custodial death
TRANSCRIPT
A death in custody is a death of a person in the custody of the police, prison service or other authorities.
CUSTODIAL DEATH
deaths resulting from police or prison officers attempting to detain a criminal or a person escaping or attempting to escape from police custody or prison.
Arm-locks or neck holds: Applied by policeofficers to resisting persons
are other causesof deaths during arrest. The arm lock is applied either from behind or
with the head of the offender tucked under the police officer’s arm against the waist.
CUSTODIAL DEATH
compression of the front and sides of the neck and death can occur .
either from reflex cardiac arrest or cerebral ischemia during carotid compression or asphyxia from airway obstruction, though the latter is unlikely to be the sole mechanism.
Blunt injury
may occur from the use of fist, arm or leg and by use of a weapon such as a truncheon, riot stick or pistol butt.
Any type of blunt injury may be received. Head injuries may occur during a scuffle from falls either against the ground, or against a wall or other obstruction.
CUSTODIAL DEATH
is a frequent cause of death in custody and also it is major factor in provoking aggression and violent resistance. When blood alcohol levels rise to above
350mg/100mL there is an increasing risk of coma and central respiratory depression.
At lower blood alcohol levels there is still the risk of aspiration of vomitus and choking on gastric contents.
At autopsy, this aspiration should be distinguished from the common agonal phenomenon.
ALCOHOL
in custody are quite common. Mostpolice forces deprive the prisoner of any objectsthat could be used to hang himself in the cells such as belts, braces, cord or even
bootlaces.In addition, the police cell may be specificallydesigned to avoid any convenient suspensionpoints, such as bars, hooks, internal door handles.
SUICIDES
Deaths may occur from purely natural causes,usually of cardiovascular origin and no objectiveproof can be provided when the emotional andphysical upset of being arrested an confinement may have affected the blood pressure and heart rate sufficiently, by an adrenaline response, to have precipitated an acute cardiaccrisis in the presence of severe preexistingdisease
CUSTODIAL DEATH
All deaths in custody should be examined with care to ensure that the guardians are cleared of any suspicion of ill-treatment.
The torture and custodial deaths are confirmed by circumstantial and corroborative evidence.
The victim is usually in detention in or some
form of custody.
Investigations of Torture and CustodialDeaths
Such types of death are usually involved withthe non-cooperating attitude of the authorities that are hostile to impartial injury.
The cases are handed over to the responsible authorities such as Red cross, Amnesty International, Physicians for human rights.
.There is usually delay in the process before a victim is being brought for examination, the injuries may have healed and body may have decomposed. Body is sometimes disposed off early.
Investigations of Torture and CustodialDeaths
The causes of deaths in torture or custodialdeaths may be sepsis, haemorrhage, internalorgan injury and even sheer exhaustion.
Investigations of Torture and CustodialDeaths