inquests

An inquest is a formal judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding a person’s death or other significant event, conducted by a coroner, medical examiner, or an official designated by law. The primary aim is to establish basic facts—who died, where and when, and how the death occurred—rather than to determine criminal or civil liability. In many jurisdictions, inquests are non-adversarial proceedings that seek to reveal the truth and, where appropriate, to inform public safety.

Triggers and process: Inquests are typically held for deaths that are sudden, unexplained, violent, or occur in custody or institutional settings. Depending on the jurisdiction, the proceeding may be conducted with or without a jury. Evidence is gathered from witnesses, and the outcome is a verdict or findings that describe the cause and manner of death, sometimes accompanied by a narrative of relevant circumstances. Verdicts may include natural causes, accident, suicide, unlawful killing, or undetermined/open verdicts; some systems also issue recommendations for safety and policy changes.

Regional variations: In England and Wales, coroner’s inquests are common, with possible jury involvement. In Scotland, fatal accident inquiries serve a similar function. In Australia and Canada, coroner’s courts or equivalent bodies conduct inquests, often producing recommendations rather than determining liability. In the United States, the term is used inconsistently, but many jurisdictions have a coroner or medical examiner system that issues findings rather than formal liability determinations.

Impact: Inquests can illuminate the events surrounding a death and prompt safety reforms or policy changes, though they generally do not result in a determination of civil or criminal liability.