A Proposed Screening Questionnaire to Identify Suicidal Inmates

Although screening and risk assessment are essential in preventing inmate suicide, there is not a standard questionnaire used by the correctional system. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards requires training for county jail staff members, and enhanced training is provided to those designated to conduct intake screening.  

The following are recommended questions to include in a suicide screening questionnaire. The questionnaire should be administered by a trained correctional officer or a mental health professional when an inmate is being booked into jail:

• Has the individual been contemplating acts of self-harm?
• Has the arresting officer expressed concern that the inmate may be suicidal?
• Does the person have any type of mental health or psychiatric history, including the use of psychotropic medication? 
• In the preceding year, has the individual attempted an overdose, suicide by hanging, or otherwise engaged in a nearly fatal suicide attempt?
• Does he or she have a history of alcohol or drug abuse?
• Within the past six months, has the detainee suffered a significant loss?
• Has the inmate been charged with or accused of a horrific or shocking crime?
• Does the inmate suffer from acute pain or an intractable health condition?
• Is he or she experiencing feelings of being agitated, hopeless, trapped, anxious, or helpless? 

For every “yes” answer, there should be a place where additional notes can be added. In assessing the potential suicide risk factor of the inmate, more weight should be given to near-lethal suicide attempts in the past and current suicidal thoughts. The opinion of the arresting officer should also be considered carefully.

See Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 of this ongoing series

Making any type of inference that wrongdoing has occurred on the part of a person or entity is never intended on this website. The goal in adding posts to this website is to assist inmates now or for incarcerated and a Texas county jail.

–Guest Contributor