Suicide in Prisons: Unsettling Reality Needs Attention

There is a troubling reality of the rate at which inmates take their lives in prisons. It is time that the government and all the stakeholders switch their attention to the unsettling truth of inmates who kill themselves not only globally but also in American jails and prisons. Generally, without focusing on prisons, suicide is a severe problem. Suicide is responsible for the lives of 47, 000 people in America in the year 2016 (Fazel et al., 2016). It is assumed that today suicide is twice accountable for deaths that homicide. In this paper, the focus is to analyze two parts of prison suicide. The first part entirely focuses on prison suicide, while the second part is the development of policy that can help curb the occurrence and spread of prison suicide.

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How prevalent is the incidence of prisoner suicide?

Prison suicide is a global problem. The rates of prison suicide are as high as four times the rates of general population suicide. In the United States, the prices of prison suicide are four times the rate as the average and general population. The rates of prison suicides are steadily increasing with 41percent steady increase from the prison suicide cases from 2016 to 2017 (Fazel et al., 2018). This number is according to research that only focused on prisons in New York. An interesting statistics is that different from the suicide rates in the general population where male record the highest number of suicides, in prison suicide female prisoners is twenty times more likely to commit suicide than their male prisoner counterparts. The rate of prisoner suicide is feared to be relatively rising not only in federal states in America but globally. From the number mentioned in the above analysis, it is clear that suicide rates in prison are more prevalent. The rise of levels in inmates' suicide demands for the implication of dangerous policy to prevent similar occurrences and numbers in the future.

What are the factors that contribute the most to prisoner suicide?

There are known and discussed risk factors that contribute to prison suicide. These factors include; the use of drugs, unemployment, interpersonal conflicts, and mental illnesses, or mental instability. However, the causes of suicide discussed below are those that are trial-related and generally assumed by most stakeholders in charge of prisons.

The first factor that studies have revealed as a cause of prison suicide is a socio-demographic factor. Most suicide accomplishers are between the age of 25 to 30 (Spittal et al., 2019). Of this population, those that have a high social and economic status before incarceration are likely to commit suicide. A high degree of social and family integration with people who their incarceration means a bleak future might try to commit suicide.

Clinical factors are another contributor to prison suicide. Clinical factors include issues like psychiatric disorders, depressive disorders, and psychosocial stressors. Clinical factors contribute to about 33percent of the entire suicide cases in American prisons. Psychiatric disorders are clinical factors that are linked to mental depressions. Depressive disorders are often linked to suicide more than all the other clinical factors. Depression among inmates is frequently caused by hopelessness. Psychosocial stressors are factors that arise from the immediate society of the prisoner and act as a setback to the prisoner. These factors include; institutional stressors, parole setbacks, divorce, marital separation, and even death of a loved one.

Another factor that contributes to prison suicide is trial-related factors. Pre-trial inmates who are at risk of committing suicide are those afraid of the guilty verdict. Most of these prisoners anticipate harsh sentencing and decide to terminate their lives before then. A massive number of trial-related suicides occur within the three days of a court appearance, either after or before a court appearance. After trial, inmates who commit suicide are those that expected freedom and did not get it. Trials and Pre-trial contribute to approximately 14% of the total prison suicide cases.

Finally, another factor that contributes to an inmate's suicide is institutional factors. Institutions that have lower staff supervision record a lot of suicide cases from prisoners compared to strictly supervised institutions. Maximum security prisons that have single cells and isolation record the highest number of suicides compared to shared prison cells. Prisons and their facilities contribute adequately to accomplished cases of suicide.

What are the characteristics and histories of prisoner suicide victims?

History of prisoner suicide includes prisoners who have received a threatening message or a piece of bad news in the recent past. Most of these prisoners speak as if they are not going to be around much longer. One example of a prisoner who displayed suicidal characteristics is one of Atlanta prison in 2005. Six days after the death of Jeffrey Einstein by suicide in the jails of Manhattan prison, another inmate wanted to commit suicide after receiving information that his wife had passed away. His cellmate, Mike, overheard him talking about how he tried to kill himself. Mike had to contact his wife, who was outside the prison to consult with the department correctional department, to get help for his cellmate. That same night Mike's cellmate attempted suicide, with the prison sheet, while Mike pleaded with him not to commit suicide. From the historical example explained above, some characteristics are precise for prisoners attempting suicide. Firstly, talking about death is an instant sign of a prisoner attempting suicide. Secondly, withdrawing from the rest of their regular duties, added to persistent show of defiant behaviors. Additionally, a prisoner who might have recently received bad news from home and is demonstrating the inability to adapt to the news are at a higher risk of committing suicide. Finally, those prisoners who do not dare to adjust to the new set of environments that the institution of prison offers are likely to commit suicide. The characteristics mentioned are displayed by those who are likely to commit suicide within prisons and correctional facilities.

Where and under what circumstances are prisoner suicides likely to occur?

Over 80percent of prison suicide cases are completed through hanging. Most prison suicide accomplishers find suicide easy to commit since it faster, and all the tools are readily available. It is the effectiveness of hanging that yields a lot of mortality rates. In prison cells where there are a lot of buildings, some accomplishers jump from buildings of height. Other uncommon but possible circumstances of prison suicide are swallowing of hard objects and hunger strikes. Most prison suicide occurs in the aforementioned manners. It is equally important to mention that a number of these suicides occur when the inmates are alone and are not under any supervision. A record by Atlanta correctional facility has shown that most prison suicides occur at 7 pm and 7 am in the mornings when there is very minimal prison supervision by the guards. The above-mentioned circumstances encourage the occurrence of prison suicide.

Why are prison officials obligated to address the problem of both state and federal inmates?

Prison official is obligated to address problems of both state and federal in regards to the American law. American law which all states adhere to recognizes that there is a relationship between the jailer and the prisoner. The prison officers through the prison official have the legal responsibility to protect the prisoners from any harm, including self-harm (Stone et al., 2017). Prison officials have to take responsibility for prisoner's suicide, having been mandated with the responsibility of protecting the prisoners from personal tragedy.

Additionally, prison suicide is more than a personal tragedy to prison officials because it complicated the pursuit of justice. When someone awaiting trial ends their life, the victim or the complainant is deprived of the opportunity to have the criminal brought to justice. To complete the full cycle of justice, it is only fair that the prison official ensures no cases of suicide are recorded. The scenario applies when someone convicted commits suicide; the public interest in approving punishment entirely being carried out is all lost. Based on the mentioned factors concerning suicide, it is only fair that a failure of duty is imposed on the prison officials to prevent such occurrence in the future.

Part two

Suicide policy prevention program

Inmate suicide attempts are a huge concern for all the jails and prisons in the state. Every correctional facility is required to have an adequate suicide prevention program. Below is an outlined policy that can be implemented by states, the federal government, and correctional facilities to prevent future occurrences of prison suicide.

Training

The first recommended by the policy is appropriately trained correctional staff. The staff of any jail members forms the backbone of any jail, prison, or juvenile facility and should be trained adequately. The training should include all the skills that are required to implement all the legal procedures required when dealing with suspected suicide cases. At a bare minimum, and staff of a correctional facility should have undergone the following minimum training: initial suicide prevention training which includes limiting correctional environments conducive for suicidal behavior, attitude training about suicide, risk periods of suicide, warning signs and symptoms and the most recent suicide periods and practices, potential predisposing factors to suicide. Apart from this regular training, the staff should have at one time attended the yearly refresher course on suicide (Tartaro, 2018).

Intake Screening and Procedures

Suicide might occur within the first two hours of arrest and detention (Tartaro, 2018). For the mentioned reason, it is essential that detection occurs within the first hour or immediately after the entrance of the correctional center. The screening test should be done in terms of medical intake and psychological assessment. Relevant based professionals do the screening. The items in the appendix should be used to detect the prisoners who would require further interventions. Any of the mentioned items increased circumstances of affirmative action on the part of the prisoners.

Risk Identification

Since intake screening does not predict in completion of the occurrence of suicide (Kegler et al., 2017), it is essential to conduct the risk identification process. At the same time, the inmates are held within the cells. The risk identification process should be identified with the help of the inmates. Every cell should have two inmates. Each of these inmates acts as each other's keeper.

Classification

Classification is a crucial part of the housing inmate protection in terms of where they are supposed to stay. Housing and classification of inmates under risk is done by giving them an inmate and a correctional officer or official. If it is possible with all resources, inmates are subjected to a psychotherapist.

Referrals of inmates Referrals are procedures that inmates require to be seen by a health care service. The best method to use to be seen by a health facility is risk assessment. Those that have been assessed to be of high risk are subjected to health facilities even frequently and faster.

Observation and Constant Supervision

Inmates who have been assessed to display suicidal behavior should be put in categories. The ones with the riskiest behavior at category A are observed continuously at intervals of five minutes. Each of the grou...