Inquiries After Homicide

by Lecturer in Law Jill Peay

Homicides by those who have received care from mental health services are rare events, but their impact is extensive. The tragedy of violent death is followed by dislocation and despair for families--both of victim and perpetrator--while the professionals involved and community as a whole can be variously touched by anger, anguish and self-reproach. Inquiries after such events are currently inevitable. But what is the proper role of these inquiries after homicide, and what are their achievements and shortcomings? This book brings together the views of academics, professionals and practitioners in the field, reviewing the legal procedures and pitfalls and questioning what has been learnt from such inquiries in the past and what tangible benefits they bring. It seeks to establish whether the hidden benefits--to those needing to understand what happened--can be weighed against the hidden costs, in particular to those whose professional decisions are judged retrospectively. In short, the book asks whether inquiries after homicide explain, expose, expiate, or merely excoriate.

182 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1996