PRISON SUICIDE (FROM SOUTHERN CONFERENCE ON CORRECTIONS, ANNUAL, 19TH, 1974 BY VERNON FOX AND RICK KASTEN - SEE NCJ-30746)

• NCJ Number: 30747
• Author(s): W T AUSTIN; C M UNKOVIC
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 11 pages
• Corporate Author: Florida State University; Wichita State University
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

AN EXAMINATION OF INMATE SUICIDE IN MAJOR ADULT PENAL INSTITUTIONS, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO THE PERSONAL, SOCIAL, AND INSTITUTIONAL CONDITIONS WHICH ARE ASSOCIATED WITH SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR.

Abstract

QUESTIONNAIRE REPLIES WERE RECEIVED FROM 100 PRISONS, YIELDING DATA ON 160 INMATE SUICIDES. BASED ON ANALYSIS OF THESE DATA, THE AUTHORS PRESENT A PROFILE OF THE SUICIDAL INMATE. IT IS SAID THAT HE IS LIKELY TO BE MALE, AGED 22 TO 36, CAUCASIAN, SINGLE, AND TO HAVE AN EDUCATION OF FROM SEVENTH TO NINTH GRADE. HE IS LIKELY TO HAVE SERVED FROM ONE TO TWO YEARS OF A FOUR TO EIGHT YEAR SENTENCE FOR A PROPERTY CRIME. HE IS PROBABLY A PROTESTANT, A RECIDIVIST, AND HAS PROBABLY HAD FEW VISITORS IN PRISON. SUICIDE BY HANGING IN A SINGLE CELL IS THE MOST COMMON MEANS. THE QUESTIONNAIRE EMPLOYED IS INCLUDED IN AN APPENDIX.