A Quarter Century of Suicide in a Major Urban Jail: Implications for Community Psychiatry

Factors that increase the risk of suicide in urban jails were identified by examining all 37 suicides from 1967-92 in a Detroit jail. Inmates charged with murder or manslaughter were 19 times more likely to commit suicide than were inmates with other charges. All suicides were by hanging & most occurred at night within 31 days of admission. A charge of murder or manslaughter is identified as an important risk factor. Treatment/prevention programs should recognize these inmates as very high-risk.