Suicide Prevention in Correctional Settings: Current Standards and Recommendations for Research, Prevention, and Training

Abstract

Inmates remain a vulnerable group at elevated risk for suicide, especially in light of stresses associated with incarceration. Despite the elevated risk for inmates, suicide prevention practices in corrections remain tenuous at best. The present article reviews literature on risk and protective factors for suicide among inmates as well as current recommended best practices. It then provides directions for suicide prevention provision, training, and research in correctional settings. These include adaptations for security staff of current empirically supported models of suicide risk training and intervention.

Keywords: corrections; inmate; prevention; self-injury; suicide.