title: Detainees in police custody in the Paris, France area: medical data and high-risk situations (a prospective study over 1 year).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The annual number of detainees held in police custody in France is approximately 700,000. Medical data regarding arrestees are scarce across countries. We present the medical characteristics of detainees kept in police custody, including addictive behaviours and high-risk medical situations.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a prospective study over 1 year in a suburban area near Paris.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 19,098 medical examinations were performed on 13,317 individuals. The examinations mainly concerned male subjects (18,116 of 19,098, 95 %). Median age was 24 years (range 13-83). Medical examination was requested by the detainee in 6,638 of 16,801 cases (40 %). Assaults were reported in 4,052 of 17,312 cases (23 %) and occurred at the time of arrest in most cases (2,243, 13 %). A total of 2,394 of 13,317 detainees (18 %) had at least one chronic somatic disorder including asthma (603, 5 %), diabetes (263, 2 %) and arterial hypertension (205, 2 %). A history of psychiatric disorder was reported by 6 % of individuals (674 of 11,787). Regular alcohol drinking was reported by 58 % of detainees. Illicit drug use mainly involved cannabis (4,021 cases, 30 %). In 14,661 of 19,098 cases (77 %), detainees were considered to be unconditionally fit for detention in custody, and 274 detainees (1 %) were declared unfit to be detained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed a high frequency of alcohol or substance use and reported assaults or traumatic lesions in arrestees. Attending physicians should pay particular attention to addictive behaviours and traumatic injuries in arrestees, both for immediate care and for prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine, Hôpital Jean-Verdier (AP-HP), 93140, Bondy, France, patrick.chariot@jvr.aphp.fr.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chariot
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beaufrère
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.forename: Renaud
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Cyril
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Boraud
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D016495:Police; D011329:Prisoners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult