The custodial suicide of 36-year-old Christopher Beau Duboise, who had been booked into Midland County Jail in May 2019, contributed to a tragic statistic. Most inmate suicides, like his, occur within the first week of incarceration—though Duboise’s attempt at suicide that led to his death occurred within two hours.

What Makes Jail Such a Risky Environment?

Suicide prevention among inmates is a concern across the US, and a study was done to explore why jail is such a risky environment and how to prevent it from happening. The following are among the conclusions with regard to why suicidal behaviors are so common in jails:

• Inmates experience a loss of personal control.
• Prisoners become disconnected from their networks of social support.
• Needed mental health resources may not be available.
• The isolation and privacy that inmates can experience in jail often lead to suicide attempts.

Myths About Suicide and Suicidal Inmates

Another factor that can contribute to inmate suicides is that there are many myths about suicidal inmates and suicide in general. Errors in thinking can influence behavior on the part of jailers and the inmates themselves. The following are examples of myths and facts related to custodial suicide and suicidal inmates:

MYTH 1

MYTH: There is nothing that can be done to stop a person who has made up their mind to commit suicide.

• FACTS: Suicidal impulses are often fleeting; methods available for committing suicide have a direct influence on the occurrence and outcome of acts of suicide; and most people with suicidal thoughts actually have mixed feelings about dying.

MYTH 2

MYTH: If you ask a person about suicide, you may give them the idea to do it.

• FACTS: Asking a person if they have suicidal thoughts does not cause a suicide; showing concern is likely to help an inmate; and open conversation helps with identifying issues and getting needed help.

Learn more in Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series.

This website provides posts to assist Texas prisoners currently or previously incarcerated in county jails. It is never intended on this site to denote wrongs on anyone’s part, whether a person or an entity.

–Guest Contributor