Course Information
Course title: Jail Suicide - Prevention and Detection
Course number: JS1101
Course description: This course will examine the issues involved in the prevention and detection of jail suicide.  The learning goals of this course include:
  • Identify the obstacles to preventing jail suicides.
  • Identify several factors in a pro-active stance toward neutralizing litigation.
  • Identify the main purpose of the suicide victim profile.
  • Identify the formal phases of the criminal justice process which may be at least, if not more, important than the victim profile in detecting potentially suicidal behavior.
  • Identify the benefit(s) of locally/regionally developed suicide victim profiles.
  • Identify at least four pre- disposing factors in jail suicides.
  • Identify the periods of high risk for suicides occurring in jails.
  • Identify the signs and symptoms of potentially suicidal behavior in inmates.
  • Identify the reasons why law enforcement officers working the streets need training in the signs and symptoms of suicidal behavior in inmates.
  • Identify the conditions for which medical and mental health clearance should be requested prior to admitting an arrestee to the jail.
  • Identify the reasons why the confinement of intoxicated persons in jails may be risky.
  • Identify the aspects of intake screening.
  • Identify the medical conditions displayed by arrestee which can be observed at booking.
  • Identify the elements of a successful intake screening interview.
  • Identify the observational factors and interview questions pertaining to suicide screening.
  • Identify factors and principles in assessing suicidal behavior.
  • Identify difference between a low risk and high risk suicidal inmate.
  • Explain the recommended system for housing both low risk and high risk suicidal inmates.
  • Explain the recommended system for supervising both low risk and high risk suicidal inmates.
  • Identify the principles of good discipline and inmate management which can have an impact on suicide prevention.
  • Identify the barriers to communicating with suicidal inmates.
  • Identify the critical factors in dealing with manipulative inmates.
Prerequisite(s): Students below the rank of sergeant must be enrolled by a supervisor.
Course Requirements
Introduction: This course is comprised of one training module.  Students who complete this course will earn 6 hours of career development in-service training credit.  Although this course is intended to help prevent suicides in the jail, a central theme of the course is that suicide prevention requires a cooperative effort between the arresting and transporting law enforcement officers, jail staff and mental health or medical staff.  In addition, much of the information contained in this course would be beneficial to law enforcement officers should they encounter a suicidal person on the street.  As such, it is recommended that this course be approved for in-service credit hours for both jailor/court services and law enforcement personnel.
Requirements: Students must listen to and read the material contained in training module. After the student has read the material in the module, he must take the module quiz. In order to successfully complete the module quiz, the student must score 70%. The student will be given two opportunities to successfully complete the quiz. At the director's discretion, a third opportunity may be granted upon the request of the student's chief, sheriff or agency administrator.
Lesson
Lesson: Jail Suicide Prevention and Detection
Objectives or Goals: The training objective are as follows:
  1. Explain the extent of the suicide problem nationally in jails and lockups.
  2. Identify the myths and accompanying facts about jail suicide.
  3. Identify the characteristics in a “typical profile” of inmates who committed suicide as documented in national jail suicide research.
  4. Identify the differences in characteristics between the typical jail inmate and the national jail suicide victim profile.
  5. Describe the factors of the jail environment that have an impact on suicide.
  6. Identify the signs and symptoms of depression.
  7. Identify the symptoms of agitation.
  8. Name the situational factors which can have an impact on suicidal behavior.
  9. Identify the current or recent stress factors which can influence suicidal behavior in inmates.
  10. Identify the most effective approaches for training law enforcement officers in suicide prevention.
  11. List some of the benefits of intake screening.
  12. Identify the bridges to communicating with suicidal inmates.
Handouts
  1. Canton v. Harris - HO1
  2. Table 1 - Victim Profile - HO2
  3. Table 2 - Suicides By State - HO3
  4. Table 3 - Victim Demographics - HO4
  5. 1988 Study Highlights - HO5
  6. Symptoms of Suicide Behavior - HO6
  7. Depression Indicators - HO7
  8. Jail Admission Considerations - HO8
  9. Appendices B - HO9
  10. Appendices C - HO10
  11. Appendices D - HO11
  12. Determining Suicide Risk - HO12