Deaths in Custody and the Inquest System

Abstract

The Coroner, the Coroner's Investigation, and the Coroner's Inquest hearing are placed at the fulcrum between ‘Public’ concerns and ‘Private’ relationships. The function of the procedure is to give voice to those issues surrounding an individual death which are legitimately concerned with Policy and social management. When death occurs in ‘State’ care the function of the coroner is fundamental to the public airing of concern over any issue of state control. This article considers the implication of that function where death is considered self inflicted, and takes place in prison. In these circumstances, it appears that the function of the coroner and the hearing is to personalize and individualize circumstances of care and control. This in turn obscures Public consideration of State control, and creates a sub-category of ‘prisoner and family’ with concerns not raised in Public court.