Title: Suicide in Gaol: The Construction and Measurement of a Phenomenon
Abstract: Australian Journal of Social IssuesVolume 23, Issue 3 p. 184-195 Article Suicide in Gaol: The Construction and Measurement of a Phenomenon Suzanne E. Hatty, Suzanne E. HattySearch for more papers by this author Suzanne E. Hatty, Suzanne E. HattySearch for more papers by this author First published: August 1988 https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1839-4655.1988.tb01222.xCitations: 2AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract The Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody has brought the issue of inmate death, especially suicide, to public attention. This paper examines theoretical accounts and existing research on suicide during imprisonment. Current international findings on the characteristics of inmate suicide are discussed and compared with the findings from the first Australian study of death in prison. It is argued that the extant research on suicide presents a fragmented and incomplete account of the phenomenon. Further, the theoretical construction of suicide within international and local research and the methodological approach to its measurement contribute to the obfuscation of specific aspects of the phenomenon. In particular, attention is deflected from the policies and procedures within the institution. Suggested remedies for reducing the incidence of inmate suicide are thus constrained by the initial construction of the issue. The paper concludes with a discussion of the challenges posed for the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. This is contrasted with the need for comprehensive accounts of death in custody which apply to all inmates. References Anson, R.H. and Cole, J.N. (1984), ‘Inmate Suicide: Ethnic Adaptions to the Prisonization Experience’, justice Quarterly, 1, (4), 563–7. 10.1080/07418828400088311 Google Scholar Atkinson, J.M. (1978), Discovering Suicide, London: Macmillan. 10.1007/978-1-349-03371-3_7 Google Scholar Beigel, A. and Russell, H. (1972), ‘Suicidal Behaviour in Jail: Prognostic Considerations’, Hospital and Community Psychiatry, 23, 361–3. Web of Science®Google Scholar Biles, David (1988), ‘ Preliminary Analysis of Current Data Base’, Research Paper No. 1, Canberra: Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. 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Publication Year: 1988
Publication Date: 1988-08-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 3
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