The data collected by the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the Board of Local and Regional Jails (BLRJ) covers 216 civilian deaths in custody that were applicable under the standards set forth in the Code of Virginia (COV) § 9.1-192.1 in calendar year 2025.

This report reviews and analyzes the 158 civilian deaths that occurred in the custody of Virginia law enforcement agencies and state adult correctional facilities (prisons) that were reported to DCJS and occurred during the period of January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2025. Readers who want to review the 58 cases that happened in the custody of Virginia’s local or regional jails should reference the Board of Local and Regional Jails Calendar Year 2025 Annual Report of Jail Death Reviews found on that agency’s website.

This report analyzes the data submitted to DCJS for 2025, focusing on the demographics of decedents and how those individuals died. The analysis covers decedent gender, race, ethnicity, age, and manner of death. DCJS found that male (96%) and Black (37%) decedents were overrepresented in the data relative to the general population (49% and 20% of the general population, respectively). The overrepresentation of men and Black decedents is likely due to their overrepresentation in the criminal justice system more broadly. The data also showed that persons who died in prison were more likely to die of natural causes, whereas those who died in law enforcement custody were more likely to die due to officer use of force.

Lastly, this report presents a set of recommendations aimed at reducing the number of civilian deaths in custody, as required by COV § 9.1-192.1. These recommendations were prepared by a working group of subject matter experts that met in quarter 1 of 2026. DCJS improved the process by separating the recommendations group for law enforcement cases and incarceration cases. The groups reviewed the deaths in custody data used in this report to formulate recommendations for how to reduce the number of civilian deaths in custody. Under the advice of this group, DCJS recommends the following:

Law Enforcement Deaths in Custody:

• Add authority to DCJS for additional data collection
• Amend the definition of “in custody"
• Add requirement for agencies to update information
• Enhance pursuit policies for high-risk pursuits
• Incorporate mental health de-escalation protocols in armed encounters
• Scenario-specific use-of-force decision training
• Standardize post-arrest medical screening for substance involvement

Deaths in State Prisons:

• Improve data quality
• Expand access to drug overdose services
• Expand use of peer recovery specialists
• Improve education for healthy lifestyles for inmates
• Investigate the use of biometric scanning technology
• Improve de-escalation training
• Review the use of four restraints
• Improve living conditions for long-term incarceration
• Increase staffing in facilities