“We now have a patient and not a criminal” : An exploratory study of judges and lawyers’ views on suicide attempters and the law in Ghana

Osafo, Joseph, Akotia, Charity S., Andoh-Arthur, Johnny, Boakye, Kofi E. and Quarshie, Emmanuel N. -B. (2018) “We now have a patient and not a criminal” : An exploratory study of judges and lawyers’ views on suicide attempters and the law in Ghana. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 62 (6). pp. 1488-1508. ISSN 1552-6933

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Abstract

This study explored the views of judges and lawyers of the superior courts of Ghana on the law criminalizing attempted suicide. Qualitative data were collected from 12 experienced legal practitioners of the superior courts (five judges and seven lawyers) using a semi-structured interview schedule. Thematic analysis of the data yielded three main perspectives: In defence of the Law, Advocating a Repeal, and Pro-Health Orientation. Although exploratory, the findings of this study offer cues for stepping up suicide literacy and advocacy programmes toward either a repeal of the law or a reform.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Keywords:	criminalization, attempted suicide, judges, lawyers, Ghana
Faculty:	ARCHIVED Faculty of Arts, Law & Social Sciences (until September 2018)
Depositing User:	Dr Kofi E Boakye
Date Deposited:	27 Jul 2017 13:32
Last Modified:	10 Feb 2022 14:56
URI:	https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/id/eprint/701997

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