Suicide In Jails :: essays research papers

Suicide In JailsThe United States is plagued by a countless number of social dilemmas.Although non in constant public scrutiny, suicide is a serious problem which hasseemed to have lost importance. When suicide is coupled with arrest andincarceration it becomes an increasingly complex situation. In fact, researchindicates that the jail suicide rate ranges from 2.5 to 13 times greater thanthe rate of the general population (Winkler 1992). Motivation, prediction, andprevention of suicidal behavior are grossly unclear, which only adds to thealready existing complexity. Many factors involved with arrest and incarcerationonly serve as a catalyst of suicidal tendencies. Suicide is the elementary cause ofdeath in this countrys jails. In 1986 there were 401 successful jail suicides(Winkler 19992).There are many general assumptions made in regard to suicide. Most seesuicide to be caused by mental illness such as major depression or bipolardisorder. An other belief is that the emotional es calation trail to actiontakes place over a long extremity of time. Such is not the case in jail suicides.Much of the research shows that "of all jail suicides pass away within the firsttwenty four hours of incarceration, and an overwhelming number of these takeplace in the first three hours of isolation which is referred to as the crisisperiod" (Hess 1987). The crisis period is reflective of arrest and incarcerationas producing extreme confusion, fear, and anxiety. The crisis period is also the return of isolation. Isolation causes an individual to lose all social supportsystems. Placing an individual in isolation may be a form of protection, butthis gives the individual an opportunity to concentrate on feelings ofhopelessness (Winkler 1992). Hopelessness can be defined as the presence ofdespair and negative feelings about the future (Shneidman 1987).Isolation canalso produce a severe threat to those inmates who have problem with copingabilities as this only encourages future deterioration. Undoubtedly, isolationis often necessary to contain a person, or to prevent injury to the individualand, or other inmates. Individuals who are experiencing obvious mental stressshould certainly not be held in isolation for obvious reasons.According to Hess (1983),many facilities have regulations which state,Theaction taken moldiness be responsible under the circumstances and represent a good-faith judgment that the action was the least restrictive alternative available.Regulations such as this not only serve as a guideline for officers, but as apreventive measure against legal action as a result of isolation. Aside fromthese emotional factors of the physical environment which are impetus ofsuicidal attempts. Isolation cells more often than not tend to have poor