Records show that Billy Wayne Dunn entered Harris County Jail in Houston, Texas, on September 23, 2021. He committed suicide using a sheet to hang himself. Mr. Dunn died on September 28, 2021, according to the custodial death report.

The risk of suicide is increased behind bars. Inmates who are at a higher risk than others include the following, according to research:

• Young men
• Mentally ill individuals
• Alcohol and drug addicts
• Those who have previously attempted suicide

The stressors associated with initial incarceration, the shame of being jailed, fear of the unknown, possible fear of other inmates, and relationship issues all create an environment in which every inmate has the potential for a suicide attempt. This makes suicide prevention challenging.

Research also shows that there is an increased risk of suicide in smaller jails as compared with larger facilities. In fact, research indicates that the rate of suicide is five times higher in jails housing fewer than 50 inmates. About 14% of custodial suicides occur in small jails.

NIC has conducted numerous studies and discovered that many jails do not provide their staff members with suicide prevention training. If the training is provided, it is not an annual event. Policies for suicide prevention are often present in small jails, though there are not usually comprehensive.

A mnemonic device, SAD PERSONS, can be used as a reminder of high-risk individuals. Learn more in the next segment.

See Part 1 and this ongoing series.

This website does not intend to imply that any person or entity has been a participant in wrongdoing. The purpose of the posts on this website is to help inmates incarcerated in Texas county jails.

–Guest Contributor