Citation

Tartaro C, Levy M. Justice Res. Policy 2008; 10(1): 21-37.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Justice Research and Statistics Association)

DOI

10.3818/JRP.10.1.2008.21

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Podular direct supervision jails, also called new generation jails, have been credited by practitioners and some researchers with reducing violence, stress, and suicide among inmates. A recent national comparison of these facilities with more traditional jails revealed that the direct supervision institutions were no less likely than the other jails to experience inmate suicides. The current study involves a closer look at the podular direct supervision facilities. The purpose of this study is to determine which jail characteristics are predictors of suicide. Results indicate that the jail environment and the number of inmate-inmate assaults are predictors of jail suicides. Jails that provide an environment that allows inmates to control lighting, control entrance and exits of cells, and have materials that reduce echoes were less likely to report a suicide in 2003 than those that did not offer those features. Jails with a lower number of inmate-inmate assaults were also less likely to report a suicide in 2003.