Contact Congress about H.R. 2718: Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act of 2025

Federal detention agencies would have to contact a listed family member or emergency contact after a death, serious injury, or serious illness in custody. The bill sets deadlines, record rules, privacy limits, and a complaint office inside the Justice Department.

Modern Action explains what the legislation does, helps you choose whether to support, oppose, or ask for changes, and drafts a message tied to the bill, your stance, and the elected officials who can act on it.

Family Notification of Death, Injury, or Illness in Custody Act of 2025 is a House bill committee Action. The latest recorded action: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Latest action on H.R. 2718: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Who this affects: This bill mainly affects people held in federal custody and the families or emergency contacts they list. It also affects federal detention staff and outside jails or prisons that hold federal detainees under contract. State, local, tribal, and territorial facilities could also be affected if they adopt the model rules.

Why this matters: Families can face delay and confusion when a loved one dies or has a medical crisis in custody. This bill would set clear federal rules for who must be told, how fast notice must happen, and what information must be shared. It could make serious events in custody easier to track and review. Its wider effect would depend on how the Justice Department writes the rules and how many non-federal agencies adopt the model policy.

Key provisions in H.R. 2718

• The Attorney General must create detailed notification rules within 1 year after the bill becomes law. The rules apply to all Department of Justice detention agencies.
• The Attorney General must create model rules for state, territorial, tribal, and local detention agencies. The Justice Department must also provide help and training to use them.
• At intake, detention agencies must ask for emergency contact details. They must also ask which contacts to call first, whether the person wants a faith leader contacted, and whether the person has medical instructions already in place.
• Giving emergency contact information is voluntary. Facilities may not pressure people, punish them for refusing, or punish them for information that later turns out to be wrong.
• If someone dies in custody, the agency must tell the emergency contact within 12 hours after death is declared. The notice must happen between 6:00 a.m. and midnight local time.

How Modern Action helps you take action on H.R. 2718

You do not have to start with a blank letter. Modern Action turns the bill, your position, and the relevant congressional context into a message you can edit and send. The goal is to make contacting Congress clear, specific, and useful without forcing you to parse bill text or figure out the right office on your own.

Questions people ask about H.R. 2718

What is H.R. 2718?

Federal detention agencies would have to contact a listed family member or emergency contact after a death, serious injury, or serious illness in custody. The bill sets deadlines, record rules, privacy limits, and a complaint office inside the Justice Department.

How do I support or oppose H.R. 2718?

Choose support, oppose, or ask for changes on Modern Action. The action flow drafts the message for you and keeps the wording tied to this bill.

Who should I contact about H.R. 2718?

Modern Action uses your location to route the action to the congressional offices relevant to the bill and your representation.

How does Modern Action help me act on H.R. 2718?

Modern Action gives you bill-specific context, lets you choose support, opposition, or changes, and drafts a message from your position and reasons.