CIAO DATE: 9/07
Culture and Conflict: Volume 55 (Fall 2004)
On February 22nd, 1974 a young West Indian, who was imprisoned for a minor crime, suffocated to death as he was being restrained during his transfer to the disciplinary wing at Fleury-Mérogis prison. With six successive reports the inquest cleverly tried to make him responsible for his own death thus absolving prison staff of responsibility. In 1974 the prison authorities still bore the marks of the rebellions that had just shaken the prisons. Moreover it was regularly reviled by the press and the public for being archaic, reactionary and violent. The Mirval scandal was soon to become a symbol and its outrageous outcome simply confirmed the impunity of prison staff. Yet it was a turning point and nothing would be the same again. No doubt this was the first episode of a slow change but it took place in utter darkness.