Tragically, 34-year-old William James Shandore died on February 19, 2021, in San Antonio, Texas, while he was an inmate at Bexar County Jail. Studies show that 27% of jail suicides occur between the second and fourteenth days of incarceration. Having committed suicide nine days after he became an inmate made Shandore a part of that disturbing statistic.

The Texas Commission on Jail Standards (TCJS) has made various changes to stop preventable suicides from occurring in Texas county jails. In a training document prepared by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, the following facts are shared, all of which are presented as myth-busters on the topic of suicide.

Facts That are Contrary to Common Myths About Suicide

Despite opposing myths that can create misunderstandings about custodial suicide, the following are facts that jailers need to be aware of:

• Compared to any individual who has never made an attempt at suicide, any person who has previously made one or more attempts is a far greater risk.
• Most individuals who carry out a suicidal action acted on a carefully thought-out strategy to cope with their personal problems.
• Most people who commit suicide have previously indicated their suicidal intentions through direct or indirect statements.
• When you show your concern for an individual’s welfare by discussing the possibility of suicide, speaking out about it does not and cannot make a person suicidal.

See Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

This website adds posts for the purpose of providing helpful information for Texas prisoners now or previously part of the county jail population. It is not intended on this site to make an implication of misdeeds on the part of individuals or institutions.

–Guest Contributor