Citation

Smith H. Int. J. Offender Ther. Comp. Criminol. 2014; 60(2): 228-243.

Affiliation

University of South Carolina, Columbia, USA smithhp@mailbox.sc.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0306624X14552063

PMID

25266326

Abstract

The practice of self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) within corrections disproportionately consumes resources and negatively impacts staff. To date, the majority of empirical studies on the topic have relied upon quantitative methodologies that fail to include the perspective of the actual offender who is engaging in self-injury, thus reinforcing mischaracterizations and confusion. In response, this manuscript features a case study of an offender currently housed in a maximum security prison who routinely engages in self-injury.

FINDINGS are presented along the tripartite themes of family background, suicidality, and SIB. Policy implications include supporting a systematic reorientation toward therapeutic responses in lieu of the current punitive responses that may in fact be iatrogenic.

Language: en