JAIL SUICIDES PREVENTION

The United States is plagued by a countless number of social dilemmas. Although not in constant public scrutiny, suicide is a serious problem which has seemed to have lost importance. When suicide is coupled with arrest and incarceration it becomes an increasingly complex situation. In fact, research indicates that the jail suicide rate ranges from 2.5 to 13 times greater than the rate of the general population (Winkler 1992). Motivation, prediction, and prevention of suicidal behavior are grossly …

…fundamental objective of the criminal justice system. Disruptions of the system in this way may cause correction officers to view inmates with high risk factors as a burden of liability. There are various cost efficient methods for reducing suicides such as cell structure modification, or double cell occupancy. The most cost effective method is instilling sensitivity in correctional personnel. Understanding, relating, and simply speaking to an inmate as a human being may save a life.