NCJ Number
20356
Journal
INSTANTANES CRIMINOLOGIQUES Issue: 25 Dated: (1975) Pages: 3-12
Date Published
1975
Length
10 pages
Annotation
COMPREHENSIVE DISCUSSION OF THE PROBLEM OF SUICIDE IN FRENCH PRISONS EXAMINES STATISTICS ON PRISON SUICIDES, COMMON SUICIDE METHODS, OFFICIAL ATTITUDES TOWARD SUICIDE, AND METHODS OF PREVENTING THESE SUICIDES.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT IN RECENT YEARS, SUICIDES AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDES IN PRISON HAVE INCREASED DRAMATICALLY. WHILE SOME HAVE ARGUED THAT THIS TREND ONLY REFLECTS THE SUICIDE PATTERNS OF THE REST OF SOCIETY, THE AUTHOR OFFERS EVIDENCE THAT PRISON SUICIDES ARE PROPORTIONATELY HIGHER THAN SUICIDES IN THE GENERAL POPULATION. THE 'TYPICAL' SUICIDE IN PRISON IS SHOWN TO BE A YOUNG FIRST OFFENDER, OFTEN A NON-NATIVE OF FRANCE. PATTERNS IN SUICIDE METHODS IN PRISONS ARE NOTED. THE MOST COMMON TECHNIQUE WAS FOUND TO BE HANGING. SOCIOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES ON THE CAUSES OF PRISON SUICIDES ARE ALSO EXAMINED. THE AUTHOR OBSERVES THAT IN THE CORRECTIONS ENVIRONMENT, THERE ARE SEVERAL AMBIVALENT ATTITUDES WITH RESPECT TO SUICIDE, RANGING FROM TACIT APPROVAL, TO REPRESSION, TO MISREPRESENTATION. MEDICAL, JUDICIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE MEANS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION IN PRISONS ARE DISCUSSED IN THE FINAL SECTION. --IN FRENCH