DEaTHs IN PrIsON

Abstract

Introduction: The detainee is under the responsibility and the protection of the judicial authority which decided the detention. Thus, any detainee’s death is suspect.
material and methods: Retrospective and descriptive study of all deaths occurred in the civil prison of “Messadine” and who have been explored in the departement of Legal Medicine of Farhat Hached university hospital
of Sousse (Tunisia) during a period from 2005 to 2010. The aim of this work is to study the peculiarities of the
penitentiary deaths in the region of Sousse in Tunisia.
results: 9 deaths were collected. All the victims were male. The average age was 40 years with extremes of 21
and 80 years. Death occurred in 7 cases in the hospital and in 2 cases the prison. Death was natural in 7 cases
and suicidal in 2 cases.
Conclusion: The penitentiary deaths are mostly from preventable causes. The improving the quality of prison
health coverage allows the prevention of these deaths.