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Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice

No. 94: Police custody and self-inflicted firearms deaths

Vicki Dalton
ISBN 0 642 24080 9 ; ISSN 0817-8542
August 1998

Abstract

There were 33 self inflicted firearms deaths in police custody between January 1990 and June 1997. Dalton closely examines the characteristics and precipitating factors leading up to these incidents, highlighting the significant contributing role of depression, domestic altercations and alcohol. The report aims to put in place a procedure for monitoring and reporting on the impact of new firearm regulations introduced by State and Territory Governments in 1996-97; specifically their availability and their use in confrontations with police.

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