Suicide and community justice

Abstract

BackgroundThere has long been concern about the number of people who die in custody in England and Wales, particularly in prisons or police stations. The concern is obviously heightened when people die either at their own hand, or at the hands of others. Yet there has been selective critical gaze, and people who die whilst under probation or community supervision have been neglected (Phillips, J, Gelsthorpe, L, Padfield, N., Criminology & Criminal Justice, 10.1177/1748895817745939, 2017). Given that there is evidence to suggest that contact with the criminal justice system in non-custodial settings is associated with higher mortality rates than those found in the general population, such neglect is concerning.MethodsThis article explores data which has been published since 2016 by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) on the deaths of offenders whilst under supervision. We draw on data which is collected by probation providers and collated by HMPPS to present original analyses, with particular focus on deaths by suicide. We calculate rates of self-inflicted deaths and rate ratios with the general population and the prison population.ResultsThe suicide rates for all groups within the sample are higher than the general population.ConclusionsWe explore the utility of the data in helping us to understand the trends regarding people dying whilst under probation supervision with a particular focus on suicide, and highlight areas where the dataset is deficient. We conclude that whilst the dataset can be used to calculate headline rates of suicide it raises many questions in terms of the extant risks that people on probation face, and we explore ways in which the data can be used more fully to understand this important social and public health issue. We consider ways in which the dataset could be matched with other datasets in future research so that health issues might be brought into the analysis, and reflect on other research methodologies which would add depth to our understanding of why the mortality rate amongst people in contact with the criminal justice system is higher than in the general population.

Adverse childhood experiences: a retrospective study to understand their associations with lifetime mental health diagnosis, self-harm or suicide attempt, and current low mental wellbeing in a male Welsh prison population

“…Improving the mental health and wellbeing of prisoners is a complex task and it is essential that the risk factors for poor mental health and wellbeing in prison are understood (Phillips et al 2018). This study has aimed to identify associations between ACEs and lifetime mental illness diagnosis, self-harm or suicide attempt in incarcerated males, and to explore if ACEs predict current low MWB in prison.…”

Preventing suicide, promoting resilience: Is this achievable from a global perspective?

“…People who are under the criminal justice system in community settings also have a higher rate of suicidal ideas, thoughts and suicide when compared to the general population, particularly those aged between 30 to 59 years old. Suicide rates peak within two weeks, and remain high for up to six weeks, after of receiving a community order (Phillips, Padfield, & Gelsthorpe, ). The population who are under the criminal justice system in all settings are a high risk populations requiring special attention in suicide prevention strategies.…”

Deaths While under Probation Supervision: What Role for Human Rights Legislation?

“…In the absence of data showing any analysis by age-which could be useful to further our understanding of what is happening- Table 3 uses 2015-16 data from previous research to show that the risk of dying by suicide for women under all forms of probation supervision is between 50 and 86 times higher than the suicide rate amongst women in the general population. 10 There has been a longstanding debate about how best to deal with women who are convicted of an offence. Research has shown that putting women in prisons that were designed 'by men and for men' does little more than perpetuate women's prior experiences of structural inequality and personal violence.…”