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Arrest-Related Deaths
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The Arrest-Related Deaths (ARD) program is a national accounting of persons who die either during the process of arrest or while in the custody of state or local law enforcement personnel. For the purposes of the ARD program, an "arrest-related" death is one that occurs anytime a person's freedom to leave is restricted by state or local law enforcement personnel. Arrest-related deaths can occur before law enforcement personnel establish physical custody or before a formal arrest process is initiated. The ARD collection also includes the deaths of individuals who die while attempting to elude police during the course of apprehension (e.g., police chases, and standoffs).

Deaths reportable to the ARD program include those caused by any use of force by state or local law enforcement personnel, as well as those not directly related to actions of law enforcement, such as deaths attributed to suicide, intoxication, accidental injury, and illness or natural causes. With the exception of innocent bystanders, hostages, and law enforcement personnel, all persons who die in the presence of state or local law enforcement, regardless of manner of death, are subject for inclusion in the ARD program.

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Terms & Definitions

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.
 
Cause of death A description of the specific factors leading to the termination of the biological functions that sustain life
 
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.
 
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. Essentially, the manner of death is the way in which death was caused and is typically listed as natural, accident, homicide, suicide, or undetermined.
 
Natural Deaths attributed to natural agents such as illness or internal malfunctions of the body. The majority of arrest-related deaths recorded as "natural" were due to heart complications. Other natural deaths included complications from long term illnesses.
 
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