Citation

Lanphear BP. Am. J. Forensic Med. Pathol. 1987; 8(4): 299-301.

Affiliation

Shelby County Medical Examiner's Office, Memphis, Tennessee.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1987, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3434551

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to review retrospectively the deaths that have occurred in the Shelby County detention center from 1970 to 1985. The Shelby County data are compared and contrasted with other studies to discern significant and preventable causes of death in custody. This study confirmed natural causes as most prevalent; however, suicide accounted for greater than 20% of all deaths (15-50-fold greater than the general population). Suicide occurred by hanging in greater than 90% of cases. This is a preventable cause of death while in custody, and means of prevention are addressed.

Language: en