A Critical Analysis of the Criminal Justice Systems Approach to Attempted Suicide

Attempted suicide and suicide remain a global concern, arising from various factors, including
mental health challenges and personal distress. This study undertook a critical analysis of the
criminal justice system approach to attempted suicide. It examined the conceptual and
theoretical framework of the criminalization of attempted suicide in the Criminal Justice
System, it discussed the effects, causes and challenges of attempted suicide in different
perspectives; and evaluated the legal and institutional framework of attempted suicide in local
and other jurisdictions. This was done with a view to examine the general outlook of the
criminal justice system of Nigeria in contrast with other jurisdictions on the prevailing issue of
Attempted Suicide, examine the reasons and the view of the criminal justice system thought
process on the criminalization of attempted suicide.
This study adopted a doctrinal approach anchored on both primary and secondary sources of
data collection. The primary source includes the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
1999(as amended), Criminal Code and Penal Code, Mental health Act 2021, Suicide Act 1961,
Lunancy Act 1958, Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, Administration of Criminal
Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, International Convention on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) and
Case laws. The secondary source includes; books, journal articles, newspapers and the internet.
The study revealed that attempted suicide remains a criminal offense particularly in African
and Asian countries, where it is often punishable by imprisonment. In contrast, countries that
have decriminalized attempted suicide focus on mental health interventions and rehabilitative
support systems. It also revealed that factors such as; religion, poverty, unemployment and
cultural beliefs of people are causes of the act.
This study concluded that despite all the previous legal attempts, attempted suicide is still criminalized. It has claimed many lives and truncated many destinies.