Suicide is the leading cause of death in jails in the USA, Canada, Australia & the United Kingdom. Hayes argues that there are 2 major reasons for this: 1) jail environments are still very conducive to suicidal behaviour, in spite of increased awareness among correctional personnel; & 2) the inmate is facing a crisis situation. This column reviews the history of jail suicide prevention programs. Future columns will explore the realities of crisis within jails as well as practical interventions.