NCJ Number
145588
Date Published
1993
Length
337 pages
Annotation
The incidence, nature, and motivation of attempted suicide and self-injury in male prisons are investigated.
Abstract
The relationship between self-injury, attempted suicide and completed suicide was also investigated. In addition, the authors explored what steps were being taken by establishments to manage and prevent suicide and self-injury and made suggestions for possible improvements. The research did not cover suicide attempts in police cells, immigration detention centers, female establishments, secure psychiatric facilities or other institutions. The book is divided into eight chapters: (1) Introduction (background and objectives of the research, nature and extent of the problem); (2) Carrying out prison suicide research; (3) Suicide attempts and self-injury in sixteen prisons (including reasons and intentions, differences between adults and young prisoners); (4) Talking to prisoners; (5) Suicide attempts in four prisons: in their own words; (6) The staff (including the role of the staff in suicide prevention, the causes of suicide in prison); (7) The role of specialists; and (8) Summary and conclusions. There is a list of abbreviations and an eight-page bibliography. Four appendixes contain additional prison suicide data, suicide prevention procedures and facilities in 16 prisons, profiles of four prisons, tables for chapters two through six.