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Law Enforcement Custody Deaths

NCJ Number
112873
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 55 Issue: 8 Dated: (August 1988) Pages: 38-41
Author(s)
V McLaughlin; B Siddle
Date Published
1988
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses deaths of suspects while in police custody resulting from police neck restraint, and cases where the cause of death could not be determined.
Abstract
Five case studies are presented as examples of police custody deaths, and the sudden death syndrome is described. Fatalities that are sudden and unexpected are divided into three categories: death due to heart disease/emotional stress and/or physical exertion; death caused by blow-induced vagal inhibition; and death possibly due to trauma. The characteristics of suspects at risk are described, and areas of further study are suggested. 6 references.