Suicide During Incarceration

Death by suicide among prison inmates is a major problem that plagues the correctional system. Although suicide rates have declined since the 1980s, it is one of the most prevalent causes of death for prisoners. Long-standing and widespread acknowledgment of this problem has led to investigations that have provided in-depth data about suicide among prison inmates, including which prison inmates are most at risk of suicide, when and where suicides occur within prisons, and how prison inmates engage in suicidal behavior. Despite these efforts, relatively little is known about why prisoners die by suicide and how correctional mental health providers can predict and prevent death by suicide among prisoners. This entry provides a general overview of the problem of suicide among prisoners in the United ...