The “Sandra Bland Act” has finally come to fruition two years after her tragic death.
According to the Texas Tribune, the “Sandra Bland Act” will officially takes effect on September 1st. It “mandates county jails divert people with mental health and substance abuse issues toward treatment, makes it easier for defendants to receive a personal bond if they have a mental illness or intellectual disability, and requires that independent law enforcement agencies investigate jail deaths.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbot says, “The Sandra Bland Act will prevent traffic stops from escalating by ensuring that all law enforcement officers receive de-escalation training for all situations as part of their basic training and continuing education.”
As you may recall, Bland was jailed after cops pulled her over for a traffic stop two years ago. After a few days being held in jail, Bland allegedly killed herself in her jail cell. Although ruled a suicide, many people have speculated foul play.
However, some people believe the bill addresses more mental issues than fixing the problems related to the Sandra Bland case. But, the Governor of Texas insists the case would improve public safety.
Source- http://thegrio.com/2017/06/21/texas-goc-signs-sandra-bland-act/