NCJ Number
170887
Journal
Howard Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 36 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1997) Pages: 378-392
Date Published
1997
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Prisoners in Scottish penal establishments who were identified as being at risk of suicidal behavior were interviewed to obtain information on prisoner perceptions of their coping abilities while imprisoned and prisoner perceptions of advantages and disadvantages of being placed on suicidal supervision.
Abstract
The sample of 200 prisoners was placed in three categories of suicide supervision: strict suicide supervision, intermediate suicide supervision, and basic suicide supervision. All prisoners had recently been identified as a possible suicide risk prior to medical officer assessment. All had been placed on strict suicide supervision for an initial period, either at the time of reception or at some later point in custody. Prisoner interviews were conducted in privacy. Interview data showed difficulty in coping with imprisonment was associated with previous suicidal behavior prior to custody, problems in mixing with other prisoners, having fewer friends in prison, previous psychological/psychiatric treatment while imprisoned, and history of alcohol-related problems. The level of coping ability was not related to whether this was a prisoner's first time in custody. However, prisoners who stayed longer in custody had greater difficulty in coping. Prisoners reported main disadvantages of the suicide supervision regime as sensory deprivation, negative emotional effects, and social isolation. Benefits of the regime included the prevention of suicide and self-injury, time for reflection, solitude, and protection. Findings are discussed in terms of prisoner characteristics, coping abilities, and methods of achieving a humane and safe environment for those at risk. 16 references, 2 tables, and 1 note