where did sandra blands lawyer. go wrong

Why was Sandra Bland still in jail three days later?

The reason Sandra Bland was still in jail three days after being arrested was that she hadn’t posted the $5,000 bond that had been set for her by a Waller County, Texas judge. Posting that bond would have required Bland to come up with $500—10 percent of the full sum—in exchange for her freedom.

Was Sandra Bland’s death a collective failure?

The death of Sandra Bland was not just a case of a bad police officer, or even a defective police department— it was a collective failure of our society. Everyone that Brian Encinia ever came across, in the police force or otherwise, operated with the same flawed strategies for making sense of strangers.

What did Brian Encinia do to Sandra Bland?

Brian Encinia told Sandra Bland to step out of the car. She repeatedly said no, telling the officer that he had no right to ask that of her. Eventually, Encinia began to reach into the car and try to remove Sandra by force. Finally, Sandra stepped out of her vehicle. She was arrested and put in jail, where she committed suicide three days later.

Who is Sandra Bland?

The family of Sandra Bland — the woman who died last year in a Waller County Jail cell — has reached a settlement with Texas officials in a wrongful death lawsuit, a lawyer for the family said Thursday.

What happened to Bland in the jail?

After a heated argument, the trooper arrested Bland for assaulting a public servant. Three days later, she was found hanged in her cell at Waller County Jail. Her death was ruled a suicide.

How much did Waller County pay the family?

The judge in the case ordered mediation in July. Terms of the settlement: Waller County will pay the family $1.8 million. The Texas Department of Public Safety will pay the family $100,000.

Who fired Encinia?

After Encinia's indictment, DPS Director Steve McCraw began the process of firing Encinia. The former trooper is appealing the decision to the Texas Public Safety Commission. Encinia has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial in the criminal case.

Has the DPS settled Sandra Bland?

DPS spokesman Tom Vinger said his agency has not been involved in a settlement. "DPS has not settled litigation regarding Sandra Bland and is not a party to any agreements between the plaintiffs and Waller County defendants," he said in an email.

Why was Sandra Bland pulled over?

On July 10, Sandra Bland was pulled over by Texas state trooper Brian Encina, for failing to signal a lane change. On July 13, while in police custody as a result of said stop, she was found dead.

Can you defend yourself against an officer?

JH: Yes. If an officer is behaving unlawfully, you can use a reasonable amount of force to defend yourself. You can’t punch an officer in the face if he tries to handcuff you--that’s not reasonable. But your ability to defend yourself exists regardless of an officer’s badge. The issue that always comes up with that is that whatever your right, it’s a hard right to enforce. There’s usually not a video tape, and there’s usually an officer saying, “this person resisted,” or something like that and it can get rather challenging in law enforcement cases.

Why was Sandra Bland mismatched?

Sandra Bland was mismatched—she was an innocent driver who behaved in ways that Brian Encinia believed to indicate criminal intention. But he never stopped to consider that she was innocent because his assumption of transparency was ingrained through his police training.

Where was Sandra Bland pulled over?

On July 10, 2015, a young woman named Sandra Bland was pulled over in a small town in Texas. She was a tall, beautiful, African American woman who liked to post inspirational videos online. She had just gotten a new job at Prairie View A&M University, and she had big plans to work while studying for her master’s degree.

Why was Encinia scared of Sandra Bland?

And (because the cost of not defaulting to truth is to have mistrusting social interactions) Encinia was immediately scared of Sandra Bland because her license plate and food wrappers had already triggered his doubts.

What did Brian Encinia do when Sandra Bland was upset?

Remember, Encinia was trained to assume transparency in people. So when Sandra Bland acted irritated and defensive, Encinia automatically began to assume the worst. In his testimony, Encinia said that he “immediately” knew that there was something “wrong” about Bland, based on her demeanor. He felt afraid that she was “aggressive,” and even suspected she might have a gun.

Why did everything that happened between Brian Encinia and Sandra Bland happen?

Everything that happened between Brian Encinia and Sandra Bland happened because Encinia behaved exactly as he was trained to—by police officials and society as a whole. This is what happened to Sandra Bland.

Did Encinia think that the context of location and time could be coupled with the likelihood of crime?

Likely, Encinia never stopped to think that the context of location and time could be coupled with the likelihood of crime, and he hadn’t been taught to think this way. Not paying attention to context was part of what led to what happened to Sandra Bland.

What is Amanda's career?

Amanda was a Fulbright Scholar and has taught in schools in the US and South Africa.

Where was Sandra Bland in jail?

Medics leave with equipment on a stretcher at Waller County Jail in Hempstead, Texas on July 13, 2015, in this still image taken from video provided by the Waller County Sheriff’s Office, after Sandra Bland was reported dead in her jail cell following a routine traffic stop.

Why is the bail system so hard?

In practice, the bail system is particularly hard on poor people, who frequently get stuck behind bars because they can’t afford to post bond, while those with greater means pay their bail and go home. According to one study, five out of six people in jail are there because they could not afford to pay their bail.