Official Press Release

07/23/2015

Sheriff R. Glenn Smith again sends his sincerest condolences, thoughts and prayers to the family and
friends of Ms. Sandra Bland.

Recently, the Sheriff?s Of?ce provided inmate processing forms to local and national media outlets. To
clarify these forms, it is important we outline the jail booking process as it relates to inmates arriving at
the Waller County Jail. Inmates are brought into the Waller County Jail intake section by the arresting
of?cer. The arresting of?cer completes a Jail Book-In sheet and inventories the arrestee's property. Jail
staff meets with the arrestee and arresting of?cer and completes a Screening form for Suicide and
Medical and Mental impairments form and Texas Department of State Health Services Correctional
Tuberculosis form. These forms are provided to the main control supervisor prior to the inmate being
accepted.

The inmate is walked to the booking area where they are processed by the booking of?cer. Depending
on how many inmates are being processed at this time, an inmate?s photograph may be taken in their
original clothing or the inmate may be dressed out in orange. Their photograph is taken on the wall
south of the booking of?cer?s desk. We should note that if the inmate is not standing directly in the
center of the backdrop, a portion of the white wall may appear.

At the booking desk, the inmate is asked the same questions listed on the Screening from for Suicide
and Medical and Mental Impairments form. The book-in of?cer verbally asks these questions to the
inmate, and then types the inmate?s reSponses into the computer. It should be noted thatjailers are
required to document answers given to them by the inmates. If the answers are different at each time,
this indicates the inmate changed their answer. Ms Bland was allowed to make a phone call at her time
of booking, but we cannot release the name and details of that call.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards outlines how inmates are segregated in county jails. The Waller
County Jail has two sections for female inmates. Due to the offense Ms. Bland was charged with, she
was classi?ed to cell #95. Cell #95 is classi?ed as a medium to maximum security cell. Ms. Bland was
classi?ed as medium assaultive as de?ned by the Texas Jail Commission. At this time there were no
other inmates inside cell #95, being that no other female inmates met this classi?cation; Ms. Bland was
the single occupant of Cell #95. We can con?rm that Ms. Bland was offered Emergency Medical Services
prior to being transported to the Jail. Ms. Bland refused any medical treatment.

The Sheriff?s Of?ce will confirm that Ms. Bland, based on Jail Staff?s observations, was not placed on any
formal suicide watch.

The death of any person in the custody of any governmental entity should experience great scrutiny and
be thoroughly investigated by an outside source. Sheriff Smith immediately noti?ed the Texas Rangers
who arrived within the hour. The Federal Bureau of Investigation is also actively involved in this
investigation. The Waller County Sheriff's Of?ce has provided and will continue to provide any and all
documentation to the outside investigative agencies.

Sheriff Smith has asked local attorney Paul Looney to form an outside Sheriff?s Commission, to take an
outside view ofjail procedures, evaluate personnel, discuss community relations, and any other issue
this commission deems necessary. Mr. Looney has accepted the Sheriff? 5 offer and the Sheriff looks
forward to Mr. Looney?s selection of committee members.

To maintain the integrity if this investigation, the Waller County Sheriff?s Of?ce is not releasing any
further information, or conducting further interviews at this time.

Auth: R. Glenn Smith, Waller County Sheriff