Suicide litigation as an agent of change in jail and prison: an initial report.

The effectiveness of psychiatric and psychological forensic experts in litigation concerning suicide in correctional settings is more of an art than a science. Although experts for both plaintiff and defense play equally important roles in assisting the finders of fact and contributing to just decisions, the expert's role and agenda for the plaintiffs are especially instructive to both sides involved in the adversarial process. The author summarizes the most relevant organizational standards for practice guidelines for suicide prevention in correctional settings and illustrates how these can be applied as standards for liability. Using these standards together with his extensive forensic experience in this area, the author illustrates how suicide litigation and the expert's participation in this process can promote improved care for potentially suicidal inmates.

Death investigation after the destruction of evidence.

Unavailable in the literature is any reference to an investigation of death after evidence has been destroyed. In this presentation two firearms and the bullet were melted after the death was certified as a suicide. A team of investigators conducted a psychological autopsy as well as shot patterns to determine the distance from the gun muzzle to the head to determine whether or not the wound was a contact type. The resolution of the case is discussed and the factor of local politics and case prominence in the media is reviewed.

Medical problems and criteria regarding the use of tear gas by police.

Litigation against police agencies for the use and misuse of control agents and procedures has become an important issue for the forensic medical specialist and expert witness. As police technology improves, it becomes apparent that more information for forensic experts will be required in this area. One such area of concern is the use of tear gas by police. This paper addresses the basic types of gas in terms of their chemistry, uses, and medical side effects and complications. Two types of gases--namely, chloroacetophenone (CN) and orthochlorobenzylidenemalontrile (CS)--are discussed in terms of basic properties, unique advantages, and possible harm to the body. CN and CS are relatively safe agents that can be used to control the behavior of a dangerous person. Clinical examples of their use and misuse by police are also reported. Specific guidelines are offered to help ensure a proper assessment of the dangerous person and to protect the health and lives of police personnel, perpetrators, and others exposed to the tear gas. Forensic experts called to testify about the behavior of the disturbed person or to assess the appropriateness of action taken to subdue that person must become more aware of the technology employed by police agencies to accomplish this particular job of protecting public safety.

The psychiatrist and violent death investigation.

The role of the psychiatrist in supporting law enforcement investigation of violent deaths is discussed and illustrated with a case of the death of a woman and the injury of her husband. The question of whether this was a suicide or a homicide was posed by the investigating officers. The review of the background of the marriage and the information about the circumstances of the case is presented by the author so that one can have an insight into the value of the psychiatric evaluation of a case such as this.

A case of female autoerotic death.

This paper reviews some of the types of autoerotic death which have been reported and some of the psychodynamic principles which are associated with them. As cases involving females have never been reported, this presentation offers some opportunity to see how psychiatric insight assisted police investigation of an autoerotic death. Crime scene sketching and photographic evidence complement the case material so that the reader can feel he is at the crime scene. A comparison between male and female autoerotic deaths is made.

An overview of suicide--1979.

There are many changes taking place and new directions being developed all the time in suicidology. The various changes and why they are happening are discussed. The activities of the suicide prevention centers are reviewed and some of the experiences of the Detroit Suicide Prevention and Drug Information Center are reported. There is discussion of the role of the psychiatrist in support of some aspects of law enforcement activities including crisis intervention technics. The American Association of Suicidology is discussed as is the International Association for Suicide Prevention.

New frontiers in the relationship between suicidology and law enforcement.

This paper reviews some historic ties between crisis intervention and the beginning of suicidology. It reviews the author's involvement in suicidology and law enforcement, in terms of crisis intervention, management of the man with a gun, studies of suicide among police, bereavement of widows of slain police officers, jailer stress, psychological aspects of kidnapping, kidnappers, victim survival in kidnapping, hostage negotiation, and application of the psychological autopsy to homicide investigation. In addition, the development of a program to offer survivor counseling for those whose loved ones have been killed and for those whose loved ones were the killers is described. Other new areas for suicidology application are outlined in terms of survivors, industry, and school.