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: This article describes the prevalence of suicide for incarcerated adults in detention centers, jails, and prisons; factors associated with suicide risk; methods for assessing suicide risk in this vulnerable population; and current protocols for suicide prevention programs in jails and prisons. KEY WORDS: prison suicide, jail suicide, suicide risk factors, suicide prevention, mentally ill offenders
Although prison suicide is not a likely occurrence, it is the leading cause of preventable death in jails and correctional facilities ( Way, Miraglia, Sawyer, Beer, & Eddy, 2005. Inmates are particularly at risk during the first 24 hr under custody as they face the reality of incarceration ( Hayes, 1995 ). The risk further increases for detainees and offenders when they are held in detention centers or lockups with no way to post bail, particularly if this is the first incarceration for felony offenses. At this point, inmates are faced with compounded stressors. The jail environment embodies fear, distrust, lack of control, isolation, and shame and is often dehumanizing.