Suicide in Recently Released Prisoners: a Population-Based Cohort Study

A population-based cohort study was done to investigate suicide rates in recently released prisoners in England & Wales. Suicide rates per 100,000 person-years in prisoners who died within one year of release were compared with rates in the general population by using the indirectly age-standardised mortality ratio. 382 suicides occurring in 244,988 individuals within 1 year of release were identified; a suicide rate of 156/100,000 person-years. 79 suicides occurred within the first 28 days after release. In all age groups, suicide rates were higher in recently released prisoners than in the general population. (29 refs.)