Deaths in Custody

Between January 1990 and September 1998, 258 died in police custody or jail in Cook County, according to data from the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office. In addition to the 134 people who succumbed to natural causes, 41 people died in accidents, 65 committed suicide and 13 were victims of homicides. The cause of death in five cases was unknown. The medical examiner specifies the primary cause of death and up to two contributing causes for each case. For an analysis of these numbers, read "Death Behind Bars."