Suicide Prevention Recommendations for Jails Continued

Decisions About Suicide Watch – Part 2

Overall, this environment has a negative effect on inmates, causing them to have intensified feelings of shame and triggering traumatic memories. A sense of hopelessness tends to be fostered, and it becomes difficult to maintain a healthy connection with the health staff. Knowing that suicidal inmates are treated in this manner encourages many individuals to hide the fact that they are feeling suicidal.

In many jails, a decision is made as to whether a particular inmate should be placed in the general population with a plan to follow up later or to be placed in the restrictive suicide watch setting.

Risk Factors for Inmate Suicide – Part 1

The National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) identifies risk factors for inmate suicide among individuals who have been arrested but haven’t been to trial or found guilty. These inmates remain in jail due to an inability to post bail or denied release by a judge. Sometimes they remain in jail pending placement in a state psychiatric facility to receive treatment aimed at rendering them mentally fit to resume their legal case.

Learn more in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this ongoing series, to include risk factors for inmate suicide in the next segment.

It is not intended on this website to imply that persons or organizations have been involved in misdeeds. Posts on this website purpose to provide a helpful resource that benefits county jail inmates in Texas.

–Guest Contributor