NCJ Number
12672
Date Published
1973
Length
349 pages
Annotation
EIGHTEEN PAPERS ON VARIOUS ASPECTS OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN JAILS, PRISONS, AND HOSPITALS FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE.
Abstract
IT IS A COMPILATION OF EXPERT OPINIONS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE BARS--PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, CRIMINOLOGISTS, ATTORNEYS, AND FORMER INMATES. THE FIRST SECTION CONTAINS EIGHT PAPERS DEALING WITH THE JAIL SETTING. TWO OF THE PAPERS CONCERN SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN GENERAL AND SIX ARE STUDIES OF SUICIDE IN VARIOUS JAILS. THE STUDIES OFFER STATISTICAL DATA WHICH SPELL OUT THE INCIDENCE AND EXTENT OF BOTH SUICIDE AND SUICIDE ATTEMPTS IN THE JAIL SETTING AS WELL AS THE ETIOLOGICAL FACTORS WHICH GIVE RISE TO SUCH BEHAVIOR. NINE PAPERS RELATING TO SUICIDE IN THE PRISON SETTING MAKE UP THE SECOND PART OF THE BOOK. REINFORCING THE STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE OF THREE OF THE PAPERS ARE TWO WRITTEN BY EX-CONVICTS THEMSELVES. THEIR EXPERIENCES AND FEELINGS ABOUT IMPRISONMENT OFFER A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR COMPARISON OF PERCEPTION OF STAFF AND OUTSIDE SPECIALISTS. THIS SECTION ALSO CONTAINS TWO PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOPSY STUDIES, PAPERS OF THREE INMATES WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE IN PRISON, AND A LOOK AT THE ROLE AND FUNCTION OF THE CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, BOTH AS IT IS AND AS IT COULD BE. THE ONLY PAPER DEALING WITH THE HOSPITAL SETTING FOR THE CRIMINALLY INSANE WAS WRITTEN BY AN EX-CONVICT WHO SPENT FIVE-AND-ONE-HALF YEARS IN A MICHIGAN HOSPITAL. THE FINAL SECTION DEALS WITH A SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS, OBSERVATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF ALL THE PAPERS PRESENTED.