Sandra Bland's death launches new hearings on jail suicides

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants a review of jail safety in Texas after the death of Sandra Bland in a rural county lockup.

Patrick said today that lawmakers will begin having hearings next month about suicides in state jails. Texas has seen an average of 25 suicides in county lockups each year since 2012.

Bland was found dead in the Waller County jail on July 13, three days after her arrest. Authorities say she hanged herself with a garbage bag, a finding her family has questioned.

Democratic Sen. John Whitmire did not say whether Bland's family would be invited to testify to lawmakers.

A trooper had pulled over the 28-year-old Illinois woman for failing to signal a lane change.