Rad Douglas Harrison died on December 18, 2017, one week after being booked into the Dallas County Jail in Dallas, Texas. Mr. Harrison was 46 years old at the time of his death. He used a towel to fashion a ligature, and he committed suicide.

The connection between jails and an increased risk of suicide among inmates as compared with the general population has long been recognized, and many groups have prepared studies on the topic. The Texas Commission on Jail Standards has the duty of establishing minimum jail standards for the operation of Texas county jails, and suicide prevention is included.

One recent study on protecting inmates from committing suicide includes the following information.

Cultivate a Culture of Suicide Prevention

It is important to take steps in the cultivation of a suicide-prevention culture within jails, such as the following:

• Train all staff members to know what the warning signs for suicide are as well as steps for making referrals.
• Encourage staff to effectively communicate their concerns with regard to the issue of suicide prevention.
• Supervisors should model attitudes and behaviors that promote suicide prevention.

Key Points of Staff Training

During agency orientation, include training on suicide prevention.

Jail staff should have an annual refresher training course on suicide.

Suicide prevention training in jails should include:

• Maintaining effective attitudes regarding suicide prevention
• The risk factors and warning signs of custodial suicide
• Effective ways to respond to a suicide risk
• Emergency response procedures
• Holding discussions about local issues and incidents of inmate suicide

Learn more in this ongoing series.

This website offers posts for the benefit of Texas county jail inmates. It is never intended on this site to imply that persons or institutions have engaged in misdeeds.

–Guest Contributor