Glossary

Indigenous Status

Indigenous

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

Not Indigenous

Not Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person.

Not specified

Coroner has not specified Indigenous status.

Type of Custody

Youth detention

Custody in juvenile detention or youth detention centres for persons aged between 10 and 18.

Police cell

Includes a cell in a police station, watch house or police lock-up.

Police station

Includes deaths that occur on the premises of a police station, excluding police cells.

Police operation

Includes deaths that occur during police raids, sieges and shootings where officers were attempting to detain the person.

Forensic facility

Mental health facility that provides assessment and treatment for people who have been charged with a crime, or found not guilty of a crime on the grounds of mental illness.

Other

Other type of custody, or type of custody is not stated by coroner.

Cause of death

Killed by another

Includes murder and manslaughter, as well as acts of self-defence or defence of another that result in a person’s death.

Suicide

Where a person intentionally kills themselves, or dies as a result of acts of self-harm.

Other

Where the coroner makes an ‘inconclusive’ finding, and other circumstances not otherwise specified.

Specifics of Death

Police pursuit

The definition differs between States. Generally includes cases where police in their vehicle attempt to apprehend a person fleeing by vehicle who is a suspected law-breaker.

Siege

Where police establish a perimeter around the premises where a person is located and there is sufficient contact between the police and the deceased.

Drug overdose

Includes deaths that result from fatal consumption of legal or prescription drugs, as well as illicit drugs.

Asphyxia

Death caused by deprivation of oxygen, excluding hanging.

Other

Includes all other causes of death including drowning, electrocution, fire, head injury, restraint, and cases where the cause of death is inconclusive or unknown.

Personal Characteristics

Alcohol use

Coroner has made mention of alcohol use, at any stage of life.

Drug use

Coroner has made mention of drug use, at any stage of life.

Mental illness

Any reference to mental illness by the coroner at any stage of life.

Pre-existing medical condition

Includes any relevant existing medical condition the deceased had at the time of death, whether or not it directly contributed to the death.

Remand/Sentenced

Remand

Charged with a crime but not sentenced.

Sentenced

Charged and convicted of a crime, and received a term of imprisonment from a court (or had another penalty imposed upon them by a court).

Other

Includes situations where the person is on parole, has not been charged, has not yet appeared in court on any charges, or has been found not guilty by reason of mental illness.