Suicide in Italian Prisons in 1996 and 1997: A Descriptive Epidemiological Study

Abstract

This study analyses the suicides in Italian prisons in 1996 and 1997, formulates hypotheses regarding possible risk factors for such suicides, and suggests possible preventive measures. The data come from the anonymous records on prison suicides provided by the Italian Prison Administration Department. Data were collected and elaborated according to statistical-epidemiological criteria using the World Health Organization Epi 6 programme. In 1996, there were 45 suicides in Italian prisons among a prison population of 48,528 (93/100,000 inmates/year). In 1997, there were 55 suicides among 49,306 inmates (112/100,000 inmates/year). Some of the suicide risk factors found were: mental disorders, drug addiction, previous incarceration, and the lack of objective assessment of the suicide risk. On the basis of possible risk factors identified in this study and the results of the reported international studies, the authors suggest guidelines for the prevention of prison suicides integrated on three levels: environmental, diagnostic, and therapeutic.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Axelson, G. L., & Wahl, O. F. (1992). Psychotic versus nonpsychotic misdemeanants in a large county jail: An analysis of pretrial treatment by the legal system. International Journal of Law Psychiatry, 15, 379-386.

Ben-David, S., & Silfen, P. (1993). Rape death and resurrection: Male reaction after disclosure of the secret of being a rape victim. Medical Law, 12, 181-189.

Bland, R. C., Newman, S. C., Dyck, R. J., & Orn, H. (1990). Prevalence of psychiatric disorders and suicide attempts in a prison population. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 35, 407-413.

Bourgoin, N. (1993). La mortalitè par suicide en prison [Mortality due to suicide in prison]. Revue Epidemiologique Santé Publique, 41, 146-154.

Dooley, E. (1990). Prison suicide in England and Wales, 1972-87. British Journal of Psychiatry, 156, 40-45.

DuRand, C. J., Burtka, G. J., Federman, E. J., Haycox, J. A., & Smith, J. W. (1995). A quarter century of suicide in a major urban jail: Implications for community psychiatry. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 1077-1080.

Green, C., Kendall, K., Andre, G., Looman, T., & Polvi, N. (1993). A study of 133 suicides among Canadian federal prisoners. Medical Science Law, 33, 121-127.

Griffiths, A. W. (1990). Correlates of suicidal history in male prisoners. Medical Science Law, 30, 217-218.

Haycook, J. (1991). Crimes and misdemeanors: A review of recent research on suicides in prison. Journal of Death and Dying, 23, 81-94.

10.

Hurley, W. (1989). Suicides by prisoners. Medical Journal Australian, 151, 188-190.

11.

Kerkhof, A. J., & Bernasco, W. (1990). Suicidal behavior in jails and prisons in the Netherlands: Incidence, characteristics and prevention. Suicide Life Threatment Behaviour, 20, 123-137.

12.

Maden, T., Swinton, M., & Gunn, J. (1994). Psychiatric disorder in women serving a prison sentence. British Journal of Psychiatry, 164, 44-54.

13.

Marcus, P, & Alcabes, P. (1993). Characteristics of suicides by inmates in an urban jail. Hospital Community Psychiatry, 44, 256-261.

14.

Salive, M. E., Smith, G. S., & Brewer, T. F. (1989). Suicide mortality in the Maryland state prison system, 1979 through 1987. JAMA, 262, 365-369.

15.

Schaller, G., Zimmermann, C., & Raymond, L. (1996). Facteurs de risque des gestes auto-aggressifs dans une prison suisse [Risk factors in self-injurious behaviour in a Swiss prison]. Soz Praventivmed, 41, 249-256.

16.

Skegg, K., & Cox, B. (1991). Impact of psychiatric services on prison suicide. Lancet, 338, 1436-1438.

17.

Winkler, G. E. (1992). Assessing and responding to suicidal jail inmates. Community Mental Health Journal, 28, 317-326.