Inmate suicide and time spent in special disciplinary housing in New York State prison.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined the number of days that prisoners spent in a special disciplinary housing unit in New York State prison before a suicide occurred.


METHODS
Suicides that occurred between 1993 and 2003 were reviewed.


RESULTS
A total of 32 suicides occurred in one-person special housing cells during the 11-year period. Inmates spent a median of 63 days in a special disciplinary housing cell before committing suicide. The aggregate median sentence these inmates were serving in special housing at the time of suicide was 298.5 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Because most suicides in a special housing unit occurred within eight weeks of placement, enhanced observation of special housing inmates is warranted in that period at a minimum.
Way
Bruce B
BB
Central New York Psychiatric Center, New York State Office of Mental Health, Box 300, Marcy, NY 13403, USA. bruceway@omh.state.ny.us
Sawyer
Donald A
DA
Barboza
Sharen
S
Nash
Robin
R
D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009518:New York; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012934:Social Isolation; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000092864:Suicide Prevention