which the event causing the death occurred during an interaction with state or local law
enforcement personnel, such as:
• All deaths attributed to any use of force by law enforcement personnel (e.g., officer-involved shootings, accidental deaths
caused by weapons or tactics)
• Any death that occurs while the decedent’s freedom to leave is restricted by state or local law enforcement prior to, during,
or following an arrest:
o While detained for questioning or investigation (i.e., Terry stop)
o During the process of apprehension (i.e., pursuit of criminal suspect, standoff with law enforcement)
o While in the custody of, or shortly after restraint by, law enforcement (even if the decedent was not formally under arrest)
o During transport to or from law enforcement or medical facilities
o While confined in lockups or booking centers (i.e., facilities from which arrestees are usually transferred within 72 hours and
not held beyond arraignment)
• Any death that occurs during an interaction with law enforcement personnel during response to medical or mental health
assistance (e.g., response to suicidal persons)
For each arrest-related death, please ensure that you have submitted an ARREST-RELATED DEATH INCIDENT REPORT (CJ-11A).
If no deaths occurred during the reporting period, it is still important that you complete and return this form.
Arrest-Related Death (ARD) data may be submitted quarterly or annually. However, please return all completed forms (including
corresponding CJ-11A forms) within 60 days of the end of the reporting period.
NUMBER OF DEATHS

Reporting Period (please specify):

Quarter 1 (January 1 – March 31)
Quarter 2 (April 1 – June 30)
Quarter 3 (July 1 – September 30)
Quarter 4 (October 1 – December 31)
Annual (January 1 – December 31)

During the specified reporting period, how many arrest-related deaths occurred in your state? Number of deaths:
Please enter the number of arrest-related deaths that occurred during the specified reporting period and submit this form and
corresponding CJ-11A forms to RTI International. There are several ways to submit these data:
FAX (TOLL-FREE): 1-877-262-7654

MAIL: RTI International

EMAIL: [email protected]
***All emailed forms must be password-protected/encrypted.

Attn: Duren Banks
3040 Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194

ELECTRONIC FILE TRANSFER: www.bjsard.org

Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194

ONLINE DATA ENTRY: www.bjsard.org
If you need assistance with the completion of the CJ-11 or CJ-11A, contact the ARD Help Desk at [email protected] or toll-free at
1-877-475-7039.
Burden Statement
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, we cannot ask you to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The burden of this
collection is estimated to average 5 minutes per response, including reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering necessary data, and completing and
reviewing this form. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this survey, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Director, Bureau of
Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20531.

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Form CJ-11A

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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT:
RTI INTERNATIONAL

ARREST-RELATED DEATH
INCIDENT REPORT, 2013
DATA SUPPLIED BY

Name: __________________________________________________

Title:

Agency: _________________________________________________

Telephone: (__ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __

________________________________________________

Fax:

State: ___________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

(__ __ __ ) __ __ __ - __ __ __ __

E-mail Address: ___________________________________________

INSTRUCTIONS FOR COMPLETION
• Complete an Incident Report (CJ-11A) for all civilian deaths caused by an event occurring during an interaction with state or local
law enforcement personnel. Report all civilian deaths that occur while the decedent’s freedom to leave is restricted by state or local
law enforcement personnel—including deaths that occur prior to, during, or following an arrest.
.
• Complete questions 1 through 22 for each arrest-related death in your jurisdiction. Any additional information or a short narrative of
the incident may be provided in the “Notes” section at the end of the CJ-11A.
• Include the decedent’s name on both pages 3 and 4 of the CJ-11A.
• Send the completed CJ-11A by FAX or MAIL to your State Reporting Coordinator (SRC) within 60 days of the arrest-related death.
A national listing of SRCs is located on page 2 of this form. If needed, please contact SRCs directly for a mailing address.
• If no arrest-related deaths occurred in your jurisdiction, you will not need to complete a CJ-11A.
• If you need assistance completing the CJ-11A, please refer to the CJ-11A Question-by-Question Guide or contact the Arrest-Related
Deaths (ARD) Help Desk at [email protected] or toll-free at 1-877-475-7039.

WHAT DEATHS SHOULD BE REPORTED?
INCLUDE

EXCLUDE

• All deaths resulting from any use of force by state or local law
enforcement personnel.

• Deaths attributed to federal law enforcement personnel (e.g.,
FBI, DEA).

• All deaths caused by injuries sustained while attempting to
elude state or local law enforcement personnel or injuries
incurred after custody had been established.

• Any inmate death that occurred in the custody of local jails, state
prisons, state juvenile correctional facilities, or private
correctional facilities. These types of deaths should be reported
to the Jails and Prisons data collection component of the Deaths
in Custody Reporting Program. Please contact Margaret
Noonan at 202-307-0765 for additional information.

• All deaths attributed to suicide, alcohol or other drug
intoxications, or medical conditions (e.g., cardiac arrest) that
occur during the process of arrest by or in the custody of state
or local law enforcement personnel.

• Law enforcement personnel killed in the line of duty or in the
course of law enforcement activities.

• All deaths occurring in the custody of state or local law
enforcement personnel responding to a medical or mental
health assistance or welfare call.

• Any death of a criminal suspect that occurred before the
decedent came into contact with law enforcement (e.g., a
decedent with an active arrest warrant who died before law
enforcement personnel attempted to apprehend him or her).

• All deaths that occur while confined in lockups or booking
centers (i.e., facilities from which arrestees are usually
transferred within 72 hours and not held beyond arraignment).

Burden Statement
Under the Paperwork Reduction Act, we cannot ask you to respond to a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The burden of this
collection is estimated to average 60 minutes per response, including reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering necessary data, and completing and
reviewing this form. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any aspect of this survey, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to the Director, Bureau of
Justice Statistics, 810 Seventh Street, N.W., Washington, DC 20531.

1

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Form CJ-11A

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National Listing of State Reporting Coordinators
Alabama: Lynn Childs
Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center
PH: (334) 517-2415 FX: (334) 517-2740

Kentucky: Marjorie Stanek
Kentucky Justice & Public Safety Cabinet
PH: (502) 564-8295 FX: (502) 564-6686

North Dakota: Colleen Weltz
Office of Attorney General
PH: (701) 328-5527 FX: (701) 328-5510

Alaska: Bradley Myrstol
Alaska Statistical Analysis Center
PH: (907) 786-1837 FX: (907) 786-7777

Louisiana: Kim Eiland
Louisiana Department of Corrections
PH: (225) 342-6630 FX: (225) 342-3095

Ohio: Lisa Shoaf
Office of Criminal Justice Services
PH: (614) 466-5997 FX: (614) 466-0308

Arizona: Phillip Stevenson
Arizona Criminal Justice Commission
PH: (602) 364-1157 FX: (602) 364-1175

Maine: Mark Belserene
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
PH: (207) 624-7170 FX: (207) 624-7178

Oklahoma: Angie Baker
Office of Criminal Justice Statistics
PH: (405) 858-5271 FX: (405) 879-2301

Arkansas: Crystal Daye
Arrest-Related Deaths Program Staff
PH: (919) 541-7321 FX: (877) 262-7654

Maryland: Jeffrey Zuback
Governor’s Office of Crime Control & Prevention
PH: (410) 821-2843 FX: (410) 321-3116

Oregon: Lee Anna Bennett-Ashworth
Office of Public Health
PH: (971) 673-0129 FX: (971) 673-0990

California: Amber Lozano
Criminal Justice Statistics Center
PH: (916) 227-3545 FX: (916) 227-0427

Massachusetts: Lisa Sampson
Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
PH: (617) 725-3361 FX: (617) 725-0260

Pennsylvania: Robert Ardner
Office of Criminal Justice Systems Improvement
PH: (717) 265-8456 FX: (717) 772-0550

Colorado: Laurence Lucerno
Colorado Department of Public Safety
PH: (303) 239-4663 FX: (303) 239-4491

Michigan: Renee Hultberg
Michigan State Police
PH: (517) 241-1889 FX: (517) 241-1904

Rhode Island: Thomas Mongeau
Rhode Island Department of Public Safety
PH: (401) 222-2620 FX: (401) 222-1294

Connecticut: Ivan Kuzyk
Connecticut Office of Policy & Management
PH: (860) 418-6238 FX: (860) 418-6496

Minnesota: Carolyn Robinson
Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension
PH: (651) 793-1054 FX: (651) 793-1001

South Carolina: Robert McManus
South Carolina Department of Public Safety
PH: (803) 896-8717 FX: (803) 896-8393

Delaware: Julia Cahill
Delaware Statistical Analysis Center
PH: (302) 739-2589 FX: (302) 739-4630

Mississippi: Alan Thompson
University of Southern Mississippi
PH: (601) 266-6172 FX: (601) 266-4391

South Dakota: Brenda Manning
Division of Criminal Investigation
PH: (605) 773-6312 FX: (605) 773-6471

District of Columbia: Sgt. Harry Hill
Office of the Assistant Chief of Police
PH: (202) 576-3394 FX: (202) 727-3307

Missouri: Seth Veit
Missouri State Highway Patrol
PH: (573) 751-9000 FX: (573) 526-6274

Tennessee: Jackie Vandercook
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation
PH: (615) 744-4014 FX: (615) 744-4662

Florida: Susan Burton
Florida Department of Law Enforcement
PH: (850) 410-7140 FX: (850) 410-7150

Montana: Sarah Price
Montana Department of Justice
PH: (406) 444-3651 FX: (406) 444-4722

Texas: Renee Watts
Office of the Attorney General
PH: (512) 305-8882 FX: (512) 494-8283

Georgia: Stefanie Lopez-Howard
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
PH: (404) 657-1960 FX: (404) 657-1957

Nebraska: Mike Overton
Nebraska Crime Commission
PH: (402) 471-2194 FX: (402) 471-2837

Utah: Ben Peterson
Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice
PH: (801) 538-1047 FX: (801) 538-9609

Hawaii: Daniel Kauleinamoku
Hawaii Department of Public Safety
PH: (808) 587-1211 FX: (808) 587-1244

Nevada: Timothy Hart
Center for the Analysis of Crime Statistics
PH: (702) 895-0233 FX: (702) 895-0252

Vermont: Patricia Fischer
Vermont Crime Information Center
PH: (802) 244-8727 FX: (802) 241-5552

Idaho: Natalie Warner
Idaho Department of Corrections
PH: (208) 658-2127 FX: (208) 327-7480

New Hampshire: Timothy Brackett
Office of the Attorney General
PH: (603) 271-8090 FX: (603) 271-6290

Virginia: James McDonough
Department of Criminal Justice Services
PH: (804) 786-4612 FX: (804) 225-3853

Illinois: Shamsideen Balogun
Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority
PH: (312) 793-8516 FX: (312) 793-8422

New Jersey: Jean Petherbridge
Division of Criminal Justice
PH: (609) 984-5693 FX: (609) 984-3381

Washington: Tonya Todd
Association of Sheriffs & Chiefs of Police
PH: (360) 486-2380 FX: (360) 486-2381

Indiana: Stephanie Rosenberg
Indiana Department of Corrections
PH: (317) 234-4417 FX: (317) 233-1474

New Mexico: Lisa Broidy
New Mexico Statistical Analysis Center
PH: (505) 277-6247 FX: (505) 277-4215

West Virginia: Monika Sterling
Division of Justice and Community Services
PH: (304) 558-8814 FX: (304) 558-0391

Iowa: Paul Stageberg
Iowa Division of Criminal & Juvenile Justice Planning
PH: (515) 242-6122 FX: (515) 242-6119

New York: Adam Dean
Division of Criminal Justice Services
PH: (518) 457-1149 FX: (518) 485-8039

Wisconsin: Erin Kennedy
Arrest-Related Deaths Program Staff
PH: (919) 485-5736 FX: (877) 262-7654

Kansas: Fengfang Lu
Kansas Sentencing Commission
PH: (785) 296-0923 FX: (785) 296-0927

North Carolina: Julie Singer
North Carolina Criminal Justice Analysis Center
PH: (919) 899-9150 FX: (919) 733-4625

Wyoming: Bistra Anatchkova
Wyoming Survey & Analysis Center
PH: (307) 760-3459 FX: (307) 766-2759

2

Next Page

Form CJ-11A
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT:
RTI INTERNATIONAL

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ARREST-RELATED DEATH
INCIDENT REPORT, 2013

10. What was the reason for the initial contact between the
decedent and law enforcement personnel? (Mark only one)
Civilian request for response to criminal or suspicious
activity, specify reason for request:
_____________________________________________
Civilian request for medical, mental health, or welfare
assistance, specify reason for request:
_____________________________________________
Routine patrol/on-view (other than traffic stop), specify
observed behavior:
_____________________________________________
Traffic/vehicle stop, specify reason for stop:
_____________________________________________
Warrant service, specify charge:
_____________________________________________
Other reason for contact, specify reason:
_____________________________________________
Unknown

1. What was the decedent’s name?
_______________________, ______________________, ___
Last
First
M.I.
2. What was the time and date of death?
____ : ____
AM
PM
Month: ____Day: ____ , 2013
3. What law enforcement agency was involved with the death?
Agency name: ____________________________________
Check if multiple law enforcement agencies responded
Agency ORI: _____________________________________
Agency ORI unknown
4. Where did the event causing the death occur?
Street Address: ___________________________________
City, State, Zip: ___________________________________

11. At any time during the incident, did the decedent
Yes No Unknown
Make suicidal statements .............................. ..... .........
Barricade self or initiate standoff................... ..... .........
Verbally threaten other(s).............................. ..... .........
Resist being handcuffed or arrested ............. ..... .........
Attempt to escape/flee from custody ............ ..... .........
Attempt to grab, hit, or kick officer(s) ............ ..... .........
Attempt to gain possession of officer’s
weapon..................................................... ..... .........
Gain possession of officer’s weapon ............ ..... .........

5. What location category best describes where the event
causing the death occurred? (Mark only one)
Residence/home
Law enforcement facility
Business, specify type: __________________________
Roadway/highway/street/sidewalk
Parking lot/garage
Field/woods/lake/waterway/beach
Other, specify: __________________________________
Unknown
6. What was the decedent’s sex?
Male
Female

12. At any time during the incident, did the decedent display or
use a weapon?
Yes, mark all that apply:
Displayed firearm without discharge
Discharged firearm
Displayed other weapon, specify weapon displayed:
__________________________________________
Used other weapon, specify weapon used:
__________________________________________
Used vehicle as a weapon
No
Unknown

7. What was the decedent’s date of birth (DOB)?
____/____/______ or age at death if DOB unknown _____
8. What was the decedent’s ethnic origin? (Mark only one)
Hispanic or Latino
Not Hispanic or Latino
Unknown
9. What was the decedent’s race? (Mark only one)
American Indian or Alaska Native
Asian
Black or African American
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
White
Two or more races
Unknown

13. At any time during the incident, did the decedent attempt
to injure or injure others?
Yes, mark all that apply:
Fatally injured law enforcement personnel
Non-fatally injured law enforcement personnel
Attempted to injure law enforcement personnel
Fatally injured civilian(s)
Non-fatally injured civilian(s)
Attempted to injure civilian(s)
No
Unknown
3

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Form CJ-11A

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Name of decedent
18. Where did the death occur? (Mark only one)
Law enforcement facility/booking center
Scene of incident
Dead on arrival at medical facility
Medical facility following clinical intervention
Other, specify: ________________________________
Unknown

14. At any time during the incident, did law enforcement
personnel
Yes No Unknown
Fight or struggle with decedent ..................... ..... .........
Physically restrain decedent
(e.g., control hold, body compression) .... ..... .........
Restrain decedent with equipment
(e.g., handcuffs, leg shackles) ................. ..... .........
Place decedent in prone position .................. ..... .........
Engage in motor vehicle pursuit.................... ..... .........
Engage in foot pursuit ................................... ..... .........
Arrest the decedent ....................................... ..... .........
Other, specify: __________________ ....... ..... .........

19. What was the manner of death? (Mark only one)
Natural
Homicide
Accident
Suicide
Could not be determined
Unknown

15. At any time during the incident, did law enforcement
personnel use any of the following weapons?
Yes No Unknown
Firearm discharge ......................................... ..... .........
Conducted energy device (Taser) contact .... ..... .........
Pepper/OC spray, mace dispersion .............. ..... .........
Baton/blunt instrument impact ...................... ..... .........
Other, specify: __________________ ....... ..... .........

20. What was the cause of death?
Immediate cause:
_____________________________________________
Secondary causes (if applicable):
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________
Unknown (skip Item 21 if cause of death is unknown)

16. Did the decedent sustain a fatal injury during the incident?
Yes, mark who caused the fatal injury (Mark only one)
Law enforcement personnel
Decedent
Other civilian(s)
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No
Unknown ZKHWKHUGHFHGHQWVXVWDLQHGDIDWDOLQMXU\

21. How was information provided for cause of death (Item 20)
determined? (Mark all that apply)
Death certificate
Autopsy report or medical evaluation
Other source, specify: ___________________________

17. If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused
the death? (Mark only one)
Handgun
Rifle/shotgun
Firearm, unspecified
Conducted energy device (e.g., Taser)
Knife/edged instrument
Baton/blunt instrument
Other weapon, specify: __________________________
Vehicle-involved death (i.e., vehicle accident)
Not applicable, weapon or vehicle did not cause death
Unknown

22. Did the autopsy report or medical evaluation indicate the
presence of alcohol or of drugs other than alcohol?
Yes, mark all that apply:
Alcohol
Drug(s) other than alcohol, specify:
__________________________________________
No
Unknown, did not obtain autopsy report or medical
evaluation

Notes:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4

Form CJ-11A

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
BUREAU OF JUSTICE STATISTICS
AND ACTING AS COLLECTION AGENT:
RTI INTERNATIONAL

OMB No. 1121-0249 Approval Expires 12/31/2015

Arrest-Related Death
INCIDENT REPORT, 2013

Question-by-Question Guide
Item 1: What was the decedent’s name?
Please provide the decedent’s legal name (last, first, and middle initial).

Item 2: What was the time and date of death?
Please indicate the official time and date of death. The official time and date of death indicate
when the decedent was pronounced dead by either medical personnel or another authorized
official. The official time or date of death may be different from the time or date of the fatal
event. If the official time and date of death are unknown, estimate the time and date of when the
fatal injury was sustained or the fatal medical condition presented.
Example: The decedent sustains a life-threatening injury (e.g., gunshot wound, blunt
force trauma) during the process of arrest, but does not die until hours, days, or weeks
later. The most appropriate response to this item would reflect the time and date life
ceased rather than the time and date the injuries were sustained.

Item 3: What law enforcement agency was involved with the death?
Please indicate the name and ORI (ORiginating Identifier) of the primary law enforcement
agency involved with the death. When personnel from a single agency were involved with the
decedent during the incident, the primary agency is the responding agency. In instances in
which personnel from more than one agency interacted with the decedent during the incident,
the primary agency is the one most involved with the death. For the purposes of ARD, the
primary agency refers to the agency that caused or contributed to the death, or the agency
detaining the decedent at the time of death. The primary agency may be different from the
agency initially involved with decedent at the start of the incident.
Example 1: Law enforcement personnel from Agency X attempt a traffic stop. The
suspect flees and initiates a high-speed chase that crosses several jurisdictions.
Personnel from Agency Y and Agency Z join Agency X in the pursuit. Personnel from
Agency Z deploy a spike strip (tire deflation device), which punctures the suspect’s tires.
The punctured tires cause the suspect to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a
utility pole at a high rate of speed. The impact from the crash causes fatal injuries. In this
instance, Agency Z should be listed as the primary agency because that agency effected
the death.

Example 2: A small local police department receives a mental health assistance call for
a suicidal person. Law enforcement personnel from this agency are dispatched to the
scene and they request backup from the larger county sheriff’s department and the
assistance of the sheriff’s Crisis Intervention Team (CIT). The CIT is given operational
responsibility for the suicidal person, who is apprehended and placed under their
custody. The suspect dies from complications attributed to a fatal drug overdose during
transport to the medical facility. In this instance, the sheriff’s department should be listed
as the primary agency because the decedent was in their custody at the time of death.
If personnel from multiple law enforcement agencies were involved with an arrest-related death,
mark the box labeled, “Check if multiple law enforcement agencies responded.” In this case,
only the primary law enforcement agency should be reported; additional agencies do not need
to be listed.
The ORI number is an alpha-numeric identification code used by law enforcement agencies to
report and access data. All law enforcement agencies are issued an ORI number by the FBI.
ORI numbers are not derived from the incident or case number generated by the reporting law
enforcement agency. If you are unsure of the reporting agencies’ ORI number, mark the box
labeled, “Agency ORI unknown.”

Item 4: Where did the event causing the death occur?
Please indicate the address or the approximate location (i.e., street intersection, neighborhood)
where the decedent was injured or developed the condition that resulted in death. The purpose
of this item is to identify the location of where the death-causing event occurred, which may be
different from the location where the incident began or where the decedent died or was
pronounced dead (e.g., medical center). If the incident occurred at multiple locations, specify the
location where the decedent was injured or developed the condition that resulted in death.
Example 1: Law enforcement personnel are dispatched to a residence for a
disturbance. While at the residence, the decedent sustains a gunshot wound and later
dies at a medical facility. The most appropriate response to this item would be the street
address of the decedent’s residence.
Example 2: Law enforcement personnel respond to a bank robbery in progress. The
suspect flees the bank and engages law enforcement personnel in a pursuit. The
suspect fires gunshots at law enforcement personnel during the pursuit, who return fire,
causing a fatal injury. The most appropriate response to this item would be the address
of where the gunfire occurred, not the bank where the incident originated.

Item 5: What location category best describes where the event causing the death
occurred? (Mark only one)
Please categorize the address or the approximate location provided as response to Item 4 into
one of the listed location types. The purpose of this item is to specify the type of location where
the decedent was injured or developed the condition that resulted in death. If none of the listed

2

location categories describe where the event that resulted in death occurred, mark “Other” and
specify the most appropriate location type. If the location type is unknown, mark “Unknown.”
If the incident occurred at multiple locations, specify the location type of where the decedent
was injured or developed the condition that resulted in death.
Residence/Home: Permanent residences, including apartments, condominiums,
townhouses, nursing homes, residential driveways, and residential yards. Incidents
occurring on public sidewalks or in public streets near residences should be categorized
as “Roadway/Highway/Street/Sidewalk.”
Law enforcement facility: Places where law enforcement activities are carried out,
including local police departments, sheriffs’ offices, substations, lockups, or booking
centers, where arrestees are detained or confined before arraignment. Incidents
occurring in local jails, state prisons, state juvenile correctional facilities, or private
correctional facilities should be excluded from the ARD collection and reported to Jails or
Prisons data collection components of the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program
(DCRP).
Business, specify type: Places where an organization is engaged in the trade of goods
or services to consumers. Includes the interior space occupied by the business, as well
as related parking lots and walkways. Specify the type of business where the event
resulting in death occurred (e.g., bank, convenience store, liquor store, bar/night club,
restaurant, grocery store/supermarket).
Roadway/highway/street/sidewalk: Includes open public ways for the passage of
vehicles, people, and animals, except where a business is associated with a walkway
(mark “Business”).
Parking lot/garage: Includes areas that are used primarily for parking motorized
vehicles, except when a business is associated with a parking lot (mark “Business”).
Field/woods/lake/waterway/beach: Includes areas that are primarily open fields or
wooded areas, shorelines, lakes, streams, canals, or bodies of water other than
swimming pools. This category does not include parks.
Other, specify: This category encompasses any location that is not applicable above.
Specify the location type in the space provided (e.g. park; hotel or motel; school or
college; church, synagogue, temple, or mosque).

Item 6: What was the decedent’s sex? (Mark only one)
If the decedent’s sex is not known, leave blank.

Item 7: What was the decedent’s date of birth (DOB)?
Please indicate the decedent’s date of birth (DOB) in a MM-DD-YYYY format. If the DOB is
unknown, indicate the decedent’s age at time of death. If both DOB and age at death are
unknown, leave blank.

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Item 8: What was the decedent’s ethnic origin? (Mark only one)
Race and ethnicity are considered separate and distinct identities. There are two categories for
data on ethnicity: “Hispanic or Latino” and “Not Hispanic or Latino.” In addition to the decedent’s
race, please indicate whether the decedent was of Hispanic or Latino descent or origin. If ethnic
origin is unknown, mark “Unknown.”
Hispanic or Latino. A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central
American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. The term “Spanish
origin” can be used in addition to “Hispanic or Latino.”

Item 9: What was the decedent’s race? (Mark only one)
In addition to ethnicity, please specify the decedent’s race. There are five categories on race:
“American Indian or Alaska Native,” “Asian,” “Black or African American,” “Native Hawaiian or
Other Pacific Islander, and “White.” The categories in this classification are social-political
constructs and should not be interpreted as being scientific or anthropological in nature. If the
decedent’s racial background is of two or more races, mark “Two of more races.” If race is
unknown, mark “Unknown.”
American Indian or Alaska Native: A person having origins in any of the original
peoples of North and South America (including Central America) who maintains tribal
affiliation or community attachment.
Asian: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast
Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Black or African American: A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of
Africa. Terms such as “Haitian” or “Negro” can be used in addition to “Black or African
American.”
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander: A person having origins in any of the
original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific islands.
White: A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East,
or North Africa.

Item 10: What was the reason for the initial contact between the decedent and law
enforcement personnel? (Mark only one)
Please indicate how the decedent came into contact with law enforcement personnel and
specify why the contact occurred. Contact between the decedent and law enforcement can be
initiated by civilians, including the decedent, or by law enforcement personnel. Civilian-initiated
contacts include “civilian request for response to criminal or suspicious activity” and “civilian
request for medical, mental health, or welfare assistance.” Law enforcement-initiated contacts
include “routine patrol/on-view,” “traffic/vehicle stop,” and “warrant service.” If the reason for
contact between the decedent and law enforcement is not listed, mark “Other” and specify why

4

the interaction occurred. If the reason for contact between the decedent and law enforcement is
unknown, mark “Unknown.”
Civilian request for response to criminal or suspicious activity: Involves situations
in which a civilian requested the assistance of law enforcement in response to actual,
perceived, or suspected criminal activity. This includes 9-1-1 calls for law enforcement
assistance as well as instances in which law enforcement personnel are flagged down
by civilians.
Example 1: A woman calls 9-1-1 to report a domestic assault in progress. Law
enforcement personnel are dispatched to her residence. Upon their arrival, they
are confronted by a man with a gun. The man engages in a shoot-out with law
enforcement personnel and is fatally wounded. The most appropriate response to
this item would be “civilian request for response to criminal or suspicious activity,”
specified as “domestic violence/assault.”
Civilian request for medical, mental health, or welfare assistance: Involves
situations in which a civilian requested the assistance of law enforcement for reasons
that are not criminally related, such as requests related to medical or mental health
assistance (i.e., suicidal person) and welfare checks. This includes 9-1-1 calls for law
enforcement assistance as well as instances in which law enforcement personnel are
flagged down by civilians.
Example 2: A civilian makes a 9-1-1 call to request that law enforcement
personnel perform a well-being check at a neighbor’s residence. Law
enforcement personnel arrive and make contact with the neighbor. After the initial
contact, the individual threatens to commit suicide and then barricades himself in
the residence. Law enforcement personnel hear a gunshot from inside the
residence during the standoff. They later enter the residence and find the subject
dead from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The most
appropriate response would be “civilian request for medical, mental health, or
welfare assistance.”
Routine patrol/on-view (other than traffic stop): Involves situations in which law
enforcement personnel witnessed an actual or perceived criminal act during the course
of performing law enforcement duties. This category excludes contacts initiated by a
traffic stop, even if the traffic stop was made during routine patrol activities. This
category also excludes dispatched responses to 9-1-1 calls, which should be recorded
as either “civilian request for response to criminal or suspicious activity” or “civilian
request for medical, mental health, or welfare assistance.”
Example 3: Law enforcement personnel are on routine patrol when they see a
man attempting to break into the back door of a closed retail store. The subject
flees the scene on foot and engages law enforcement personnel in a pursuit. The
subject runs into traffic during the pursuit and is fatally struck by a civilian
motorist. The most appropriate response would be “routine patrol/on-view (other
than traffic stop),” specified as “burglary” or “breaking and entering.”

5

Traffic/vehicle stop: Involves situations in which law enforcement personnel initiated
contact with the decedent through a traffic or vehicle stop during the course of
performing law enforcement duties.
Example 4: Law enforcement personnel observe a vehicle driving erratically and
initiate a traffic stop. They suspect the subject is intoxicated and begin
conducting field sobriety tests. The subject becomes belligerent during the tests
and attempts to assault law enforcement personnel. Law enforcement personnel
use their conductive energy device on the subject. The subject falls and strikes
his head on the ground, causing fatal injury. The most appropriate response
would be “traffic/vehicle stop.”
Warrant service: Involves situations in which law enforcement initiated contact with the
decedent through an attempt to serve an active warrant for their arrest. This category
excludes situations in which the decedent had an active arrest warrant, but came into
with law enforcement personnel for other reasons, such as a traffic stop.
Example 5: Law enforcement personnel obtain an arrest warrant for a murder
suspect and attempt to apprehend the suspect at his residence. The suspect
flees the house with a firearm and a pursuit ensues. The suspect fires several
shots at law enforcement personnel as he attempts to escape. Law enforcement
personnel return fire and fatally wound the decedent. The most appropriate
response would be “warrant service,” specified as “murder” or “homicide.”

Item 11: At any time during the incident, did the decedent –
Please indicate whether the decedent engaged in any of the actions listed, during the incident
that resulted in death, by marking either “Yes”, “No” or “Unknown” for each item. For the
purposes of the ARD program, the “incident” refers to the period of time from the decedent’s
initial contact with law enforcement personnel up to the time of death. Limit responses to actions
taken by the decedent during the incident and disregard any similar behaviors or actions that
occurred before contact with law enforcement personnel. If it is unknown whether the decedent
engaged in one or more of the actions listed, mark “Unknown” for each relevant action.
Make suicidal statements: Includes all instances in which the decedent stated that he
or she planned to commit suicide, expressed a desire to end his or her life, or directed
law enforcement personnel to use lethal force against him or her. Mark “Yes” to this
response if the contact between the decedent and law enforcement personnel was
initiated because the decedent indicated he/she was suicidal (i.e., 9-1-1 call for mental
health or welfare assistance).
Barricade self or initiate standoff: Includes all instances in which the decedent
attempted to elude apprehension by refusing to surrender to law enforcement or by
taking action aimed at preventing capture, such as using a structure to conceal him- or
herself.

6

Verbally threaten other(s): Includes all instances in which the decedent made
statements indicating a desire to inflict harm or to engage in violence against either law
enforcement personnel or civilians.
Resist being handcuffed or arrested: Includes all instances in which the decedent
physically struggled with law enforcement personnel in an attempt to get out from being
restrained (e.g., handcuffed, put into a police vehicle). This category is representative of
evasive actions taken by the decedent to avoid restraint, rather than direct physical
assaults on law enforcement personnel.
Attempt to escape/flee from custody: Includes all instances in which the decedent
attempted to or actually evaded law enforcement personnel to avoid apprehension or
detention.
Attempt to grab, hit, or kick, officer(s): Includes all instances in which the decedent
attempted to or actually physically attacked law enforcement personnel.
Attempt to gain possession of officer’s weapon: Includes all instances in which the
decedent attempted to disarm law enforcement personnel of his or her service firearm or
other weapon (e.g., conducted energy device, baton).
Gain possession of officer’s weapon: Includes all instances in which the decedent
disarmed law enforcement personnel of his or her service firearm or other weapon (e.g.,
conducted energy device, baton).

Item 12: At any time during the incident, did the decedent display or use a
weapon?
Please indicate whether the decedent displayed or used a weapon against law enforcement
personnel or civilians, during the incident that resulted in death, by marking “Yes” or “No.” For
the purposes of the ARD program, the “incident” refers to the period of time from the decedent’s
initial contact with law enforcement personnel up to the time of death. Limit responses to actions
taken by the decedent during the incident and disregard any similar behaviors or actions that
occurred before contact with law enforcement personnel. If weapon display or use by the
decedent is unknown, mark “Unknown.”
If “Yes,” mark all that apply to indicate if a weapon was displayed, used, or both, as well as the
type of weapon the decedent possessed. For the purposes of this item, hands, fists, or feet are
not considered weapons.
Displayed firearm without discharge: Includes instances in which the decedent openly
brandished or pointed a firearm at another person without bullets being fired from it.
Discharged firearm: Includes instances in which the decedent expelled bullets from a
firearm, regardless of whether the bullets struck another person.
Displayed other weapon: Includes instances in which the decedent made an
instrument or device other than a firearm (e.g., knife, sword, pipe, baseball bat) visible to

7

others under threatening circumstances, without using the instrument in a physical
attack. Specify the weapon the decedent displayed in the space provided.
Used other weapon: Includes instances in which the decedent used an instrument or
device other than firearm (e.g., knife, sword, pipe, baseball bat) to attack, cut, strike,
beat, etc., another person. Specify the weapon the decedent used in the space provided.
Used vehicle as weapon: Includes instances in which the decedent used a motor
vehicle to attempt to or actually hit another person with a motor vehicle.

Item 13: At any time during the incident, did the decedent attempt to injure or
injure others?
Please indicate whether the decedent attempted to injure or injured law enforcement personnel
or another civilian, during the incident that resulted in death, by marking “Yes” or “No.” For the
purposes of the ARD program, the “incident” refers to the period of time from the decedent’s
initial contact with law enforcement personnel up to the time of death. Limit responses to actions
taken by the decedent during the incident and disregard any similar behaviors or actions that
occurred before contact with law enforcement personnel. If injuries inflicted by the decedent are
unknown, mark “Unknown.”
If “Yes,” mark all that apply to indicate whether law enforcement personnel or civilians were
injured during the incident.
Fatally injured law enforcement personnel: Includes instances in which the decedent
caused the death of law enforcement personnel during the incident, regardless of
whether the death was intentional or accidental.
Non-fatally injured law enforcement personnel: Includes instances in which the
decedent caused physical harm to law enforcement personnel during the incident,
regardless of whether the harm was intentional or accidental.
Attempted to injure law enforcement personnel: Includes instances in which the
decedent intended to cause law enforcement personnel physical harm, but did not inflict
physical injuries. This category includes instances in which the decedent discharged a
firearm, in the direction of law enforcement personnel, without striking the intended
target with the bullets.
Fatally injured civilians(s): Includes instances in which the decedent caused the death
of a civilian during the incident, regardless of whether the death was intentional or
accidental.
Non-fatally injured civilian(s): Includes instances in which the decedent caused
physical harm to a civilian during the incident, regardless of whether the harm was
intentional or accidental.
Attempted to injure civilian(s): Includes instances in which the decedent intended to
cause a civilian physical harm, but did not inflict physical injuries. This category includes
instances in which the decedent discharged a firearm, in the direction of another civilian,
without striking the intended target with the bullets.
8

Item 14: At any time during the incident, did law enforcement personnel
Please indicate whether law enforcement personnel engaged in any of the actions listed, during
the incident that resulted in death, by marking “Yes” or “No.” For the purposes of the ARD
program, the “incident” refers to the period of time from the decedent’s initial contact with law
enforcement personnel up to the time of death. If it is unknown whether law enforcement
engaged in one or more of the actions listed, mark “Unknown” for each relevant action. If law
enforcement personnel engaged in an action that is not listed, mark “other” and specify the
action in the space provided.
Fight or struggle with decedent: Includes instances of physical contact between the
decedent and law enforcement personnel (e.g. punching, grabbing, kicking, wrestling).
Physically restrain decedent (e.g., control hold, body compression): Includes
instances in which law enforcement personnel used bodily contact to control, subdue, or
restrain the decedent.
Restrain decedent with equipment (e.g., handcuffs, leg shackles): Includes
instances in which law enforcement personnel placed the decedent in any confining or
restraining device.
Place decedent in prone position: Includes instances in which law enforcement
personnel restrained the decedent by laying him or her face down on the ground.
Engage in motor vehicle pursuit: Includes instances in which law enforcement
personnel chased or followed a decedent fleeing in a motor vehicle.
Engage in foot pursuit: Includes instances in which law enforcement personnel chased
or followed a decedent fleeing on foot.

Item 15: At any time during the incident, did law enforcement personnel use any
of the following weapons?
Please mark “Yes,” “No,” or “Unknown” for every response category. In this question, “use” is
defined as any use of weapons, even if they were not a cause of or contributing factor in the
death. If law enforcement personnel used a weapon that is not listed, indicate “Other” and fill in
the specific weapon used.

Item 16: Did the decedent sustain a fatal injury during the incident?
Please indicate whether the decedent sustained a fatal injury during the incident, by marking
“Yes” or “No.” For the purposes of the ARD program, the “incident” refers to the period of time
from the decedent’s initial contact with law enforcement personnel up to the time of death. A
fatal injury is one that directly leads to the cause of death noted in Item 20. If it is unknown
whether any injuries were sustained, or whether those injuries were fatal, mark “Unknown.”
If “Yes,” indicate whether law enforcement personnel, the decedent, or other civilians caused
the fatal injury.The choice “decedent” referrs to self-inflicted injuries including any accidental
injuries to the decedent’s self, as well as suicide.
9

Item 17: If a weapon caused the death, what type of weapon caused the death?
(Mark only one)
This item should be completed for all deaths, regardless of the manner of death. The purpose of
this item is to identify specific weapon(s) that caused the death, instead of weapons that were
used during the incident. All weapons used by law enforcement during the incident should be
listed under Item 15. Please limit response to Item 17 to the one weapon to which the death
was attributed, if any.
If a firearm was used, but the type of firearm is not known, mark “Firearm, unspecified.” If the
weapon that caused the death is not listed in Item 17, mark “Other weapon” and specify the type
of weapon that caused the death. Deaths due to an individual struck by a vehicle or deaths
attributed to a vehicle accident should be marked as “Vehicle-involved crash.” If the weapon that
caused the death is not known, mark “Unknown.” If a weapon did not cause the death, mark
“Not applicable, weapon or vehicle did not cause death.”

Item 18: Where did the death occur? (Mark only one)
Please choose the best response for this question. The response option should reflect where
the decedent actually expired, not necessarily where the incident originated. If the location of
the death is unknown, mark “Unknown.”

Item 19: What was the manner of death? (Mark only one)
The manner of death is how the person died, typically illustrated by a one-word description of
intentions and circumstances that led to the stated medical cause of death. Essentially, the
manner of death is the way in which death was caused (e.g., homicide, suicide).
Note the difference between “Could not be determined” and “Unknown.” “Could not be
determined” is an official cause of death, whereas “Unknown” indicates that the information is
missing, unavailable, or unknown at the time the form is completed. If a medical examiner or
coroner classified the death as “Undetermined,” mark “Could not be determined.”
Intentional alcohol or drug overdoses should be marked as “Suicide.” Overuse of alcohol or
drugs for recreational purposes, that unintentionally resulted in death, should be marked as
“Accident.”

Item 20: What was the cause of death?
Unlike the manner of death, which describes the circumstances leading to one’s death, cause
of death is a description of the specific medical factors leading to the termination of the
biological functions that sustain life. In cases where cause of death is attributed to multiple
factors, please list the immediate (e.g., primary) cause of death first. If any secondary causes
are known, list those.

10

Example 1: During the incident, the decedent sustains a gunshot wound and
subsequently dies as a result of massive blood loss. A response of “gunshot wound”
would suffice as a cause of death, regardless of the manner of death.
Example 2: During the incident, the decedent swallows a packet of cocaine to conceal
the narcotics from law enforcement personnel. The packet ruptures, causing the
decedent to overdose. A response of “cocaine toxicity” would suffice as a cause of
death.
Example 3: During an altercation with law enforcement personnel, the decedent suffers
a heart attack. “Cardiovascular event” would suffice for the primary cause of death. The
coroner indicates that diabetes was also a contributing factor in the death of the
decedent. In this case, “Diabetes” would be an applicable secondary cause of death. If
causes are not known or not indicated, leave this section blank.

Item 21: How was information provided for cause of death (item 20) determined?
(Mark all that apply)
Please indicate whether the cause of death was determined from an official death certificate or
an autopsy report or medical evaluation. If the cause of death was determined from a different
source (e.g., press release), mark “Other source” and specify the source.

Item 22: Did the autopsy report or medical evaluation indicate the presence of
alcohol or of drugs other than alcohol?
The purpose of this item is to identify the presence of drugs, alcohol, or both in the decedent’s
system. This information should be obtained from an official document such as a death
certificate, autopsy report, or other type of medical evaluation. If drugs were reported to be
present in the decedent’s system on the basis of one of these sources, mark the checkbox
“Drug(s) other than alcohol” and specify the type of drug reported (e.g., cocaine).
If the autopsy report, death certificate, or medical evaluation was obtained, but no alcohol or
drugs were reported to be in the decedent’s system, mark “No.” If this information is not known,
or an autopsy report or medical evaluation was not obtained, mark “Unknown, did not obtain
autopsy report or medical evaluation.”

11

SRC Instructions for Navigating the ARD Program Website
www.bjsard.org

Contents
ARD Program Website Public Pages Overview ..................................................................................................... 2
Instructions for SRCs Accessing the Web-Based Data Entry Tool ........................................................................ 3
SRC Login .......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Add Records........................................................................................................................................................ 4
CJ-11 Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents ...................................................................................... 4
CJ-11A Arrest-Related Deaths Incident Report ............................................................................................. 5
Form Upload ................................................................................................................................................... 8
ARD Program Staff review ................................................................................................................................. 9
View Cases........................................................................................................................................................ 10
Forms ................................................................................................................................................................ 11
Reports .............................................................................................................................................................. 12
Account Settings ............................................................................................................................................... 13
Public ................................................................................................................................................................ 13
Logout ............................................................................................................................................................... 13

Navigating the ARD Program Website

ARD Program Website Public Pages Overview
www.bjsard.org

TOP MENU
Home page
Welcome to the ARD Program
Web Site.
Training
An interactive guide to
understanding the purpose and
scope of the ARD program.
Forms

BOTTOM MENU
Provides quick access to content also found
elsewhere on the site:
• ARD Program Quick Summary (repeated in
side menu)
• ARD Forms (repeated in top menu)
• Training Tutorial (repeated in top menu)
• Sign up for email updates (also found in the
Contact Us page)

Arrest-related deaths occurring after
2012 can be submitted using a webbased data entry tool or through fillable
PDF versions of the ARD reporting
forms. The "Forms" tab contains links to
fillable PDF versions of the CJ-11
Summary Report and CJ-11A Incident
Report.
Publications
Links to recent BJS reports on arrestrelated deaths and other data from the
Deaths in Custody Reporting Program
(DCRP).
Contact Us
ARD Program Helpdesk contact
information, links to RTI and BJS
websites, and an option to sign up for
email updates.
SRC Login
Secure reporting portal restricted to State
Reporting Coordinators (SRCs) and
ARD program staff at RTI and BJS.

SIDE MENU
About ARD
Overview of the program that describes the history of the Deaths in Custody
Reporting Program and the ARD program, data collection methods, and data uses.
Quick Summary
Direct link to the ARD program flyer (PDF format) which can be used to
disseminate program information to law enforcement and other agencies.
Term and Definitions
An expandable, alphabetized list of terms that are relevant to the ARD program.
Frequently Asked Questions
An expandable list of responses to common questions about the ARD program,
including the definition of an arrest-related death, how to report data, and
information about data security.
Announcements
Information about current data collection and reporting activities.
ARD Program Policies
Information about data due dates, submitting data, storing data, data requests from
2
the public, publications
using ARD data, and assurances to state and local data
providers.

Navigating the ARD Program Website

Instructions for SRCs Accessing the Web-Based Data Entry Tool
The ARD Program web-based data entry tool is restricted to SRCs, ARD Program staff, and BJS. It will allow
you to submit data using the electronic forms, download fillable PDF forms to complete at a later time, upload
completed CJ-11 and CJ-11 PDF files, and view the information that has been previously entered from your
state. The website also provides links to past reporting forms. Additional information about the ARD Program,
including a web-based tutorial on understanding the purpose and scope of the ARD Program and reporting
options, can be found on the public pages of the ARD Program website.
To access the web-based data entry tool, click on the “SRC Login” tab just under the ARD Program banner.

SRC Login
•

ARD program staff will email
SRCs with a username and
temporary password to access the
data entry tool through the "SRC
Login" tab. If you did not receive
this information, please contact
the ARD Program Helpdesk at
[email protected] or 1-877475-7039. Passwords can by reset
by clicking "Forgot my password"
under the Login button.

•

Upon login, you will be taken to
the web page for submitting CJ11 form data. If you prefer to
view a different page upon login
(such as the data entry page for
the CJ-11A form), please follow
the instructions found under the
Account Settings page section
below.

3

Navigating the ARD Program Website

Add Records
This section allows SRCs to enter data online for the CJ-11 or CJ-11A
forms, or upload forms directly to the ARD program staff.

CJ-11 Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents
Selecting “Add Records” or “CJ-11 Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents” from the Add
Records dropdown will take you to the CJ-11 data entry screen.
•

Your state and the
current data collection
year (2013) are prepopulated.

•

SRCs should select the
appropriate reporting
period (quarter) and enter
the number of arrestrelated deaths that
occurred in their state
during that reporting
period. If your state had
no reportable arrestrelated deaths, enter 0.

•

To submit the information to
the system, click “Save.”

•

Please review your SRC contact information found at the bottom of the screen and provide any updates to
the ARD HelpDesk ([email protected]).

4

Navigating the ARD Program Website

CJ-11A Arrest-Related Deaths Incident Report
Selecting “CJ-11A Arrest-Related Deaths Incident Report” from the “Add Records” dropdown menu
will take you to the data entry screen for the CJ-11A.
This page allows web-based data entry for all of the fields found on the 2013 CJ-11A form. Information
included in the 2013 CJ-11A Question-by-Question Guide is also found on this page by clicking the
next to
each item on the form. Like the fillable PDF CJ-11A form, data entry is restricted to logical responses to each
question. For example, under Item 1, Middle Initial field, you may only enter 1 letter; under Item 4, Zip code
field, you may only enter numbers (no letters).

•

The first field on this page, “Select a Form to Begin Data Entry” is pre-populated with the year 2013. At this
time, data entry through the web-based reporting tool is only available for incidents occurring in 2013.

•

The first section found under “CJ-11A Form 2013” is the “Data Supplied By” box. If the CJ-11A data were
collected by the SRC, you can click on the “Auto Populate with SRC” button to automatically populate all
of the fields in this box with the information we have on record for your state’s SRC. If the information
about the death was supplied by another agency, please enter the information for that agency in the spaces
provided.

5

Navigating the ARD Program Website

•

The state where the incident occurred is prepopulated. If the death did not occur in your
state, please contact the ARD Program
HelpDesk.

•

All remaining data collection fields on the
page mirror those found on the PDF version of
the form.

•

Clicking on the
next to any question will open a window that displays help text from the 2013 CJ-11A
Question-by-Question Guide for the item selected.

6

Navigating the ARD Program Website

•

For Question 3, you can look up a
local agency in the state and
automatically populate the agency
name and ORI number fields by
clicking on the “lookup” link.

•

There are “Save” buttons at the bottom of each “page” (as defined by the PDF form). Certain information
must be entered before a case can be saved (to aid in retrieving the case later):
o Item 1. Decedent name (if unknown,
enter “John Doe”).
o Item 2. Month and date of death (if
unknown, please estimate).
o Item 3. Law enforcement agency
involved and ORI number.

Please save your work often, as users will be timed out after 20 minutes of inactivity. Requesting a report,
uploading a file, or saving information entered into the data entry screens will ensure you remain logged into
the data entry tool.

•

Once you have completed all of the information
requested on the CJ-11A form, you may click
“Save” or “Submit.”
o If you plan to update any of the fields on this
form before sending it to the ARD program
staff, click “Save,” and you will be able to continue entering information for this case at a later time.
o If you have entered all of the information you have collected for a case and that information is correct to
the best of your knowledge, click “Submit.” This will send the case to the ARD Program staff for
review, and the case will be locked for editing until that review is complete. If you do need to make a
change after clicking “Submit,” please contact the ARD HelpDesk, and we will unlock the case for you
to edit.

7

Navigating the ARD Program Website

Form Upload
Cases may also be submitted through the Form Upload function.

•

The state is pre- populated.

•

You first should name the file as it
will be saved on the website. The
file name should include your 2letter state abbreviation, the last
name of the decedent and the year
of the death (for example,
CA_Doe_2013.pdf). Once you have
named the file, Click “Browse” to
locate the file to upload.

•

Select “Form Upload” from the “Add
Records” dropdown menu to access the
file uploading tool.

PDFs, Word and zip files may be
uploaded to the site.

Files already uploaded by the
SRC are listed here.

8

Navigating the ARD Program Website

ARD Program Staff review
Once you have submitted CJ-11A information for all of the arrest-related deaths that occurred in your
state during the calendar year, please contact the ARD Program staff to let them know that your data
submission is complete. When the ARD Program Staff receive this notification, we review the
information to ensure that each case meets ARD Program eligibility requirements, and does not contain
any missing or inconsistent information.
Each SRC will then receive a status report (generally in the spring of the year following the data collection
reference year). This status report will:
1. Confirm the cases that have been submitted to the ARD Program.
2. Identify any cases that may require additional follow up. For example, if there are questions about
eligibility or missing or inconsistent data.
3. List any additional cases ARD Program staff found that may be eligible for inclusion.
After reviewing the status report, if there is any follow-up required, please log back into the web-based
reporting tool to provide additional information. You may also provide this information by phone, fax,
traditional mail, or encrypted/ password-protected email.
•

•

When the status report is sent to you, ARD Program staff will unlock cases where further SRC input is
requested. These cases will be available for editing until the SRC reviews the case, provides any edits
required, and clicks “Submit” again.
Please also review the list of additional cases that the ARD Program staff identified. If these cases meet the
ARD Program definition of an “arrest-related death” and involved a local or state law enforcement agency
in your state, please submit corresponding CJ-11A data.

During the review process, ARD Program staff flag cases by whether they are “complete” and whether they are
“confirmed.”
•

•

ARD Program staff mark a case as “complete” when no further CJ-11A information is required or expected.
In other words, the case has not been flagged for follow-up in the status report due to missing or inconsistent
information. Once a case is “complete, ” ARD Program staff review the information for eligibility.
ARD Program staff mark a case as “confirmed” if it meets eligibility requirements based on the ARD
program definition. “Unconfirmed” cases do not contain enough information to determine eligibility.
“Discarded” cases do not meet ARD Program eligibility criteria and are not included in any datasets used
for analysis and reporting.

9

Navigating the ARD Program Website

View Cases
This page allows SRCs to view CJ11A information already entered.
•

First, select the types of cases
that you would like to view (state
and year fields are prepopulated). You may select cases
by:
Cases selected by
Case status
Blank
Confirmed
Not confirmed
Discarded
Completion Status
Blank
Complete
Incomplete
Search by Last Name
Blank
Letters found in the last
name of a case entered

Returns
All cases entered, regardless of case status
Cases confirmed as eligible by ARD Program staff
Cases requiring further information to determine eligibility
Cases that ARD Program staff found to be ineligible, according to the
definition of an “arrest-related death”
All cases entered, regardless of completion status
Cases marked as “complete” by ARD Program staff (requiring no further
follow-up by the SRC)
Cases marked as “incomplete” by ARD Program staff, with areas for SRC
follow-up identified on the status report
All cases entered
Cases with a last name that includes the letters entered into this field. For
example, entering “Davis” will return all cases with a last name of “Davis.”
Entering “D” will return all cases with a last name beginning with the letter
“D.”

•

After defining your search parameters, click “Search,” and then a list of submitted cases will appear.

•

You can view and edit details of each case by selecting “Edit Record”

10

Navigating the ARD Program Website

•

If a case is currently being reviewed by ARD Program Staff, the CJ-11A information can be viewed, but
not edited by SRCs. A message will appear at the top of the CJ-11A form page for this case noting that:
This case is currently under ARD Program staff review and is locked for editing. If you would
like to unlock this case, please contact the ARD Program Helpdesk.

•

Any cases requiring further input from SRCs will be identified in the status report and unlocked for SRC
editing at that time. SRCs may also update case information at any time by requesting that the case be
unlocked through the ARD HelpDesk.

Forms
This page provides links to all ARD Program forms.

•

Clicking on the Forms page will take you to a hyperlinked
list of all available forms, including a description of each.

•

The dropdown menu provides direct links to the CJ-11
(fillable PDF), CJ-11A (fillable PDF), Question by Question
Guide (PDF) and earlier forms (2003-2012).

11

Navigating the ARD Program Website

Reports
This page allows the SRC to view summary information about the cases entered. This information can be
viewed for 2011, 2012 and 2013 by selecting the desired year.

The summary provides the total number of cases submitted, the number confirmed
and the number not confirmed to be eligible for the ARD Program.

12

Navigating the ARD Program Website

Account Settings
This page allows the SRC to change his/her password or to select a specific page as the homepage. Once
selected, the SRC will be directed to this page upon login.

Public takes the SRC to the ARD Program Website public pages (see ARD Program Website Public Pages
Overview) found at www.bjsard.org

Logout logs the user out.

13

ARD Public Website Terms and Definitions
Arraignment

A formal reading of a criminal complaint in the presence of the
defendant to inform the defendant of the charges against him/her.
For the purposes of the ARD program, any deaths occurring
during or after arraignment are not reportable.

Arrest

The act of detaining in legal custody. An "arrest" is the deprivation
of a person's liberty by legal authority in response to a criminal
charge.

Arrest-Related

The range of circumstances associated with the actions or events
that take place during an attempt by law enforcement to detain an
individual under the authority of the law.

Arrest-Related Death

Any civilian death when the event causing the death (e.g., gunshot
wound, self-inflicted injury, cardiac arrest, fall from a height,
drowning, etc.) occurs during an interaction with state or local law
enforcement personnel. An arrest-related death can occur prior to,
during, or following an arrest.

Cause of death

A description of the specific factors leading to the termination of
the biological functions that sustain life.

Conducted energy device

Also known as CEDs, these weapons are designed to get
noncompliant or hostile suspects to comply with law enforcement.
CEDs, such as Tasers, induce involuntary muscle contractions,
causing the suspect to be temporarily incapacitated. Although
designed to be less-than-lethal weapons, arrest-related deaths
may occur after contact with a CED.

Federal law enforcement agencies

Agencies charged with the enforcement of federal statutes.
Deaths that occur during an interaction with officers from federal
law enforcement agencies, such as the FBI, DEA, or Marshals
Service, are only reportable to the ARD program if personnel from
a State or local law enforcement agency were also interacting with
the decedent during the event causing the death.

Freedom to leave restricted

For the purposes of the ARD program, freedom to leave restricted
is not limited to physical custody or arrest. Freedom to leave
restrictions can occur during the process of apprehension,
regardless of whether physical custody was established.

Homicide

Killing of a human being by another human being. The ARD
program gathers data on homicides that occur during an arrest
process regardless of whether the homicide was attributed to law
enforcement personnel or a civilian. Homicides by law
enforcement personnel were included in the ARD collection
because they resulted from a direct use of force by law
enforcement officers. However, not all homicides by law
enforcement personnel involve shooting deaths. Other types of
homicides by law enforcement officers included deaths attributed
to asphyxia during restraint, injuries sustained during an
altercation, and the use of technologies such as, chemical sprays

and conducted energy devices.

In custody

The state of being detained or held under guard. For the purposes
of the ARD program "in custody" of law enforcement occurs prior
to arraignment or transfer to a long-term correctional facility, such
as a jail or prison.

Innocent bystander

A person who is neither in the custody of law enforcement
personnel or a criminal suspect. Deaths of innocent bystanders
are not reportable to the ARD program.

Less-than-lethal weapons or tactics

Tactics or weapons used by police to control violent, combative
people, and may include conducted-energy devices (such as
Tasers), beanbag rounds, pepper spray, and stun grenades.
Deaths resulting from tactics designated as “less than lethal” are
reportable to the ARD program.

Local law enforcement agency

A general purpose law enforcement agency is assigned to enforce
local laws and is operated by a unit of local government such as a
town, city, township, or county. Local law enforcement agencies
are responsible for investigations, prevention, and patrol functions.

Long-term holding facility

Includes jails and prisons. Jails are facilities that typically hold
offenders after arraignment, during adjudication, and for
sentences of less than a year. Prisons are typically overseen by a
state department of correction and house convicted or sentenced
inmates for periods of longer than one year. Deaths occurring in
long-term holding facilities are not reportable to the ARD program,
but may be reportable to the DCRP-Jails or the DCRP-State
Prisons data collection.

Manner of death

An explanation of how a person died; typically illustrated by a one
word description of the intentions and circumstances that led to
the stated medical cause of death. The manner of death is the
way in which death was caused and is typically listed as natural,
accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined.

Natural cause of death

Deaths attributed to natural agents such as illness or internal
malfunctions of the body. Arrest-related deaths recorded as
"natural" may be due to heart complications or complications from
long term illnesses.

Non-criminal suspects

Arrest-related deaths can occur with individuals that are not
considered criminal suspects or the subjects of arrest, if the death
is attributed to events that occur during an interaction with law
enforcement personnel. Arrest-related deaths of non-criminal
suspects occur most often during law enforcement's response to
service calls for assistance and transport.

Pursuit

The act of law enforcement pursuing an individual for the
purposes of detainment, including vehicle and foot pursuits.
Deaths of suspects occurring during law enforcement pursuit (e.g.,
due to traffic accidents) are reportable to the ARD program.

Restraint tactics

Physical fighting or struggling with law enforcement personnel,
deaths. Deaths resulting from law enforcement restraint tactics,
including deaths caused by positional asphyxia, control holds,
neck restraint, and body compression are reportable to the ARD
program.

Self-imposed events

Events that include accidents caused by the decedent, suicides,
and intoxications. Deaths resulting from self-imposed events
during an interaction with law enforcement are reportable to the
ARD program.

Short-term holding facility

Facilities from which arrestees are usually transferred within 72
hours and not held beyond arraignment, also referred to as
lockups or booking centers. Deaths that occur in short-term
holding facilities prior to arraignment and while in the custody of
local law enforcement are reportable to the ARD program.

Standoff or barricade situations

Situations where the focus of law enforcement agency pursuit is
threatening violent or other negative actions if law enforcement
continue to pursue him/her. Barricade situations occur when the
individual has protected him/herself from law enforcement with a
physical barrier or other shield. Standoff and barricade situations
can involve hostages and police negotiators.

State law enforcement agency

The agency responsible for enforcement of state laws, including
investigations, prevention and patrol functions. State law
enforcement agencies can include highway patrol, state bureaus
of investigation, investigative units of state Attorney General's
offices, and others.

State Reporting Coordinator (SRC)

Each state and some large jurisdictions have a designated state
reporting coordinator (SRC). The SRC is responsible for
identifying all arrest-related deaths in the jurisdiction during the
reporting period, and collecting additional information on the
circumstances of each arrest-related death. SRCs work with ARD
program staff to collect and report the requested information.
SRCs typically work in a state agency that has access to or
regularly reports information about arrest-related deaths, such as
a state bureau of investigation, medical examiner or coroner's
office, attorney general's office, or statistical analysis center.

Suicide by cop

A suicide method in which an individual deliberately acts in a
threatening way, with the goal of provoking a lethal response from
a law enforcement officer or other legitimately armed individual.

Terry stop

A brief detention based on a reasonable suspicion that the person
may be engaged in a criminal act; also referred to as a stop and
frisk search.

Undetermined cause of death

A designation used by medical examiner's and coroner's offices as
the cause of death on a death certificate, when no cause could be
(or has been) determined through the autopsy or other
investigative process. May also be used when the cause of death
is still to be determined through additional testing or investigation.

Use of force

The amount of effort required by police to compel compliance by
an unwilling subject. Can include a range of approaches from
basic verbal and physical restraint, less-than-lethal force, and
lethal force. All deaths attributable to law enforcement use of force
are reportable to ARD.

Hello and welcome to the United States Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice
Statistics' Arrest-Related Deaths program tutorial, Understanding “Arrest-Related”
Deaths.

1

This first module will focus on program concepts and on developing a deeper
understanding of the program.
By the end of this module, we hope you have a clear understanding of the ArrestRelated Deaths or ARD program, including its purpose, definitions, and scope.
Let's begin by discussing the history of BJS's Deaths in Custody Reporting Program
and the importance of ARD.

2

Public concern about the completeness and accuracy of information regarding the
deaths of those under the control of the criminal justice system led to the passage of
The Deaths in Custody Reporting Act of 2000 or DICRA. The DICRA legislation
required state and local prisons, jails, and law enforcement agencies to report
information about in-custody deaths and deaths occurring in the process of arrest to
the Department of Justice on a quarterly basis. As the statistical agency for the
Department of Justice, BJS was directed by the Attorney General to implement the
data collection aspect of the DICRA.
Since 2000, BJS has collected data under the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program
or DCRP, which operates as three separate collections. The importance of the
DCRP is rooted in the uniqueness of the information collected. The program’s
breadth provides national information on three components of the criminal justice
system and covers the deaths of suspects and offenders from the time they come in
contact with law enforcement through the time they are incarcerated in jail or
prison.
DCRP data describe the circumstances surrounding the death and include
information about the criminal justice system’s actors’ involvement with decedents;
information that is not available in other national databases on mortality.

3

These data can also be used to track changes in mortality rates of persons who have contact
with law enforcement or are in jail or prison.
Prior to the DCRP, the public’s knowledge of deaths occurring in the criminal justice system
was limited. Information about the cause and circumstances of deaths can be used to improve
the public’s understanding about the deaths of those under the control of the criminal justice
system.
Although DICRA expired in 2006, BJS remains committed to maintaining the goals of the
legislation and the DCRP. Let’s focus more specifically on the Arrest-Related Deaths
component of DCRP.

3

Public concern about the completeness and accuracy of information regarding the
deaths of those under the control of the criminal justice system led to the passage of
The Deaths in Custody Reporting Act of 2000 or DICRA. The DICRA legislation
required state and local prisons, jails, and law enforcement agencies to report
information about in-custody deaths and deaths occurring in the process of arrest to
the Department of Justice on a quarterly basis. As the statistical agency for the
Department of Justice, BJS was directed by the Attorney General to implement the
data collection aspect of the DICRA.
Since 2000, BJS has collected data under the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program
or DCRP, which operates as three separate collections. The importance of the
DCRP is rooted in the uniqueness of the information collected. The program’s
breadth provides national information on three components of the criminal justice
system and covers the deaths of suspects and offenders from the time they come in
contact with law enforcement through the time they are incarcerated in jail or
prison.
DCRP data describe the circumstances surrounding the death and include
information about the criminal justice system’s actors’ involvement with decedents;
information that is not available in other national databases on mortality.

4

These data can also be used to track changes in mortality rates of persons who have contact
with law enforcement or are in jail or prison.
Prior to the DCRP, the public’s knowledge of deaths occurring in the criminal justice system
was limited. Information about the cause and circumstances of deaths can be used to improve
the public’s understanding about the deaths of those under the control of the criminal justice
system.
Although DICRA expired in 2006, BJS remains committed to maintaining the goals of the
legislation and the DCRP. Let’s focus more specifically on the Arrest-Related Deaths
component of DCRP.

4

The term “arrest-related” includes a range of circumstances associated with the
actions or events that take place during an attempt by law enforcement to detain an
individual under the authority of the law. The Arrest-Related Deaths program is the
only national census of all manners of arrest-related deaths, including homicides,
suicides, fatal intoxications, accidental deaths, and deaths attributed to illness or
natural causes.
The Arrest-Related Deaths program was established to identify and record all
civilian deaths that occur during, or shortly after, an interaction with state or local
law enforcement personnel.
The goal of the ARD program is to identify and record 100% of arrest-related
deaths. Through your assistance, and that of other data providers, the reporting
coverage of the program has improved each year. BJS hopes to increase program
awareness and continue to improve reporting in order to achieve a comprehensive
program. Now that we've established the purpose of the program, let's discuss BJS's
definition of "arrest-related."

5

For the purposes of the ARD program, BJS defines a death as "arrest-related" when
the event causing the death, such as a gunshot wound, cardiac arrest, or drowning,
occurs during an interaction with state or local law enforcement personnel.
Arrest-related deaths include: All deaths that occur during an interaction with law
enforcement personnel in the process of arrest or attempted arrest, regardless of
whether physical custody was established prior to the death. Deaths that occur
while law enforcement personnel attempt to apprehend or arrest an individual, such
as those that occur during pursuits or standoffs, are reportable.
Deaths that occur while an individual is detained by state or local law enforcement
personnel are also reportable to ARD. In-custody deaths can occur at the scene of
the incident, during transport of a criminal suspect or transport of a person in need
of medical or mental health assistance, or while a suspect is being held at a law
enforcement facility, such as a booking center or lockup facility. It is important to
note that for the purposes of ARD, an in-custody death only refers to deaths that
occur in the custody of police officers and sheriff’s deputies prior to arraignment
and prior to transfer to long-term holding facilities such as a jail or prison.
All deaths that occur shortly after a person’s freedom to leave is restricted by state
or local law enforcement personnel should be reported to ARD if the circumstances

6

causing the death occurred during the interaction with law enforcement. For example, if a
suspect sustained an injury during an arrest, attempted arrest, or detainment and died from
those injuries after release from custody, the death is reportable.
Now that we've discussed the definition of "arrest-related," let's explore the scope of the ARD
program.

6

Much like the terms “school-related” or “drug-related,” which include a variety of
situations, the term “arrest-related” encompasses a range of circumstances
pertaining to an arrest, including those occurring from the process of apprehension
to detention. Therefore, the event causing the death can occur before, during, or
after the arrest of a criminal suspect.
Please note, individuals not considered criminal suspects or subjects of arrest can be
detained by law enforcement personnel, such as those in the custody of law
enforcement for medical or mental health assistance. Deaths of non-criminal
suspects occurring in the custody of state or local law enforcement personnel are
reportable to the ARD program.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these situations.

7

Although the ARD program is meant to be a national census of arrest-related deaths,
many reportable deaths are not identified or recorded. One source of underreporting is related to misconceptions about the program’s scope. One common
misconception is that the ARD scope is limited to deaths that occur after a physical
arrest. The ARD program in not limited to deaths that occur in the physical custody
of law enforcement personnel. In fact, arrest-related deaths can occur prior to a
formal arrest process in which physical custody is established.
Deaths that occur during the process of apprehension by state or local law
enforcement personnel should be reported to the ARD program, regardless of
whether physical custody was established. These deaths can occur during vehicle or
foot pursuits of criminal suspects, as well as during standoff and barricade
situations.
Common examples of deaths that occur during the process of apprehension include:
Officer-involved shootings; Deaths related to the use-of-force or less-than-lethal
weapons or tactics; Vehicle accidents, caused by either the decedent, intervening
law enforcement personnel, or un-related civilians; Other types of accidental
injuries sustained while attempting to elude, such as falls from heights, collisions,
and drowning; and Suicides committed during standoffs and barricade situations.

8

Deaths that occur during interviews and interrogations, or while a criminal suspect is detained
for questioning or investigation, should also be reported to the ARD program. Such arrestrelated deaths can occur at a law enforcement facility or in the field, such as during a stop and
frisk search, also known as a Terry stop, or at a vehicle stop.
Examples of these types of deaths include those attributed to: Alcohol and other drug
intoxications; Sudden medical conditions, such as cardiac arrest and asthma; Choking on
ingested objects or other forms of asphyxiation; Accidental injury; and Suicides.

8

Although the ARD program is meant to be a national census of arrest-related deaths,
many reportable deaths are not identified or recorded. One source of underreporting is related to misconceptions about the program’s scope. One common
misconception is that the ARD scope is limited to deaths that occur after a physical
arrest. The ARD program in not limited to deaths that occur in the physical custody
of law enforcement personnel. In fact, arrest-related deaths can occur prior to a
formal arrest process in which physical custody is established.
Deaths that occur during the process of apprehension by state or local law
enforcement personnel should be reported to the ARD program, regardless of
whether physical custody was established. These deaths can occur during vehicle or
foot pursuits of criminal suspects, as well as during standoff and barricade
situations.
Common examples of deaths that occur during the process of apprehension include:
Officer-involved shootings; Deaths related to the use-of-force or less-than-lethal
weapons or tactics; Vehicle accidents, caused by either the decedent, intervening
law enforcement personnel, or un-related civilians; Other types of accidental
injuries sustained while attempting to elude, such as falls from heights, collisions,
and drowning; and Suicides committed during standoffs and barricade situations.

9

Deaths that occur during interviews and interrogations, or while a criminal suspect is detained
for questioning or investigation, should also be reported to the ARD program. Such arrestrelated deaths can occur at a law enforcement facility or in the field, such as during a stop and
frisk search, also known as a Terry stop, or at a vehicle stop.
Examples of these types of deaths include those attributed to: Alcohol and other drug
intoxications; Sudden medical conditions, such as cardiac arrest and asthma; Choking on
ingested objects or other forms of asphyxiation; Accidental injury; and Suicides.

9

In addition to deaths occurring prior to a physical arrest, deaths that occur while law
enforcement attempt to establish physical custody of a suspect are also reportable to
the ARD program.
All deaths that are attributed to weapon use by state or local law enforcement
officers are considered “arrest-related” and should be reported. Common examples
of deaths attributed to law enforcement’s use of weapons include: Officer-involved
shootings; Complications related to the use of conducted energy devices, such as
Tasers and stunguns; Accidents caused by the use of spike strips or other tire
deflation devices; Injuries due to the use of impact devices, such as batons and soft
projectiles; and Complications due to the use of chemical agents such as OC or
pepper spray and tear gas.
In addition to deaths caused by law enforcement’s use of weapons, all deaths caused
by restraint tactics should be reported to the ARD program. Eligible deaths
attributed to restraint or use of other tactics include: Injures caused by physical
fighting or struggle with law enforcement personnel; Deaths caused by positional
asphyxia or being restrained in prone position; Injuries due to physical restraint by
law enforcement personnel, such as those attributed to the use of control holds or
neck restraint; and Complications due to body compression. It is important to note
that while BJS gathers information about all deaths attributed to police use-of-force,

10

this information is not used for investigative purposes at the agency or officer level. The
information – at the aggregate level – is instead used to better understand the nature of arrestrelated deaths.

10

Deaths that occur after law enforcement personnel have established physical
custody of an arrestee are reportable to the ARD program if the death occurs while
custody of the individual resides with the arresting agency.
Deaths of arrest-subjects are reported to the ARD program if the death occurs while
an arrestee is being transferred from the scene of the arrest to either a law
enforcement or medical facility.
In addition, deaths that occur at short-term holding facilities under the jurisdiction
of state or local law enforcement, such as booking centers or lock up facilities, are
within the scope of ARD. Once an arrestee is arraigned or custody of the individual
is transferred to a long-term correctional facility, such as a jail or prison, the death is
no longer reportable to the ARD program.
Common examples of deaths occurring during transport or confinement include
those attributable to: Complications related to the use of weapons, such as firearms
or conducted energy devices, during the arrest incident; Injuries caused by the use
of restraints or impact devices, as well as those resulting from physical altercations;
Fatal intoxications attributed to the over use of alcohol and other drugs or other
medical conditions; and Suicides.

11

Deaths that occur after law enforcement personnel have established physical
custody of an arrestee are reportable to the ARD program if the death occurs while
custody of the individual resides with the arresting agency.
Deaths of arrest-subjects are reported to the ARD program if the death occurs while
an arrestee is being transferred from the scene of the arrest to either a law
enforcement or medical facility.
In addition, deaths that occur at short-term holding facilities under the jurisdiction
of state or local law enforcement, such as booking centers or lock up facilities, are
within the scope of ARD. Once an arrestee is arraigned or custody of the individual
is transferred to a long-term correctional facility, such as a jail or prison, the death is
no longer reportable to the ARD program.
Common examples of deaths occurring during transport or confinement include
those attributable to: Complications related to the use of weapons, such as firearms
or conducted energy devices, during the arrest incident; Injuries caused by the use
of restraints or impact devices, as well as those resulting from physical altercations;
Fatal intoxications attributed to the over use of alcohol and other drugs or other
medical conditions; and Suicides.

12

While the vast majority of deaths reported to the ARD program involve criminal
suspects, the scope of the program is inclusive of non-criminal individuals when
their deaths are attributed to events that occur during an interaction with law
enforcement personnel.
The most common types of non-criminal deaths reportable to the ARD program
occur during law enforcement’s response to service calls for assistance and
transport. Oftentimes, these calls are requests for mental health or medical
assistance. These incidents may involve individuals who are suicidal or displaying
erratic behavior or occur during transport to a mental health facility or hospital.

13

While the vast majority of deaths reported to the ARD program involve criminal
suspects, the scope of the program is inclusive of non-criminal individuals when
their deaths are attributed to events that occur during an interaction with law
enforcement personnel.
The most common types of non-criminal deaths reportable to the ARD program
occur during law enforcement’s response to service calls for assistance and
transport. Oftentimes, these calls are requests for mental health or medical
assistance. These incidents may involve individuals who are suicidal or displaying
erratic behavior or occur during transport to a mental health facility or hospital.

14

To recap, with the exception of innocent bystanders, hostages, and law enforcement
personnel, all juvenile and adult deaths of criminal suspects and non-criminal
individuals, whose death was attributed to events that occurred during an interaction
with state or local law enforcement personnel, should be reported to the ArrestRelated Deaths program.
These deaths may occur prior to, during, or following an arrest event, including
non-criminal incidents.
Potential ARD cases may be attributed to: any use of force incident; injuries
sustained while attempting to elude law enforcement or injuries incurred while in
custody; self-imposed events such as suicides, accidents caused by the decedent,
and intoxications; and medical conditions.

15

Thank you for participating in this tutorial. We hope you found the training useful
and that you have a better understanding of the purpose, definition, and scope of the
Arrest-Related Deaths program. For more information about the ARD program,
please contact the ARD Helpdesk by calling 1-877-475-7039 or by sending an email
to [email protected].

16

Frequently Asked Questions
1.

What Is the Bureau of Justice Statistics?
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS), one of the 13
recognized federal statistical agencies, is the sponsor of the Arrest-Related Deaths (ARD)
program. BJS’ principal function is the compilation and analysis of criminal justice data
and the dissemination of information for statistical purposes. BJS’ procedures for
collecting, analyzing, publishing, and distributing data are subject to strict federal controls
to ensure the quality, security, and integrity of our criminal justice statistics. Included in
these governing regulations and statutes are the following:

2.

•

42 U.S.C. ch. 46, subchapter 3, §3731–§3735 (BJS authorizing legislation)1

•

42 U.S.C. §3789g (BJS information confidentiality statute)2

What Is the ARD Program?
The ARD program is a national census of deaths occurring during the process of arrest or
an attempt by law enforcement to detain an individual under the authority of the law. The
program collects information about the decedent, the incident involving the decedent and
law enforcement personnel, and other related characteristics of the death.
The Deaths in Custody Reporting Act (DICRA) of 2000 (P L 106-297) sanctioned BJS to
collect data on arrest-related deaths beginning in 2003. Before this legislation, there were
no national mandates for states or municipal governments to report information on deaths
that occur during the arrest process.
The DICRA legislation expired in 2006, but BJS has continued to collect, analyze, and
report on deaths in custody since then, as public concerns remain about the safety and

1

Specifically, 42 U.S.C. §3735, Use of data, states, “Data collected by the Bureau shall be used only for
statistical or research purposes, and shall be gathered in a manner that precludes their use for law
enforcement or any purpose relating to a private person or public agency other than statistical or research
purposes.”
2
42 U.S.C. §3789g, Confidentiality of information: “Except as provided by federal law other than this
chapter, no officer or employee of the Federal Government, and no recipient of assistance under the
provision of this chapter shall use or reveal any research or statistical information furnished under this
chapter by any person and identifiable to any specific private person for any purpose other than the
purpose for which it was obtained in accordance with this chapter.”

1

humane treatment of suspects, defendants, and offenders while in contact with or under
the control or supervision of criminal justice agencies.
In addition, continued concerns about deaths in custody led to the proposed
reauthorization of the DICRA through the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2011
(H.R. 2189). The bill passed the House of Representatives on September 20, 2011, and
was referred to the Senate. The DICRA of 2011 maintained the provisions for local and
state agency reporting that were included in the DICRA of 2000, but it expanded the
reporting coverage to include federal law enforcement and correctional agencies.

3.

What Is an Arrest-Related Death?
For the purposes of the ARD program, a death is “arrest-related” when the event causing
the death (e.g., gunshot wound, self-inflicted injury, cardiac arrest, fall from a height,
drowning, etc. ) occurs during an interaction with state or local law enforcement personnel.
The term “arrest-related” encompasses a range of circumstances pertaining to an arrest,
including those occurring from the process of apprehension to detention. Therefore, the
event causing the death can occur before, during, or after the arrest of a criminal suspect.
Deaths of non-criminal suspects occurring during an interaction with state or local law
enforcement personnel are also reportable to the ARD program.
For the purposes of the ARD program, reportable civilian deaths include those that occur:
•

While detained for questioning or investigation (e.g., a Terry stop in which there is
brief detention based on a reasonable suspicion that person may be engaged in a
criminal act)

•

During law enforcement response to medical or mental health assistance (e.g.,
response to suicidal persons)

•

During the process of apprehension, such as pursuits or standoffs with law
enforcement. Deaths resulting from vehicular accidents after a pursuit are included in
the ARD program, regardless of whether or not law enforcement personnel took direct
action against the deceased or the deceased’s vehicle (for example, used a roadblock
or spike strip or blew out a tire).

•

In the custody of, or shortly after restraint by, law enforcement personnel (even if the
person was not formally under arrest). These may be instances in which a person
dies in the physical custody of law enforcement although an arrest process had not
been initiated. Officers may restrain a person for his or her own safety or for the
safety of medical personnel on the scene. Even though these persons do not face any
criminal charges, they are still under the restraint of law enforcement officers and their
deaths should be reported to the ARD program.

•

While in transport to or from law enforcement or medical facilities. Please note that if
such persons die at medical or mental health facilities after police transport, they are
reportable to the ARD program only if the final determination directly links the cause
of death to the period of law enforcement custody.
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•

4.

While confined in lockups or booking centers (i.e., facilities from which arrestees are
usually transferred within 72 hours and not held beyond arraignment). This includes
arrest-related suicides occurring at booking centers and lockup facilities.

Why/How Was My Agency Selected?
The goal of the ARD program is to have a comprehensive data collection process that
covers every state and local law enforcement agency in the United States. Agencies that
experience an arrest-related incident (as defined by the ARD program) are then requested
to submit a CJ-11A, Arrest Related Death Incident Report, for each of these deaths.

5.

Why Is Collecting Data About Arrest-Related Deaths Important?
The ARD program provides data that are essential for understanding deaths that occur
during the process of arrest by state and local law enforcement personnel. These data
represent the only national collection of information about all manners of death occurring
during interactions between law enforcement personnel and civilians.
ARD data can be used to disseminate information to the public about the circumstances
surrounding deaths that occur when police officers and sheriff’s deputies are present.

6.

What Deaths Should Be Reported to the ARD Program?
•

All deaths resulting from any use of force by state or local law enforcement personnel
(e.g., officer-involved shootings, accidental deaths caused by less-than-lethal
weapons or tactics)

•

Suicides that occur during the process of apprehension or welfare assistance
(including those that occur before physical custody is established), as well as those
that occur at short-term lockups or booking centers

•

Fatal alcohol and drug overdoses that occur during the process of arrest or while in
the custody of law enforcement personnel

•

Accidental injuries sustained while attempting to elude law enforcement personnel or
those incurred after custody has been established. Deaths resulting from vehicular
accidents that take place during law enforcement pursuits of an individual are
included in the ARD program. For example, if law enforcement personnel engage in a
pursuit after an attempted traffic stop and the person runs off the road and dies, this
case should be reported to ARD. Law enforcement pursuit cases that result in traffic
accident-related deaths should be reported to ARD regardless of whether law
enforcement took direct action against the decedent or the decedent’s vehicle during
the process of apprehension.

•

Fatal medical conditions that present during an arrest-process (e.g., cardiac arrest)

Do not include the deaths of any persons held in jails (i.e., facilities that typically hold
offenders after arraignment, during adjudication, and for sentences of less than a year) or
3

prisons (i.e., facilities that are typically overseen by a state department of correction and
house convicted or sentenced inmates for longer-term sentences). Once an arrestee is
arraigned or booked into a jail, his or her death is excluded from the ARD collection.
Deaths occurring in jails and prisons are captured in BJS’ Jails and Prisons collection (for
more information on these collections, please contact Margaret Noonan at 202-307-0765).

7.

Were There Any Changes to the 2013 Forms?
The content of both the 2013 CJ-11, Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents, and the
2013 CJ-11A, Arrest-Related Death Incident Report, has changed. These changes were
designed to support more efficient and consistent reporting, and include updates to
response categories, elimination of some questions, and reordering of others. If you are
submitting paper forms, it is very important to use the form for the correct year, as 2013
form question numbers and content will be different from other forms. Current CJ-11 and
CJ-11A reporting forms can be found on the ARD website (www.bjsard.org).

8.

How Do I Report Data to the ARD Program?
Record the number of arrest-related deaths on the CJ-11, Arrest-Related Deaths
Summary of Incidents form. For each arrest-related death, please submit a CJ-11A,
Arrest-Related Death Incident Report. More information about completing each of these
forms is found below.
All forms may be downloaded in PDF-fillable and hard copy format from the ARD website
(www.bjsard.org). The ARD program website includes materials to assist in completing the
forms, such as the CJ-11A Question by Question Guide and video training tutorials.
Forms can be submitted via the website (SRCs only), fax, mail or email; but should always
be transmitted in a secure manner. Transmitting this information securely protects it from
disclosure to unintended recipients and from unauthorized use. The ARD Program
Policies page on the ARD website has more information on submitting data securely. You
may also contact your SRC or the ARD Helpdesk to discuss options for secure data
transfer.

If you are a state reporting coordinator:
Data may be submitted electronically through the ARD website (www.bjsard.org) using
data entry screens or the file transfer platform. You may also submit paper forms by mail,
fax, or secure e-mail.
Please enter the combined number of arrest-related deaths that took place in your state
on the CJ-11, Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents, for the given period, even if
that number is zero.
For each individual death, if the local jurisdiction has not already done so, complete a CJ11A, Arrest-Related Death Incident Report.

4

As an SRC, how do I submit data through the ARD website?
Data may be entered directly into the online CJ-11 and CJ-11A forms, which are available
through the ARD website, www.bjsard.org. You may also download fillable-PDF forms
from the website, and then submit the completed forms via electronic file transfer.
All access to the reporting section of the ARD website requires a secure login and
password. Each SRC will receive instructions to set up a website user account. If you are
having difficulty establishing or accessing your account, please call the ARD Helpdesk at
(877) 262-7654 or send an e-mail to [email protected].
As an SRC, how do I submit data by mail?
Please mail your completed CJ-11 and CJ-11A forms to
RTI International
c/o Duren Banks, ARD Program Director
3040 Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-2194
As an SRC, how do I submit data by fax?
If you prefer to fax your forms, please use the dedicated ARD program fax number:
(877) 262-7654. Please include a cover page that includes your name, telephone number,
and state name.
As an SRC, how do I submit scanned data by e-mail?
If you prefer to scan your paper forms and send them via e-mail, you may send the
images in a password-protected/encrypted email to [email protected]. Please note that
because of the large size of these messages, this is the least preferred mode of
submission.

If you are in law enforcement or a medical examiner’s/coroner’s office:
Completed CJ-11A forms should be submitted directly to your state reporting coordinator
(SRC). For SRC contact information, visit the ARD website (www.bjsard.org) or see page
2 of the CJ-11A for a list by state. For additional assistance in contacting your SRC or
submitting forms, please contact the ARD Helpdesk at (877) 262-7654 or
[email protected].

9.

As an SRC, How Can I View My Agency’s Online Forms?
The information that is submitted to the ARD Program can be viewed by SRCs through the
ARD program reporting website. The secure login allows SRCs to only view information
from his/her own state.
CJ-11, Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents: Once you have completed and
submitted a CJ-11 summary form, you may return to the form by selecting the “Totals”
page under the “Reports” tab. Once you select a year for the summary report, the web-

5

page will display the total number of arrest-related deaths submitted, the number
confirmed as eligible for the ARD program, and the number not confirmed.
CJ-11A, Arrest-Related Death Incident Report: All of the death reports that a state or an
agency has submitted can be found on the “Death Records” page under the “View and
Edit” tab. From this page, SRCs must first select a year before running any report of CJ11A information. Reports can then be customized by selecting a confirmation status or
completion status before clicking on the “Search” button. SRCs may also view a specific
record by searching on the decedent’s last name. Each CJ-11A report displays and can be
sorted by the decedent’s name, state, date of death, and cause of death. Each death
record can be viewed and edited by clicking on the corresponding “Edit Record” link.

10. Is It Too Late to Submit New or Corrected Data From Previous Collection
Years?
No, it’s not too late. You can submit new or corrected data from previous years and the
current data collection year via electronic file transfer, mail, secure e-mail, or fax at any
time. If you have any questions, please call the ARD Helpdesk at (877) 262-7654. We
appreciate your efforts to ensure that the information we have is complete and accurate.

11. I Have a Death to Report, But I Am Waiting on the Autopsy Report. What
Should I Do?
Please wait until you have an official autopsy report before completing a CJ-11A, ArrestRelated Death Incident Report. BJS prefers to have a complete report, albeit delayed,
than one that is missing critical items such as the manner and cause of death.

12. I Already Submitted Forms for My Agency, But Someone Contacted Me
About My Reports. What Do They Want?
After forms are submitted, they are reviewed for completeness and clarity. To ensure that
your agency’s information is as accurate as possible, reviewers will sometimes call or email you to ask about information that is missing or ambiguous.

13. I Am an SRC and My State Has No Deaths To Report. Do I Have to Fill
Anything Out?
Yes. If your state has no deaths to report at the end of a calendar year, you need to
submit only the CJ-11, Arrest-Related Deaths Summary of Incidents. Completing this form
will take about 5 minutes. The information collected is necessary to calculate a true count
of arrest-related deaths in your state or jurisdiction.

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14. How Secure Are the Data?
In accordance with BJS’s authorizing statute, all information collected is held in strict
confidence according to law [Section 308(d) of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
242m(d) and the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act
(PL 107-347)]. All data you provide are confidential and will be handled and stored in a
confidential manner. We have developed safeguards for the transfer of electronic data.
Data retrieved using paper documents will be secured at RTI for a specified amount of
time.

15. Should I Report Juvenile Deaths?
Yes. If a juvenile death results from an event that occurs during an interaction with state or
local law enforcement personnel, that death should be reported to the ARD program.

16. Are Deaths That Occur While the Arrest Subject Was in the Custody of
Federal Law Enforcement Personnel Included in the ARD Program?
Deaths that result from an event occurring during an interaction with officers from federal
law enforcement agencies (e.g., FBI, DEA, Marshals Service) are reportable to the ARD
program only if personnel from a state or local law enforcement agency were also
interacting with the decedent during the event causing the death.
The ARD program was developed to measure the number of deaths that result from an
event occurring during an interaction with state and local law enforcement personnel.
Therefore, arrest-related deaths occurring outside of an interaction with state or local law
enforcement personnel are excluded from the ARD program.
If you are unsure whether a death is reportable to the ARD program, please contact the
ARD Helpdesk (1-877-475-7039; [email protected]).

17. Will the Information I Report Be Made Public?
BJS disseminates ARD program data as summary statistics aggregated to national and
state levels. No case-level or agency-specific information will be released by BJS. Public
disclosure of that information would violate both the confidentiality agreement BJS has in
place for this collection and its stated use, which is solely for statistical purposes. (See
details in footnotes 1 and 2 to Question 1.) However, BJS has no legal basis to prohibit the
distribution of information at the state level. Therefore, SRCs are advised to follow statespecific statues in determining whether to release ARD data. BJS can make assurances
only that personally identifiable information will be withheld from public dissemination at
the national level. Therefore, SRCs should not tell state and local law enforcement
agencies that data will be kept confidential if their state statues do not support this
declaration.

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18. Who Is RTI?
RTI International is a nonprofit research institute that works as the data collection agent for
BJS’ ARD program. RTI has been helping BJS with this program since 2011. For more
information about RTI, visit www.rti.org.

8

U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Justice Statistics

Arrest-Related Deaths (ARD) Program
The ARD program provides data essential for
understanding deaths that occur during the process
of arrest by state or local law enforcement personnel.
The scope of the ARD program is broad and includes
all deaths that occur anytime a person’s freedom to
leave is restricted by law enforcement personnel,
regardless of whether an arrest was made prior to death.
It is important to note that ARD data are not used for
investigative purposes at the agency or officer level.

Why Is Collecting ARD Data Important?
• To better understand the nature of arrest-related deaths. The
ARD program is the only national collection of information about all
manners of death that occur during an interaction between civilians
and law enforcement personnel.
• To increase awareness. The ARD program quantifies and
disseminates information on the causes and circumstances of
arrest-related deaths in order to better inform the public and
criminal justice community.

What Is an Arrest-Related Death?
A death is defined as “arrest-related” when the event causing the
death (e.g., gunshot wound, self-inflicted injury, cardiac arrest, fall from
a height, drowning, etc.) occurs during an interaction with state or local
law enforcement personnel. An “arrest-related” death can occur prior
to, during, or following an arrest. For the purposes of the ARD program,
reportable civilian deaths include those that occur:
• While detained for questioning or investigation (e.g., Terry stop)
• During law enforcement response to medical or mental health
assistance
• During the process of apprehension, such as pursuits or standoffs
• In the custody of, or shortly after restraint by, law enforcement
personnel (even if the person was not formally under arrest)
• While in transport to or from law enforcement or medical facilities
• While confined in lockups or booking centers (i.e., facilities from
which arrestees are usually transferred within 72 hours and not
held beyond arraignment)

What Types of Deaths Should Be Reported
to the ARD Program?
• All deaths resulting from any use of force by state or local law
enforcement personnel
• Suicides that occur during the process of apprehension or
during welfare assistance, as well as those that occur at lockups
or booking centers
• Fatal alcohol and drug overdoses that occur during the process
of arrest or while in the custody of law enforcement personnel
• Accidental injuries sustained while attempting to elude law
enforcement personnel or those incurred after custody has been
established
• Fatal medical conditions that present during an arrest-process
(e.g., cardiac arrest, asthma)

How Is an Arrest-Related Death Reported?
Each arrest-related death should be reported on a CJ-11A Arrest-Related Death Incident Report. An electronic version of the CJ-11A form is
available on the ARD website (www.bjsard.org) along with instructions on how to submit completed forms. A detailed CJ-11A question-by-question
guide, training resources, and FAQs are also provided on the ARD website to assist those completing an arrest-related death incident report.

Contact Us
More information on the ARD program, including technical assistance, can be found at www.bjsard.org or by contacting the ARD Helpdesk at
[email protected] or 1-877-475-7039.