Deaths in custody : a gender-specific analysis

• Lisa Collins and Jenny Mouzos
• Trends and issues in crime and criminal justice, no. 238
• ISBN 0 642 24278 X ; ISSN 0817-8542
• Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, September 2002

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Abstract

Based on data from the National Deaths in Custody Program, this paper discusses gender specific trends in custodial deaths in Australia over the period 1980 to 2000. The paper presents statistics on Indigenous and non Indigenous female and male deaths incustody for the period, including statistics on the type of custody, most serious offence, and cause and manner of death. Of the 75 females who died in custody over this period, the majority of Indigenous female deaths occurred in police custody, whilenon Indigenous women were more likely to die in prison. Overall, self inflicted death by hanging was the leading manner of death for females (and males), although Indigenous women were more likely than non Indigenous women to die from natural causes. The paper also discusses five case studies of female deaths in custody, both Indigenous and non Indigenous.

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• Project information: National Deaths in Custody Program
• Subject: Deaths in custody
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