Preventing Suicide in Prison: a Collaborative Responsibility of Administrative, Custodial, and Clinical Staff

This article reviews the literature on suicide in prison during the past 3 decades & identifies the pattern & occurrence of risk factors. These risk factors are classified as demographic, institutional, & clinical. The author outlines specific administrative, custodial, & clinical steps & procedures that form the basis of a comprehensive suicide prevention program that can be implemented in small & large systems. The author recognizes the limitations of staff availability, the budget constraints, & the ineffectiveness of efforts to prevent suicides that occur without any warning. (69 refs)