Brazil National Council of Justice mandates context for police-related deaths in death certificates

The National Council of Justice (CNJ) has unanimously approved a resolution requiring death certificates to include the specific context of deaths involving public security interventions. This new standard aims to ensure that official records reflect the circumstances of violence or state lethality, rather than only listing the medical cause of death.

The regulation applies to all constitutional security agencies and covers deaths caused directly or indirectly by state agents. It also extends to deaths caused by third parties if there was official agreement, support, or omission by public authorities. To maintain dignity and prevent stigmatization, the CNJ has expressly banned the use of terms such as “resistance followed by death,” “confrontation,” or “resistance to police intervention” in official documents.

This measure is intended to strengthen the integrity of public records and provide reliable data for institutional monitoring and prevention policies. It also seeks to reduce the burden on families, particularly those from young, Black, and peripheral populations, who often face difficulties proving the circumstances of a death to access legal reparations and benefits.