Correctional suicide prevention in the year 2000 and beyond

Abstract

Although the problem of suicide in jail and prison historically has been ignored, significant insight has been gained over the past several decades due primarily to increasing litigation. This article provides a brief overview of the progress in research, programming, and policy. The new millennium offers exciting opportunities for continued growth in correctional suicide prevention. The key areas of process research, risk assessment, and public and penological policy changes are reviewed and considered vital for the field's advancement.