Characterization of cases of people injured by agents of the State
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.16925/2018.02.01Keywords:
human rights, personal injuries, torture, state violenceAbstract
Introduction: State officials use force to maintain order and good coexistence. Detainees, upon release, went to the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences (INMLCF) with a court order requesting an assessment of personal injuries suffered during their detention. The assessment demonstrated, indirectly, that State officials violated the right to personal integrity, ranging from injuries inherent to the detention process, abuse of authority, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment and even torture. This study aims to analyze the phenomenon, identifying its frequency and characteristics. Methodology: The study is of the descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional type. The reference center for violence of the INMLCF of Colombia provided the database of non-fatal, interpersonal, cases of reported violence, from Armenia, Pereira and Manizales that were attended between 2009 and 2014 (32021 cases in total). This data base, once filtered by the alleged aggressor groups (Police, Military Forces, CTI, Sijin, INPEC officials, custodians and DAS.) generated a total of 3212 cases. Results: For the most part, the accused agents of the State are members of the police, the injured parties are young people ranging from 16 to 19 years old and the conditions for vulnerability are usually linked in some way to the consumption of psychoactive substances. Conclusion: It is necessary to advance as a society and offer a better future to the new generations; other alternatives should be offered to adolescents, for example, opportunities in education and culture.
Author Biographies
Elia Beany Lasso Cerón, Universidad de Manizales
Línea de investigación en Tortura
María Mercedes Jurado Alvarán, Instituto Nacional de Medicina Legal y Ciencias Forenses
Área de Clínica forense
José Jaime Castaño Castrillón, Universidad de Manizales
Profesor titular, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
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