Title: Inmate Suicide: Prevalence, Assessment, and Protocols -- Tripodi and Bender 7 (1): 40 -- Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention
Headings: Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention
Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention
Inmate Suicide: Prevalence, Assessment, and Protocols

Content: Offenders with a history of violence were most at risk; prisoners incarcerated for violent offenses in both local jails (92 per 100,000) and state prisons (19 per 100,000 state prisons) had rates much higher than average. Consequently, facilities housing a high proportion of violent offenders may be especially at risk for prisoner suicide. States differ considerably in reported rates of suicide. During a 2-year period, three states reported no prison suicides (New Hampshire, Nebraska, and North Dakota), whereas South Dakota reported as many as 71 suicides per 100,000 inmates and Utah reported 49 suicides per 100,000 inmates ( Mumola, 2005 ). The variation across states, although seemingly due to many factors, may underscore differing protocols that exist between states for identifying suicidal prisoners and implementing prevention and intervention plans. The implementation of suicide prevention programs in prisons is discussed in more detail later in this chapter. Risk Factors
TOP
Defining the Problem
Scope of the Problem
Risk Factors
Psychiatric Diagnosis
Suicide Assessment Measures
Suicide Prevention Standards,...
Conclusion and Recommendations...
References
Over the past two decades, several important risk factors for suicide have been identified. The presence of several of these risk factors should alert mental health professionals to suicidal inmates and help professionals classify which inmates constitute a serious risk. The majority of risk factors are relevant for suicidal adults in the general population;