GUIDELINES FOR INVESTIGATING DEATHS IN CUSTODY – International Committee of the Red Cross

When people are deprived of their liberty, responsibility for their fate rests mainly with the detaining authorities, who must guarantee the life and physical integrity of each detainee. Therefore, when someone dies in custody, it is only fitting that an independent investigation be conducted – regardless of the presumed cause of death, which may be natural or acci-dental, but which may also have been an instance of unlawful killing or the result of ill-treatment or inadequate conditions of detention. A prompt, impartial and effective investigation is essential for ascertaining the cause of death, for preventing similar incidents in the future and ensuring the security of other prisoners, for informing the next of kin and for reassuring the public of the authorities’ commitment to fulfilling their national and international obligations. An investigation of this sort is also a prerequisite for conducting any civil and/or criminal proceedings that may be appropriate. https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/assets/files/publications/icrc-002-4126.pdf