Custody and Prison Deaths Autopsied in Istanbul between 2010 and 2012

The occurred death of a convict in prison, police custody cell or in a hospital always attracts public attention and can be considered as a complex phenomenon. 

The aim of this study is to evaluate the data obtained from autopsies performed to the custody and prison deaths in Istanbul and to discuss the possible solutions by comparing with the literature. It is also aimed to discuss the postponement of the sentence and presidential amnesty facts in Turkey. 

Deaths of inmates, which occurred in hospitals, prisons, prison medical rooms, police vans and police custody cells between 2010 and 2012 in Istanbul, Turkey were included in the study. Totally 125 cases were found and 98.4% of them were male. Natural deaths accounted for a great majority of deaths (83.2%). The most common natural cause was cardiovascular diseases. Unnatural deaths accounted for 15.2% of the deaths. Death reason cannot be determined for 1.6% of the cases. More than half of the cases (56%) were died at the hospital, 34.4% were died at the prison, 4% of them at the police van, 3.2% were died under police custody and 2.4% were died at the prison medical room. Moreover, twelve of these cases had applied to Third Specialization Board previously for postponement of the sentence or Presidential amnesty. Totally five of these cases found suitable for postponement of the sentence. 

Prison conditions should be improved, prisoners with chronic diseases should be examined periodically and if appropriate their sentences should be postponed until they heal.

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By:  Ünal V1, Özgün Ünal E2, Çetinkaya Z3, İmalı M4, Gürler S5, Koç S6.

• 1The Council of Forensic Medicine, Bahcelievler, Istanbul 34196, Turkey. Electronic address: volkanunal75@yahoo.com.
• 2The Council of Forensic Medicine, Bahcelievler, Istanbul 34196, Turkey. Electronic address: unalesra@yahoo.com.
• 3The Council of Forensic Medicine, Bahcelievler, Istanbul 34196, Turkey. Electronic address: drzafer03@hotmail.com.
• 4The Council of Forensic Medicine, Bahcelievler, Istanbul 34196, Turkey. Electronic address: muratimali@msn.com.
• 5The Council of Forensic Medicine, Bahcelievler, Istanbul 34196, Turkey. Electronic address: selcukgurler@gmail.com.
• 6Department of Forensic Medicine, Istanbul University, Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty, Istanbul, Turkey. Electronic address: sermetkoc@istanbul.edu.tr.
• J Forensic Leg Med. 2016 Jan 12;39:16-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2016.01.009. 

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Religiosity & Youth Substance Use in a Muslim Context

The literature shows that young people are more vulnerable than adults to substance use. Religiosity is one of the factors that has been considered to protect youth from substance use and has also been interpreted as contributing to the substance abuse recovery process. 

Conceptualizing religiosity as a multidimensional construct, this study aimed to investigate the influence of religiosity on substance use among youth. Three dimensions of religiosity—belief about religion, religious self-practice, and religious social environment—were examined as predictors of substance use. 

The survey data collected in 2010 by the Governance of Istanbul, Istanbul Department of Education, and Istanbul Police Department were used. Participants were high school students (n = 31,272) between 14 and 18 years old. Structural equation modeling was used for statistical analysis and hypothesis testing. 

The study found a negative relationship between the three dimensions of religiosity and substance use. Religious social environment was found to be the strongest of the three dimensions. 

The findings suggest that religion has the potential to reduce the risk of substance use among youth. Implications for future research and policymakers were also discussed.

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By:  Ali Unlu^a* & Ismail Sahin^b

• ^a Sanliurfa Police Department, Turkish National Police, Sanliurfa City, Turkey
• ^b Ankara Police Department, Turkish National Police, Ankara, Turkey

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