Wrist Slashing in a Detention Center. Case Report and Review of the Literature

Suicides that occur in custody are rare & thus require extensive forensic analysis. Asphyxia by hanging is the most common means of suicide: at least 87.5% of completed suicides are committed in this way. A unique case of suicide in custody is presented in which a prisoner slashed his wrist with an eyeglass lens. The evidence & proceedings that led to this suicide are reviewed & the data are compared with known behavioural patterns. World literature on jail suicide is reviewed. (10 refs.)