Official Ignorance: The Death in Custody Podcast

Official Ignorance is a captivating podcast hosted by Dr. Roger Mitchell, Jr. and Professor Jay Aronson. In this episode, they are joined by the legendary Mutulu Olugbala, also known as M1 of the renowned hip-hop group dead prez, who is now a board member of The Last Prisoner project, focusing on justice for incarcerated cannabis offenders.The trio engages in thought-provoking discussions about various topics, including the impact of hip-hop on political activism, the importance of reimagining the school system and the criminal justice systems, and the fight for justice and liberation. With their fearless perspectives and genuine passion for creating change, this episode offers valuable insights and sparks critical conversations.

Enjoy the early, informal recordings that lay the groundwork for the podcast, and learn more about our hosts, their mutual love of hip-hop, and their journey to the topic of death in law enforcement custody.

Enjoy the early, informal recordings that lay the groundwork for the podcast, and learn more about our hosts, their mutual love of hip-hop, and their journey to the topic of death in law enforcement custody.

Larry Hamm, founder of the Peoples’ Organization for Progress, discusses his activism against police brutality, organizing protests in Orange, NJ, and the need for police review boards. His early experiences in political activism and the formation of the People's Organization for Progress are explored. The podcast also delves into their efforts to seek justice in cases of police brutality and the barriers to obtaining accurate data on deaths in custody. Lastly, Larry Hamm's impact on the host and reflections on collaboration and perspective are highlighted.

Discussion on the lack of protections in the criminal justice system, particularly for Black people, using Sandra Bland's story. Exploring challenges of policing and incarceration in America. Highlighting ongoing policy disputes and the unreformable nature of the American criminal legal system. Exploring the power and challenges of medical examiners in death investigations. Emphasizing the importance of sharing personal stories about deaths in custody and Sandra Bland's history in challenging the system.

Dr. Joye Carter, the first Black chief medical examiner, discusses diversity in death investigation, the impact of cell phone and body worn camera videos on forensic death investigations, origins and controversy of excited delirium, opinions on excited delirium and determining manner of death, and challenges of holding individuals accountable for deaths in custody.

Josh Vaughn and Brittany Hailer, journalists working to expose the deadly toll of Pennsylvania’s jails, discuss the lack of transparency in reporting jail deaths and the high death rate in Pittsburgh's Allegheny County Jail. They highlight the importance of data collection and the need for multidisciplinary fatality review committees. The podcast delves into the concept of agnatology and 'official ignorance' perpetuated by local elected leaders.

A Senate hearing uncovered the failure of the federal government to accurately report deaths in custody. The Department of Justice missed at least 990 deaths in 2021, highlighting a constitutional and humanitarian crisis. The podcast explores the challenges in collecting and reporting data, the neglect of federal pretrial detainees, and the need for comprehensive data for prevention policies and better care in jails and prisons.

Ida B. Wells, famed journalist who exposed the horror of lynching in the country more than a hundred years ago, discusses the connection between death in custody, law enforcement, and lynching. The podcast explores the personal story of a lynching in rural Georgia, reflects on the haunting imagery associated with lynchings, uncovers the true author of a song, explores the complicity of law enforcement in hangings, and delves into Ida B. Wells' fight against lynching and journalistic oppression.

Our investigation begins with the story of Earl Faison, a 27-year-old who died in police custody less than an hour after being arrested on April 11, 1999. Roger, was a young medical student just down the road at the time, and Faison’s shocking death led him to devote his career to investigating deaths in custody as a matter of justice and public health.