Suicide in Scottish Prisons

Backett, Simon

doi:10.1192/bjp.151.2.218

Cited by 115 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…4% Herrick, 1989;Michael, B., 1992;Ministry of Justice, 1996 Self-harm/Attempted Suicide 4 -40% Eyland, Corben, & Barton, 1997;Franklin, 1988;Home Office, 1984;Pattison & Kahan, 1983;Weekes & Morrison, 1992 Suicide 0.02 -0.47% Backett, 1987;Camilleri, McArthur & Webb, 1999;Flaherty, 1983;Liebling, 1992;Liebling & Krarup, 1993;McClure, 1987;Ministry of Justice, 1996;Office of Corrections Victoria, 1985;Porporino, 1992;Ramsay, Tanney, & Searle, 1987;Tatarelli,;Topp, 1979 Drug-use 1 -31% 22 -76%…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of CCTV on Prisoner Misbehavior

2008

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Despite the widespread use of closed circuit television (CCTV) in prison, few studies have explored its effect on prisoner misbehavior. Research was conducted to explore two research questions: (i) does CCTV have a greater preventative effect on nonviolent than violent prisoner misbehavior, and (ii) does CCTV have a greater preventative effect on planned than unplanned violent behavior. Data were obtained on the 1,116 incidents involving aberrant prisoner behavior that occurred at four prisons in Queensland (Australia) over a six year period. Findings indicated that violent and unplanned misbehavior were relatively more likely to occur in view of CCTV coverage than were non-violent and unplanned misbehavior. The implications for the prevention of aberrant inmate behavior and for our understanding of the impact of CCTV on violence are discussed.2

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of CCTV on Prisoner Misbehavior

2008

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“…Studies suggest that violent or sexual offenders [11,16], repeat offenders [17,18], and those serving long sentences [19,20] are over-represented in the suicide statistics. However, a few studies contradict this pattern, finding that non-violent [21], first time offenders [20], and offenders serving shorter sentences [22] are at increased risk of suicide. Several authors found that prison suicide is associated with psychological disorders [11,18,23], alcohol and drug misuse [10,18], a history of selfharm [10,11], isolation [11,24], and prison overcrowding [25].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Factors associated with mortality in a cohort of Australian prisoners

et al. 2007

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We examined factors associated with increased mortality in a cohort of 85,203 adults with a history of imprisonment in New South Wales, Australia, between 1988 and 2002. Information on death was collected through linkage to the Australian National Death Index. The influence of demographic and criminological factors on the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) for all-cause mortality, and deaths due to drug overdose and suicide was examined using negative binomial regression models. The number of deaths identified was 5,137 (4,714 men, 423 women, 303 in custody). The overall SMR was 3.7 (3.6-3.8) in men and 7.8 (7.1-8.5) in women. SMRs raised for deaths due to drug overdose (men: 12.8, women: 50.3) and suicide (men: 4.8, women: 12.2). The high SMR was associated with hospitalisation for mental illness, multiple imprisonments, and early stage of follow-up independently of causes of death. Being released from prison increased the SMRs for all-cause and drug-related mortality, but not suicide. For women, significant trends for decreasing risk with increasing age were noted. Minority groups, in particular men, had a lower risk of death than white people. In men a sex or drug offence was associated with a lower risk and a property or violence offence was related to higher mortality. Our results reinforce how disadvantaged prisoners are, measured by mortality as the most fundamental scale of human wellbeing. Certain demographic and imprisonment characteristics are indicators of high mortality among this population. The underlying causes of some of these characteristics such as mental illness or multiple imprisonments are potentially treatable and preventable. Prison health services need to develop interventions targeting high-risk groups to avoid this situation.

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“…In contrast, other reports showed that natural diseases were a leading cause of death [9]. Some risk factors for inmate suicides identified in earlier studies were the number of days following incarceration [10,11], overcrowding [12], isolation [13], long sentences after high violent offences [14], psychiatric disorders, alcohol and drug abuse [15,16], and depression [16]. Deaths other than those due to suicide could be as a result of physical disease processes, homicide, accidents and misadventures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 44%

Trends and causes of psychiatric inpatient deaths: A ten-year retrospective study at a secure forensic psychiatric centre in Canada

Adelugba¹,

Mela²,

Haq³

2018

Forensic Sci Criminol

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Psychiatric inpatient population within the correctional system is different from psychiatric inpatient facilities in the community. This study aimed to better understand the trends and causes of deaths among inpatients in a secure forensic psychiatric centre. Data collected on all deaths during a ten-year period revealed that there were 18 natural deaths (Crude Mortality Rate (CMR) of 9.6 per 1000 per year) and one death due to suicide (CMR = 0.6 per 1000 per year) constituting an overall CMR of 10.2 per 1000 per year. Among the 19 deaths during the study period, 18 (94.7%) were pre-mature (< 75 years of age). The average potential years of life lost was 22.3 years (SD = 10.8, n = 18, 95% CI = 16.9 -27.6). Respiratory diseases (44.4%, n = 8) were a leading cause of natural deaths followed by gastrointestinal diseases (38.9%, n = 7), cardiovascular diseases (11.1%, n = 2), and renal diseases (5.6%, n = 1). Nurses attended to the deceased patients on the day of their deaths in all cases and the interval in terms of the number of days a patient was seen by clinical staff prior to death was least for the nursing staff compared to other staff categories (Mean = 1.1, SD = 1.4, n = 19). In conclusion, most of the deaths were pre-mature, due to natural causes and death by suicide was extremely uncommon at the study site. Similar studies need to be conducted in other centres.

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Suicide in Scottish Prisons

Cited by 115 publications

References 7 publications

The Effect of CCTV on Prisoner Misbehavior

The Effect of CCTV on Prisoner Misbehavior

Factors associated with mortality in a cohort of Australian prisoners

Trends and causes of psychiatric inpatient deaths: A ten-year retrospective study at a secure forensic psychiatric centre in Canada

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