Citation

Dear GE, Thomson DM, Howells K, Hall GJ. Aust. N. Zeal. J. Criminol. 2001; 34(3): 277-292.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2001, Australian and New Zealand Society of Criminology, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/000486580103400305

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

This is the second of two studies that examined self-harm in Western Australian prisons. Data were collected from 71 prisoners who had self-harmed in the previous three days and 71 comparison prisoners for whom there was no evidence of ever having self-harmed in prison. The groups were matched on age, sex, race, custodial status (remanded or sentenced) and placement within the prison. Measures across three -domains (personal background, perceptions of the prison experience and psychological functioning) were administered in a structured interview. The self-harm group reported a significantly greater level of distress, disorder or vulnerability on almost every measure. On no measure did they report lower distress or dysfunction. Two main implications for preventing self-harm are discussed. First, prison authorities need to develop more effective methods for identifying distressed prisoners. Second, strategies should be implemented to minimize prisoners' vulnerability to distress.

Language: en