Self-harming behaviors in prison: a comparison of suicidal processes, self-injurious behaviors, and mixed events

Self-harming behaviors occurring in prison disproportionately consume resources and cause considerable disruption. To date, theoretical paradigms have explained self-injurious behaviors and suicidal processes either via a continuum or dichotomy of self-harm. This current study examines all documente...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Smith, Hayden (Author)
Contributors: Kaminski, Robert J. ; Power, Jenelle ; Slade, Karen
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
Published: 2019
In: Criminal justice studies
Year: 2019, Volume: 32, Issue: 3, Pages: 264-286
Online Access: Volltext (Resolving-System)
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Keywords:
Count models
Incident reports
Prison Inmate
Self-injurious behaviors
Suicide
Description
Summary:Self-harming behaviors occurring in prison disproportionately consume resources and cause considerable disruption. To date, theoretical paradigms have explained self-injurious behaviors and suicidal processes either via a continuum or dichotomy of self-harm. This current study examines all documented acts of self-harm (n = 1,158) occurring in South Carolina’s 28 prisons over a 50-month period. We test and find support for a tripartite schema of self-harm; differentiated with regard to suicidal processes, self-injurious behaviors, and a ‘mixed group‘ of self-harming behaviors. These groups of behaviors were distinct with regard to situational variables (i.e. body part targeted, injury severity) as well as institutional responses (i.e., medical treatment needed, employment of suicide protocols). Findings indicate that self-injurious behaviors are likely to result in physical injury and/or hospitalizations.
ISSN:1478-6028
DOI:10.1080/1478601X.2019.1602044