NCJ Number
181132
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 25 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2000 Pages: 8-23
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
2000
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Following a review of the research on jail suicides, this article examines jail suicides in a midwestern State between 1980 and 1998.
Abstract
Questionnaires were sent to county jails that had experienced suicides, and all suicides were verified. The mean age of inmates was 30.3 years, while the mean age of inmates who committed suicide was 29.2 years. The suicide group was 97.1 percent males and 2.9 percent females. Of inmates who committed suicide, 29.9 percent demonstrated suicidal tendencies and 66.7 percent did not. In addition, 31.7 percent of the suicide group had a known history of prior suicide attempts and 33.3 percent did not. Of the suicide group, 29.3 percent indicated a mental illness; 43.1 percent did not. Forty percent of the suicide group had known medical problems; 46.2 percent did not. The method of suicide was hanging in 97.1 percent of the cases. The "typical" jail suicide occurred on a Monday in January. Limitations of the survey are noted. 15 references, 4 tables, and 7 figures