NCJ Number
139261
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1992 Pages: 8-9
Date Published
September 1992
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Between 1983 and 1992, 128 offenders under jurisdiction of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) committed suicide; the CSC normally investigates these suicides, the leading cause of death among inmates, at either the regional or national level.
Abstract
The CSC policy toward suicide investigations calls upon correctional personnel to learn to identify offenders who are likely to commit suicide and those who show signs of intent to commit suicide. The Investigations and Departmental Security Division has added three new elements to its suicide investigation process: examination of possible pre-indicators of suicidal intent, implementation of a staff training program, and preparation of a set of inmate suicide-related guidelines. Previous studies have identified several risk factors associated with inmate suicide: sexual offenders, victims of child molestation or sexual assault, white collar criminals, inmates suffering from chronic or debilitating diseases, and inmates denied parole or transfer. An analysis of suicides within Canadian Federal prisons supported these findings.