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Suicide in Prison

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

D. O. Topp*
Affiliation:
Prison Department, South East Regional Office, Tolworth Tower, Surbiton, Surrey KT6 7DS

Summary

Records of 186 suicides among male prisoners in England between 1958 and 1971 emphasize the differences between the prison population and the population at large. The suicide rate may well be three times greater. The records show that sentence of more than 18 months' duration, whether anticipated or actually received, is associated with a greater risk of suicide than shorter sentence, and that suicide is most likely to be committed during the first few weeks in custody.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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References

1 Goring, C. (1913) The English Convict. Darling: London.Google Scholar
2 Roth, M. (1972) Human violence as viewed from the psychiatric clinic. American Journal of Psychiatry, 128, 9.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3 Glaister, B. (1977) A critique of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry—Warlingham Park Hospital. Bulletin of The Royal College of Psychiatrists, August 1977.Google Scholar
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