NCJ Number
170132
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 59 Issue: 3 Dated: (June 1997) Pages: 72,74-76
Date Published
1997
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Successful suicide prevention programs in juvenile detention facilities must be multifaceted and take into account architectural concerns, mental health issues, personnel training, policies and procedures, and the setting.
Abstract
New Jersey initiated a suicide prevention program in its juvenile detention facilities 1986 and has not experienced a juvenile suicide since then, despite several suicide attempts. The New Jersey program can be adapted to any facility. Issues to address include admission screening, staff training to detect warning signs, policies and procedures to monitor juveniles on suicide watch, suicide-resistant sleeping rooms, staff training in responding to suicide attempts, mental health services, and administrative reviews of suicide attempts. Facilities that employ sensitive staff who keep youths busy in good programs and minimize the use of repressive practices such as isolation will have fewer suicide attempts than other facilities. Suicide prevention is an attitude as much as it is the implementation of good policies and procedures. Juvenile facility administrators who believe that almost all facility suicides can be averted will implement programs that do. Photograph and 3 references