The forensic experts at the Institute of Legal Medicine (IMLCF) of Almería -dependent on the Ministry of Justice, Local Administration and Civil Service- performed a total of 341 autopsies in 2023, 41.7% of which were natural deaths (142) and 58.3% violent deaths (most of which were accidental, 113, followed by suicides, with 77 cases, and eight homicides, a very high rate per 100,000 inhabitants compared to other Spanish provinces). Only in one case the cause of death could not be determined.
These are some of the main data from the annual report of the IMLCF of Almería, which also reflects that the Pathology Service acted in 18 examinations of corpses and that the Comprehensive Assessment Unit for Gender Violence (UVIVG) attended 99 cases of sexual assault during shifts last year under the Sexual Freedom Law approved in September 2022. In addition, they carried out 580 examinations of women (470 on duty and 110 upon summons), 101 of reported men (the majority, 77, on the shift) and two of minors.
The territorial delegate for Justice, Local Administration and Civil Service, Rebeca Gómez, has valued the work of the UVIVG, which is responsible for reporting, at the request of judicial bodies and prosecutors with jurisdiction in this matter, on the comprehensive assessment of the effects of physical, psychological and sexual violence on female victims, in addition to the effects suffered by minors in their care and the objective dangerousness and risk of reoffending of the accused.
Last year, the on-call forensic doctors at the IMLCF in Almería treated 470 women and examined 24 aggressors. In addition, 469 examinations were carried out at the UVIVG by prior appointment: 189 forensic (110 for women, two for minors and 77 for men reported for assault), 127 psychological and 153 by social workers.
Since the approval of Organic Law 10/2022, of September 6, on Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom, the UVIVG, in addition to caring for victims of gender violence, also assist women victims of sexual violence. Last year, 99 cases of sexual assault were treated in Almería.
As for the work of other IMLCF departments, the Clinical Service issued 4,799 expert reports on complex injuries.
Gómez recalled that “although most of the work carried out by the Institute of Legal Medicine is at the request of judges and prosecutors, since 2016 Andalusians can request an expert opinion to assess damages caused in traffic accidents in cases of extrajudicial claims”. Thus, last year, 260 such examinations were carried out.
To access this service, it is necessary to submit a reasoned offer from the insurance company and a request, the form for which is available on the website of the Ministry (https://juntadeandalucia.es/servicios/sede/tramites/procedimientos/detalle/16833.html), where it can be submitted electronically with an electronic certificate. The request must include the express consent of the injured person, or of their relatives in the event of death or incapacity, for access to their medical history.
As for the IMLCF’s psychosocial teams, last year they prepared 63 family reports and 138 criminal reports. The Forensic Psychiatry Services prepare psychiatric reports to decide on the internment of a person, their imputability, the determination of incapacity or drug addiction analysis.