The National Study of Jail Suicide – 20 Years Later.

This report represents the third collaboration between the National Institute of Corrections and the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA) regarding national studies of jail suicide. During the 1980s, two NCIA studies found high rates of suicide in county jails throughout the country. Although suicide continues to be a leading cause of death in jails, the rate of suicide continues to decrease.
 

This course will present the most comprehensive updated information on the extent and distribution of inmate suicides throughout the country, including data on the changing face of suicide victims. Most important, the study challenges both jail and health-care officials and their respective staffs to remain diligent in identifying and managing suicidal inmates.
 

This publication provides important information for mental health practitioners and other service providers to increase their understanding about this significant and important problem.  Psychologists, social workers, mental health counselors, and marriage and family therapists and nurses can benefit from this course. This course is appropriate for beginning and intermediate level practitioners who wish to learn more about suicide.
 

Authors: National Institute of Corrections and the National Center on Institutions and Alternatives (NCIA)
 

Learning Objectives:  This course will provide a professional with an overview of jail suicide, a review of current research being conducted on identifying risk factors jail suicide. Specifically, a professional will:

• Recognize the prevalence statistics, and the characteristics of jail suicide.
• Describe the characteristics of of the victims of jail suicide.
• Identify methods for preventing jail sucide.
• Describe risk factors for jail suicide.