NCJ Number
143094
Date Published
1991
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This paper presents the results of a British study that examined the nature and incidence of suicide, suicide attempts, and self-injury among young offenders in custody, as well as signs that an inmate is at risk for suicide.
Abstract
Information collected for this study included 180 semi- structured and tape-recorded interviews, the collection of information already available in records and reports, lengthy informal discussions with inmates and staff, and observation of related aspects of prison life. Compared to a control group, suicide attempters had a higher level of family violence and pathology. The suicide-attempt group had fewer qualifications from school than the comparison group; few suicide attempters were able to read and write without difficulty. The subject group was more likely to spend time in their cells doing nothing. They reported having found the prison experience more difficult, were more likely to have found being "banged up" the main problem of imprisonment, and scored higher on the Hopelessness Scale. The most significant findings regarding the experience of imprisonment was the consistency with which the subject group felt worse off than their fellow inmates in terms of the availability and desirability of work, education, physical exercise, and other activities in prison. Given that attempted-suicide inmates report far more problems in adjustment to prison life, an observant and listening staff should be able to identify inmates at risk for suicide. 28 references