As part of a larger research project that evaluated individual and organizational units of analysis as related to jail suicides and suicide rates, this study addresses the problem of jail suicide and the current utilization of profiles as screening devices. Traditional profiles either overgeneralize to too broad of a population, are too small to offer conclusions beyond a case study, or lack distinction from the general jail population. This study examines inmate characteristics in relation to county jail suicides in a Midwestern state from 1980 through mid-1998. The concepts behind current profile application are refuted and yield to characteristics elicited through comparisons to the general, county-jail inmate populations. These factors distinguish inmates who committed suicide from inmates in the general jail population. The results demonstrate the need for local assessments and more stringent methods when developing screening tools. Implications for jail administrators, policies, and future research are discussed further.
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