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Scope Note: Suicide prevention and mental health promotions in correctional facilities. See also Youth-Juvenile Justice.

Advocacy handbook: A guide for implementing recommendations of the criminal justice/mental health consensus project
URL: http://consensusproject.org/advocacy/
A how-to guide for advocates who want to improve the response to people with mental illness who are in contact with the criminal justice system. The guide is a joint effort among the Consensus Project, NAMI, the National Mental Health Association, the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, and the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
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American Indian suicides in jail: Can risk screening be culturally sensitive?
URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/207326.pdf
With the help of researchers, the administrator of a jail in a Northern Plains State found out how culture can help identify detainees’ risk for suicide.
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Assessing suicide and risk behaviors in an incarcerated American Indian population: Investigating culturally sensitive risk assessment instruments and procedures in a border jail
URL: http://www.nicic.org/Library/019845
The overall objective of this research was to address and fill in the gaps in the existing research literature by evaluating a popular suicidal ideation assessment tool, one commonly used within detention centers around the country, for its cultural sensitivity and to modify and, where appropriate, to improve the state, local, and tribal correctional agencies’ ability to more effectively screen for suicide ideation among American Indian detainees. This endeavor involved exploring the connection between American Indian - Northern Plains culture and non-Indian inmates’ responses to suicide screening questions as they are asked within this setting.
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Jail suicide list
URL: http://listserve.apa.org/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=jail-suicide-list&A=1
This is an interactive forum for mental health professionals interested in preventing suicide in jails. A searchable archive of email messages is available.
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Jail suicide/mental health update
URL: http://www.ncianet.org/cjjsl.cfm
Serial Publication : Periodical : Quarterly (every 3 months) v. ; 28 cm.
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Jail/Custody suicide: A compendium of suicide prevention standards and resources
URL: http://www.sprc.org/library/JailCustodySuicideCompendium.pdf
79 pages. A review of various operational standards designed to prevent suicide in U.S. detention and custody facilities. National professional associations whose members are charged with prisoner and juvenile care were selected for inclusion in this review. Includes an extensive reference list.
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Preventing suicide in jails and prisons
URL: http://www.who.int/mental_health/prevention/suicide/resource_jails_prisons.pdf
Aimed at the administrators who develop or implement mental health programs in correctional settings, and, more directly, correctional officers who are responsible for the safety and custody of suicidal inmates. Provides some general background on suicide and identifies a number of key prevention components.
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Prison suicide: An overview and guide to prevention
URL: http://www.nicic.org/pubs/1995/012475.pdf
This monograph contains a review of the literature and of national and state standards for prevention, national data on the incidence and rate of prison suicide, effective prison suicide prevention programs, and discussion of liability issues.
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Suicide detention and prevention in jails: Including mental impairments
URL: http://www.tcleose.state.tx.us/GuideInst/PDF/3501.pdf
This is an instructor guide for a course designed to provide county corrections officers with an understanding of offenders with mental impairments, suicidal behavior and methods for detection and prevention of suicide.
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What corrections professionals can do to prevent suicide
URL: http://www.sprc.org/featured_resources/customized/corrections.asp
Information for corrections professionals on recognizing and responding to warning signs, resource materials about suicide prevention, including programs and the role of corrections professionals in preventing suicides.
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