Institute of Criminology Public Seminars: 'Crime and Justice in a Death Investigation' - Professor Belinda Carpenter

Speaker: Belinda Carpenter, Professor and Director of Research in the School of Justice, Faculty of Law, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.

When a reportable death occurs, a number of professional groups become involved in its investigation – police, coroners, pathologists, counsellors. In common law countries like England, Australia, US, and Canada, this is the case whether or not the death is suspicious or violent. While research has demonstrated the importance of training and education for staff in the context of criminal investigations - with its over-representation of vulnerable and marginalised populations - this is less likely to occur in the context of death investigations, despite such investigations also involving the over-representation of vulnerable populations. This seminar discusses the implications for families caught up in a death investigation system where both families and professionals may move between criminal and coronial jurisdictions. Based on interviews with coronial staff in one Australian jurisdiction, it explores the ways in which coronial professionals (coroners, police, counsellors and pathologists) understand and position the role of families in a death investigation, with a particular emphasis on those who present as culturally or religiously different due to their practices around death, bodies and funeral rites.

This seminar starts at 5.30pm,and will be held in Seminar Room B3, Institute of Criminology, Sidgwick Avenue, Cambridge, CB3 9DA. A drinks reception in the basement foyer will follow this seminar for attendees

The IoC Public Seminar Series is open to all interested in attending, with no ticket required. If you wish to be added to the seminar mailing list, please contact: Joanne Garner, on: jf225@cam.ac.uk