Abstract
Deaths in custody are increasing every year in the United States. Few studies have thoroughly researched the effects national and state laws have on deaths in custody. This study evaluated the different categories of the deaths in custody reports submitted to the United States General Attorney in California. The following study compared 16,101 female and male deaths in custody between 1980 through 2015 in California to understand the causes of deaths in custody. Using a series of tables and figures to illustrate the different categories, the study found whites are more likely to die from a natural cause in California.