Brazil CNJ mandates context of police intervention deaths in death certificates

The National Council of Justice (CNJ) has unanimously approved a resolution requiring death certificates to include the context of deaths resulting from police interventions. Currently, these documents only record the medical cause of death, omitting whether the fatality occurred during security operations.

Proposed by CNJ and Supreme Federal Court President Edson Fachin, the measure aims to preserve the dignity of victims and their families, particularly as these incidents disproportionately affect young, Black, and peripheral populations. The change is also intended to facilitate family access to potential indemnities and benefits, while improving the collection of statistical data regarding police lethality.

Legal experts note that the effectiveness of this rule depends on improved data integration between public security agencies, medical examiners, hospitals, and notary offices. There are concerns regarding operational gaps, as a unified strategy for information exchange is needed to prevent discrepancies and underreporting among different institutions.