No One Indicted in Sandra Bland's Death.
LEMON: Tonight, Sandra Bland's family says it has no faith in the justice system after a grand jury in Texas decided not to indict anyone in her death. Bland died in police custody in July after being arrested during a traffic incident. Officials say she hanged herself but her family disputes that. I'm joined by Sandra Bland's sister, Sharon Cooper and Cannon Lambert, attorney for the Bland family. Good evening.</s>SHARON COOPER, SANDRA BLAND'S SISTER: Good evening, Don. How are you?</s>LEMON: Doing better than you, I'm sure, Sharon. How is the family? How are you guys doing?</s>COOPER: Quite frankly, it's been a challenging year for us overall, and I think the holiday season brings much more of a challenge than we imagined, especially in light of the recent grand jury's decision not to bring forth any indictments with regard to Sandra's in custody death.</s>LEMON: What was your reaction when you -- when you heard about the decision not to indict anyone?</s>COOPER: Quite frankly, it's a range of emotions. I think what's most imperative to note on the family's behalf is that there is a little bit of disheartening there are a little bit disappointment, but quite frankly, not surprise based off of the fact that we don't have much faith in the grand jury process due to the secretive nature of that process. And the fact that it is historically been seen to be viewed as a prosecutorial tool, which in most cases, specifically in the favor of a prosecutor. And to be quite honest, if a prosecutor wants an indictment they know very well what evidence they need to present to get that indictment, and if they don't, conversely they know what evidence to withhold to ensure that there's no indictment set forth. So, that's how we're feeling at this time.</s>LEMON: So, Cannon, you called it a sham -- sham of a proceeding. Is that why, for what Sharon just voiced there?</s>CANNON LAMBERT, SANDRA BLAND'S FAMILY ATTORNEY: Here's the reality of it. What we understand is that the five special prosecutors that were appointed, one of them, Paul Looney, actually is quoted as saying two months before they came back with this result. That they weren't even investigating whether or not Waller County jailers did anything wrong or instead even committed any criminal acts. But instead, they were just looking prospectively forward to see if there were some suggestions they could make in the future as to how they might conduct themselves. So, when you have a situation like that it begs the question why and what were they doing in the first place? As you well know, these proceedings are secretive. We're not able to be present. We're not able to know what evidence is submitted, it's sealed. We're not able to know what witnesses were called. We're not able to -- you know, the prosecutor has an opportunity to submit whatever evidence that they want, they can hold that whatever evidence that they want. There is not a judge that's there that oversees the proceeding. Instead, it's the prosecutor that oversees.</s>LEMON: So, for you it's about transparency you think and that there should be more transparency. And since you are talking about the prosecutor, Cannon, Darrell Jordan, who is the special prosecutor at this, state to your family last night. I want you to listen and respond to it.</s>DARRELL JORDAN, PROSECUTOR: We would love to speak with the family. I've never heard of any situation in all my years of a prosecutor not speaking to the victim's family. We reached out to the family. I offered to fly to Chicago on my own dime to go meet with the family.</s>LEMON: So, why haven't you and the prosecution spoken?</s>LAMBERT: Because of him. The reality of it is that when he was initially appointed as a special prosecutor he called me and letting me know that he was going to be coming to Indianapolis and then he was going to some wedding or some sort of family function. At the time he called he asked whether he could meet with us the next day. We were in Houston. I told him we were happy to meet with him but we wouldn't be back in Chicago until several days thereafter. But to contact us again because we would be happy to do that. He never did. By the way, I wasn't just there talking to him, so, too was the family, they are fully aware of the fact. He is the investigator, right, isn't it his responsibility? Yet, he never contacted us ever again. The first time we hear from him saying I'd love to talk to the family is after they come up with the result? That's strange, isn't that putting -- isn't that booty backwards?</s>LEMON: yes. I know what you wanted to say. I mean, you can say that word on the show because it is after 10 p.m. Eastern and we would understand that. But listen, I want to ask you...</s>LAMBERT: I mean, but the bottom line is that you have to be -- you have to honest with people.</s>LEMON: This is an important question, Cannon, before we run out of time, I want to ask you this.</s>LAMBERT: Yes.</s>LEMON: Lawyers representing Waller County say that if the family had paid Sandra Bland's bail, reportedly $515 that she be alive today. I mean, what do you say to that?</s>LAMBERT: It's ridiculous and it's preposterous. They also say that if Mr. Mosley had answered the phone that she would be alive today. What really is the case is, if they had done what they were supposed to do she would be alive today. They had two booking documents that were diametrically opposed that they did nothing to try and figure out why that was the case. They put things in her cell and they shouldn't have been there. They didn't attend to her and check in with her the way they were supposed to. They knew that she wasn't eating. They did nothing. I mean, the reality of it is, is that when people are responsible they often look to shirk the responsibility by pointing the fingers somewhere else.</s>LEMON: And, Sharon, the prosecutor's says that this case is still open that they plan to investigate the arrest. I saw your mom on television today, she said, you know, you just have to patient in this process. Is that hopeful news for you that there will be a more satisfying outcome? COOPER; I will you that the hope is dimming with regard to the aspect of any charges being brought against the officer. And the reason I say that, Don, is simply this. It's been five months since this senseless accident -- since this incident occurred. And what is crystal clear and what is the easiest thing in this case is that Sandra should never have been arrested in the first place. The same dash cam video that you have access to, and that I have access to and that the world has access to is what the opposing side and special prosecutors have had access to for the five last months. So, the fact that is even a notion that there is more time prolonging the grieving process of this family, dragging it out through the holidays to say that they need more time to bring charges on the officer. They in the 52 minutes in Sandra's encounter with Sandra is very clear that her civil rights were violated and that the officer acted in gross professional misconduct.</s>LEMON: Well, I thank you for coming on regardless of the circumstances behind your sister's death, it is -- it is tough when you lose anyone. And I know it's going to be a tough holiday season for you and your family and our thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you, Sharon. Thank you, Cannon.</s>LAMBERT: Thank you. Thank you very much.</s>COOPER: Thank you, Don.</s>LEMON: Coming up, can it really be that nobody is legally responsible for Sandra Bland's death? We'll talk about that. That's next.