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Is Suicide More Common Inside or Outside of Juvenile Facilities?

NCJ Number
209176
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 67 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2005 Pages: 84-85,88
Author(s)
Howard N. Snyder
Date Published
February 2005
Length
3 pages
Annotation
Utilizing data compiled by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) on juvenile suicides for 1990 through 2001, this article provides information as to whether suicides are more prevalent inside juvenile facilities.
Abstract
Prior research has found higher rates of mental health problems for offenders in the juvenile justice system, than among juveniles in the general population. To answer the question, “are suicides more common inside juvenile facilities,” this article presents the results of data gathered by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) for 1990 through 2001. The data summarize information from death certificates and includes cause-of-death information reported by attending physicians, medical examiners, and coroners. The data provide counts of suicides for each age, sex, and race/ethnicity group in the United States for 1990 through 2001. These counts are combined with resident population estimates. The data reveal that the number of suicides of youths in juvenile custody is no greater than for a group of demographically similar youths in the general United States population. With juvenile offenders having more risk factors for suicide than those youths in the general population, an offender’s risk of suicide death is reduced while in custody. Therefore, it is fair to assume that custody appears to reduce the likelihood of suicide for juvenile offenders while in custody. 3 Endnotes

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