Citation

Yapo Étté H, Djodjo M, Botti K, Ebouat KMEV. Rev. Med. Leg. 2012; 3(1): 27-33.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.medleg.2011.11.004

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

PURPOSE of the study: This study aims at determining circumstances and causes of the deaths in police custody in Abidjan to place the responsibilities by the contribution of the forensic medicine.

METHODology: It is about a retrospective study on the deaths in police custody recorded by the forensic activity of the University hospital of Treichville (Abidjan-Côte d'Ivoire) over a period of 8 years (from January 2001 to December 2008).

RESULTS: Thirty-three dead men in police custody over this period: 66.7% to the criminal police, 21.2% to the urban police and 12.1% in the gendarmerie. Average age of theses dead men was 33 years. Violence was implied in 24 cases: 19 during the police custody among which three cases of suicide by hanging and five before the police custody (two by wounds by firearm and three by lynching). Nine deaths (27.2%) except violence. All the bodies had been examined in the external plan and a forensic autopsy had been practiced in 16 cases (that is 48.4%).

CONCLUSION: In Côte d'Ivoire, the deaths in police custody are the consequence for the greater part, of violence committed during the police custody. The request of a medico-legal autopsy is not systematic. This first study on the question has to allow the forensic medicine to join as innovative concept the national politics of the health in prison for a State, which wants of right. © 2012.

Language: fr

Keywords

adult; human; violence; suicide; male; autopsy; prison; police; cause of death; forensic medicine; article; retrospective study; responsibility; medicolegal aspect; custody; Forensic medicine; Cote d'Ivoire; Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire); Deaths in police custody