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INQUEST was founded in 1981 by the families and friends of people who had died in custody, to campaign against such deaths and for changes to the way they were investigated.

INQUEST works directly with the families of bereaved people facing coroner's inquests. We provide legal and other advice with families and their lawyers. Our main area of expertise is deaths in custody: death’s in police custody, prisons, immigration detention centres, psychiatric and special hospitals. We also review the standards of investigations held into such deaths and can provide general advice in relation to all inquests. We aim to raise public awareness about controversial deaths, and campaigns for the necessary changes to improve the investigatory process, increase accountability of state officials and avert further deaths.

Areas of Specialism

• Coroner’s inquests
• Deaths in custody

Services Offered and Catchment Area
Please see our aims and work above and geographical areas.

Other Areas of Important Work
Campaigning for reform of the coroner’s inquest system.

Donations and Volunteers
INQUEST campaigns to pursue justice and help vulnerable people and we welcome donations and volunteers. Please contact us if you can offer assistance.

Publications

Inquest Law (for INQUEST Lawyers Group members and non-member subscribers).

INQUEST e-Newsletter (online newsletter available to all).

Annual Reports (which contain detailed articles on casework and campaigns).

Inquests – An Information Pack for Families, Friends and Advisors
A freely-available guide for people facing an inquest.

Unlocking the Truth – Families’ Experience of the Investigation of Deaths in Custody
Describes the experiences of families bereaved by deaths in custody from the time of death to the conclusion of the investigation and inquest and situates them within the political, recent historical and legal context.

In the Care of the State? Child Deaths in Penal Custody in England and Wales
A groundbreaking book that provides the first detailed analysis of child deaths in penal custody. The book presents key conclusions and recommendations.

Dying on the Inside – Examining Women's Deaths in Prison
A report examining INQUEST's casework on women's deaths in prison from 1990-2007. Please see the website or contact INQUEST for more details of the above and other publications.