Prison suicide in England and Wales, 1972-87

Area of Science:

• Forensic Psychiatry
• Criminology
• Public Health

Background:

• The period 1972-1987 saw a disproportionate rise in prison suicides in England and Wales compared to the growing prison population.
• Understanding the characteristics and risk factors associated with these suicides is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the case notes of 295 prison suicides (98.3% of total) in England and Wales from 1972 to 1987.
• To identify trends, common methods, and demographic/offence-related factors contributing to suicide within the prison system.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case note analysis of 295 completed suicides in prisons.
• Data collection on methods, inmate history (psychiatric, self-injury), offence type, sentence length, and time since reception.

Main Results:

• Hanging was the predominant method, often occurring at night.
• A significant proportion of suicides had a history of psychiatric treatment and self-injury.
• Inmates convicted of violent or sexual offenses, and those serving life sentences, were over-represented.
• Guilt over offenses and conviction for homicide were associated with suicide.
• Suicides occurred even many years after initial imprisonment.

Conclusions:

• Prison suicide rates escalated beyond population increases during the study period.
• Key risk factors include prior psychiatric issues, self-harm, violent/sexual offense convictions, and homicide offenses.
• Recommendations include routine screening for suicide attempts and improved staff-inmate communication.