This article examines prison suicides in England and Wales during 1985-1994. Prison suicides have risen from 19 per annum to 60 per annum in 1994. This is a 107% increase, compared to a 14% rise in the prison populations over the same period. Prison officials blame a lack of qualified nurses and say that a breakdown in mental health services is placing a burden on the crowded justice system. Although prison workers are given suicide intervention courses, they say that more needs to be done.