Examined short-term male, long-term male & short-term female prisoners in 2 separate jails. A history of attempted suicide from a prison population is common. Each of the groups of male prisoners disclosed an incidence of 12%, the females 36%. Statistical comparisons between those prisoners with & without a history of attempted suicide revealed that the prisoners who attempted suicide had a greater likelihood of parental deprivation. This loss concerned both parents for a variety of reasons.