NCJ Number
123818
Journal
American Jails Volume: 4 Issue: 1 Dated: (May/June 1990) Pages: 50-53
Date Published
1990
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Information on 107 inmate suicides in Texas jails during 1986-88 formed the basis of this analysis of the physical methods by which inmates are committing suicide.
Abstract
The suicides were geographically distributed throughout the State in about the same manner as the general population. County jails accounted for 66 of the suicides and municipal jails for the remaining 41. The mean age of the inmates was 28.11 years. Hanging accounted for 103 of the suicides. Cloth shirts or strips were used in 100 of the hangings, shoelaces in 2, and an extension cord in 1. Points of attachment included the cell crossbars in 35 cases, vent and window grates in 21 cases, shower rods in 16 cases, and privacy partitions in 7 cases. Results suggested that jail suicides could be reduced by eliminating the types of points of attachment used in the majority of the suicides studied. Nevertheless, extremely determined inmates are still likely to kill themselves. Figures, footnotes, and 21 references.