NCJ Number
177176
Journal
Jail Suicide/Mental Health Update Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: Fall 1998 Pages: 1-6
Date Published
1998
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report describes the suicide prevention program operating within the Summit County Jail in Akron, Ohio.
Abstract
When processed into the Summit County Jail, inmates receive routine screening from both correctional and medical staff. Inmates identified as potentially suicidal are immediately referred to the mental health unit for assessment, and must be observed by correctional staff at a minimum of every 10 minutes. The strong relationship among correctional, medical, and mental health personnel drives the suicide prevention program and is chiefly responsible for the long-term success in preventing inmate suicides. The collaborative group has an intuitive sense as to when a particular inmate may be most at risk for suicide and can position themselves for appropriate intervention. There were no suicides during the years 1989 to 1998, a period in which more than 100,000 inmates were processed through the jail system. References