N

O
I
IT

&

G
N
G
I
T
O
T
E
C
NL S
E
R TI O N A
E N TIO
D E EC
I
C RV R R
I
O
U
C
E
S T E
INN T H
I

,
:
W
BYL M S

,
D
S
M
E
A
T
I
L
N IL
E
W
S
.
E K

E
R
E
P AM
J

COURSE DESCRIPTION
Who:

All non-security staff, correctional officers, and cadet

What: Identifying the individual offender needs in relation

to suicide risk
potential
Why: Suicide and self injurious acts are a serious danger in
the correctional setting, and early identification is important
for both the offender in need of service, and the facility
charged with their care

OVERALL GOALS OF THIS TRAINING

Early identification of self-destructive behaviors among the
offender population to help decrease potential risk of
suicide

Proper treatment of potentially self-destructive offenders to

help reduce the risk of suicidal behaviors

PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES
As a result of participating in the Suicide Recognition and
Intervention Training correctional officers and cadets will be able to
briefly explain how incarceration impacts suicidal risk and list at
least three common indicators of possible suicidal risk.
As a result of participating in the Suicide Recognition and
Intervention Training correctional officers and cadets will be able to
describe where the highest incident of suicide occurs in prisons.
Given an hypothetical scenario the correctional officers and cadets
should be able to describe a correctional officers responsibility
upon discovering an offender they believe to be suicidal.

SUICIDE RECOGNITION & INTERVENTION

Suicide ranks third, behind natural causes and AIDS, as in the
leading cause of death in prisons (BJS, 1993a)
Most of these deaths can be prevented.
As correctional officers you may encounter a suicidal
offender(s)
Very few suicides are actually prevented by mental health,
health care, or other professional staff because suicides are
usually attempted in offender housing units

PRISON FACTS
Among state prisoners, violent offenders were more than
twice as likely to commit suicide as nonviolent offenders.
(i.e. Kidnapers have the highest rate)
Among non-violent offenders, probation/parole violators had
the highest suicide rate
Drug offenders were recorded as having the lowest suicide
rates of all state prisoners

PRISON FACTS: INCARCERATION

REPRESENTS
A loss of freedom
Loss of family support
Fear of the unknown/ fear of uncertainty about future
Embarrassment or guilt over offense
Fear or stress related to poor environmental conditions

OVERTIME INCARCERATION BRINGS ADDED STRESS:

SUCH AS
Conflicts within facility
Victimization
Legal frustration
Physical and emotional breakdown
The suicide rate of longtime offenders seem to increase
with the length of stay ( Those offenders referred to as
Lifers seem to be at high risk)

SUICIDE METHODS IN PRISON

Hanging and strangulation
Drugs
Self- inflicted wounds
Starvation/Dehydration

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

A 47 year old prisoner used restraint chains in an attempt to
strangle himself. Officers were puzzled as to how the offender
could have his hands, feet and ankles shackled and still be able
to contort his body to get the chains around his neck.
NOTE: This prisoner was on suicide watch
Question: What methods could officers have taken to prevent
this death?

MYTHS ABOUT SUICIDE

Myth: People who threaten suicide dont commit suicide.
Fact: Most people who commit suicide have made direct or
indirect statements indicating their intentions
Myth: People who attempt suicide once will not try it again
Fact: Anyone with one or more suicide attempts is at much
greater risk for repeated attempts.
Myth: If someone really wants to kill him or herself there is
generally nothing you can do about it.
Fact: Almost all prison suicides can be prevented

HIGH RISK SUICIDE TIME PERIODS

The first 24 hours of confinement
Intoxication/withdrawl
Sentencing
Holidays
Decrease staff surveillance
Bad news of any kind

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF SUICIDAL

BEHAVIOR
Once you have detected a baseline of behavior from observing the offender
during confinement you may detect other signs and symptoms
Depression or paranoia
Offender exhibits high level of anxiety
Previous suicide attempts or a history of mental illness
The offender starts giving away possessions
The offender speaks unrealistically about getting out of prison
Noticeable mood changes

RECOGNIZING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION

Feelings of helplessness/ hoplessness
Extreme sadness or crying
Withdrawal or silence
Loss or increase in appetite
Agitation(usually precedes suicide)
Excessive self blaming or strong guilt
Insomnia/waking early or excessive sleeping

WHEN AN OFFICER RECOGNIZES

SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR
Notify your supervisor
Use preventive measures such as increased supervision to
discourage the behavior
Avoid isolation as a response to such behaviors. Isolation
often increases the problem
Observe and document the behavior.
Refer offender to mental health or medical personnel for
assessment

IF A SUICIDE ATTEMPT OCCURS

Secure the area is safe
Render first aid
Do not assume the offender is dead!
Call for Backup
Do not leave person hanging
Protect the persons head and neck

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

An offender is found unresponsive in his cell. This offender
died three days later. He had made an unsuccessful suicide
attempt previously.
After a through investigation, administrators learned that
two employees falsified logs indicating the offender was
monitored every 15 minutes.
What should have taken place in this situation?

REFERENCES
Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, Suicide and
Homicide in State Prisons and Local Jails, NCJ 210036,
August 2005
Hayes, Lindsay M. Prison Suicide: An Overview and Guide to
Prevention, National Institute of Corrections, 1995