Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Aktuelle Aspekte des Gefängnissuizids

Current aspects of suicide in correctional facilities

  • Originalarbeit
  • Published:
Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Zusammenfassung

Suizide von Gefangenen stellen eine schwerwiegende Komplikation im Strafvollzug dar. Das Risiko, durch Suizid zu sterben, ist für Gefangene im Vergleich zur Allgemeinbevölkerung deutlich erhöht.

Eine Vermeidung von nichtnatürlichen Todesfällen und damit auch von Suiziden im staatlichen Gewahrsam wird nur durch eine vollkommene Aufgabe stationärer strafrechtlicher Sanktionen erzielt werden können. Halten Staaten hingegen an stationären Sanktionen zur General- oder Spezialprävention fest, so besteht damit auch die Verpflichtung, erhebliche negative Folgen für die Gefangenen, also letztendlich Personen, über die der Staat die vollkommene Kontrolle ausübt, zu verhindern oder zumindest zu vermindern. Dies gelingt am besten dadurch, den Gewahrsam auf ein Minimum zu reduzieren und stattdessen nichtstationäre Strafrechtssanktionen einzusetzen.

Abstract

Suicides present a major complication during imprisonment and contribute essentially to the high mortality rate of prisoners. All international studies found increased suicide rates among prisoners in comparison to the general population. This article reviews general and individual risk factors for suicide in prison and possible contributing specific stress factors during imprisonment. The main results of the analysis of the European Annual Prison Statistics from 1997 to 2007 are presented referring to macrostructural determining risk factors for suicide in prison. Measurements and prevention strategies are briefly discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Literatur

  1. Apter A, Kotler M, Sevy S et al (1991) Correlates of risk of suicide in violent and non-violent psychiatric patients. Am J Psychiatry 148:883–887

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Baillargeon J, Penn JV, Thomas CR et al (2009) Psychiatric disorders and suicide in the nation’s largest state prison system. J Am Acad Psychiatry Law 37:188–193

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Beautrais AL (2003) Suicide and serious suicide attempts in youth: a multiple-group comparison study. Am J Psychiatry 160:1093–1099

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Bennefeld-Kersten K (2009) Ausgeschieden durch Suizid- Selbsttötungen im Gefängnis. Pabst, Lengerich

    Google Scholar 

  5. Blaauw E, Kerkhof AJFM, Vermunt R (1997) Suicides and other deaths in police custody. Suicide Life Threat Behav 27:153–163

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Blaauw E, Arensman E, Kraaij V et al (2002) Traumatic life events and suicide risk among jail inmates: the influence of types of events, time period and significant others. J Trauma Stress 15(1):9–16

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Blaauw E, Kerkhof AJFM, Hayes LM (2005) Demographic, criminal, and psychiatric factors related to inmate suicide. Suicide Life Threat Behav 35:63–75

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Bulten E, Nijman H, Van Der Staak C (2009) Psychiatric disorder and personality characteristics of prisoners at regular prison wards. Int J Law Psychiatry 32:115–119

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Coffey C, Wolfe R, Lovett AW et al (2004) Predicting death in young offenders: a retrospective cohort study. Med J Aust 181(9):473–477

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Council of Europe, Human Rights and Legal Affairs (2009) Annual Penal Statistics of the Council of Europe. SPACE-I, 1997–2007. http://www.coe.int/justice

  11. Dahle KP, Lohner J, Konrad N (2005) Suicide prevention in penal institutions: validation and optimization of a screening tool for early identification of high-risk inmates in pretrial detention. Int J Forensic Ment Heal 4:53–62

    Google Scholar 

  12. Daniel SS, Goldston DB, Erkanli JC, Mayfield AM (2009) Trait anger, anger expression, and suicide attempts among adolescents and young adults: a prospective study. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol 38(5):661–671

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Dumais A, Lesage AD, Lalovic A et al (2005) Is violent method of suicide a behavioural marker of lifetime aggression? Am J Psychiatry 162:1375–1378

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. DuRand CJ, Burtka GJ, Federman EJ et al (1995) A quarter century of suicide in a major jail: implication for community psychiatry. Am J Psychiatry 152:1077–1080

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Edgar K, O’Donnell I, Martin C (2003) Prison violence. Willian, Portland

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fazel S, Benning R, Danesh J (2005) Suicides in male prisoners in England and Wales, 1978–2003. Lancet 366:1301–1302

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Fazel S, Cartwright J, Norman-Nott A, Hawton K (2008) Suicide in prison: a systemic review of risk factors. J Clin Psychiatry 69(11):1721–1731

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Frühwald S, Frottier P, Eher R et al (2000) Gefangenensuizide: Hinweise zur Abschätzung der Suizidgefahr 1975–1996. Psychiatr Prax 27(4):195–200

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Frühwald S, Frottier P, Eher R et al (2000) Prison suicides in Austria: 1975–1997. Suicide Life Threat Behav 30(4):360–368

    Google Scholar 

  20. Frühwald S, Frottier P, Eher R et al (2002) Psychosoziale Charakteristika von Suizidopfern in Gefängnissen. Wien Klin Wochenschr 114(15–16):691–696

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Fulwiler C, Forbes C, Santangelo SL, Folstein M (1997) Self-mutilation and suicide attempt: distinguishing features in prisoners. J Am Acad Psychiatriy Law 25:69–77

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Gillepsie W (2003) Prisonization, individual and institutional factors affecting inmate conduct. LFB, New York

    Google Scholar 

  23. Gilligan J (1996) Violence: reflections on a national epidemic. Vintage, New York

    Google Scholar 

  24. Goffman E (1961) On the characteristics of a total institution. In: Cressey D (Hrsg) The prison: studies in institutional organisation and change. Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York

    Google Scholar 

  25. He XY, Felthous AR, Holzer CE et al (2001) Factors in prison suicide: one year study in Texas. J Forensic Sci 46(4):896–901

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Ireland JL, Boustead R, Ireland CA (2005) Coping style and psychological health among adolescent prisoners: a study of young and juvenile offenders. J Adolesc 28:411–423

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Jahn D (2006) Einführung in die vergleichende Politikwissenschaft. Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  28. Joukamaa M (1997) Prison suicide in Finland: 1969–1992. Forensic Sci Int 89(3):167–174

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Kariminia A, Butler TG, Corben SP et al (2007) Extreme case-specific mortality in a cohort of adult prisoners – 1988–2002: a data-linkage study. Int J Epidemiol 36:310–316

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Kariminia A, Law MG, Butler TG et al (2007) Factors associated with mortality in a cohort of Australian prisoners. Eur J Epidemiol 22:417–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Kerkhof AJ, Bernasco W (1990) Suicidal behaviour in jails and prisons in The Netherlands: incidence, characteristics and prevention. Suicide Life Threat Behav 20(2):123–137

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kjelsberg E, Laake P (2010) Is the high mortality risk in sentenced offenders independent of previous imprisonment? Eur J Epidemiol 25:237–247

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Konrad N, Daigle MC, Daniel AE et al (2007) Preventing suicide in prisons, part I. Crisis 28(3):113–121

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Konrad N, Daigle MS, Daniel AE et al (2007) Preventing suicide in jails and prisons. World Health Organization, Geneva. Dt.: Suizidprävention – Ein Leitfaden für Mitarbeiter des Justizvollzugsdienstes. Weltgesundheitsorganisation, Geneva. http://www.who.int/mental_health/resources/resource_jails_prisons_german.pdf

  35. Laishes J (1997) Inmate suicides in the correctional service of Canada. Crisis 18(4):157–162

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Lauth HJ, Pickel G, Pickel S (2009) Methoden der vergleichenden Politikwissenschaft. Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden

    Google Scholar 

  37. Leese M, Thomas S, Snow L (2006) An ecological study of factors associated with rates of self-inflicted death in prisons in England and Wales. Int J Law Psychiatry 29(5):355–360

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Lekka NP, Arygyriou AA, Beratis S (2006) Suicidal ideation in prisoners: risk factors and relevance to suicidal behaviour. A prospective case-control study. Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci 256(2):87–92

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Liebling A (1992) Suicides in prison. Routledge, London

    Google Scholar 

  40. Liebling A (Hrsg) (1996) Deaths in custody. Whiting & Brich, London

    Google Scholar 

  41. Lohner J, Konrad N (2006) Deliberate self-harm and suicide attempt in custody: distinguishing features in male inmates’ self-injurious behaviour. Law Psychiatry 29:370–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Missoni L, Konrad N (2008) Beurteilung der Suizidgefährdung in Untersuchungshaft. Recht Psychiatr 26:3–14

    Google Scholar 

  43. Obschonka M, Warms M, Schulte-Markwort M, Barkmann C (2010) Psychische Belastungen bei deutschsprachigen jugendlichen und heranwachsenden Inhaftierten in der Hafteingangssituation. Prax Kinderpsychol Kinderpsychiatr 59:101–118

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. O’Discroll C, Samuels A, Zacka M (2007) Suicide in New South Wales prisons, 1995–2005; towards a better understanding. Aust N Z J Psychiatry 41:519–524

    Article  Google Scholar 

  45. Patterson RF, Hughes K (2008) Review of completed suicides in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 1999 to 2004. Psychiatr Serv 59(6):676–682

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Quin P, Agerbo E, Mortensen PB (2003) Suicide risk in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, and familial factors: a national register based study of all suicides in Denmark, 1981–1997. Am J Psychiatry 160:765–772

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Rabe K (2010) Suizide in Haft – Eine quantitative transnationale Untersuchung von Suiziden in Haftanstalten der Mitgliedsstaaten der Europäischen Union. Masterarbeit im Studiengang Kriminologie und Polizeiwissenschaft, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Juristische Fakultät, Lehrstuhl für Kriminologie, Kriminalpolitik und Polizeiwissenschaft

  48. Ringel E (1953) Der Selbstmord. Medizinische Wissenschaften, Wien

    Google Scholar 

  49. Salize HJ, Dreßing H, Kief C (2007) Mentally disordered persons in European prison systems – needs, programmes and outcomes. Central Institute of Mental Health, Mannheim

    Google Scholar 

  50. Sailas ES, Feodoroff B, Lindberg NC et al (2005) The mortality of young offenders sentenced to prison and is association with psychiatric disorders. A register study. Eur J Public Health 16(2):193–197

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Shaw J, Baker D, Hunt IM et al (2004) Suicide by prisoners. National clinical survey. Br J Psychiatry 184:263–267

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Spinellis DC, Themell O (1997) Suicide in Greek prisons: 1977 to 1996. Crisis 18(4):152–156

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Tartaro C, Lester D (2009) Suicide and self-harm in prisons and jails. Lexington, Lanham

    Google Scholar 

  54. Towl G, Snow L, McHugh M (Hrsg) (2002) Suicide in prisons. BPS Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  55. Van Zyl Smit D, Snacken S (2009) Principles of European prison law and policy. Oxford University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  56. Verona E, Sachs-Ericsson N, Joiner TE (2004) Suicide attempts associated with externalizing psychopathology in an epidemiological sample. Am J Psychiatry 161:444–451

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Von Schoenfeld CE, Schneider F, Schröder T et al (2006) Prävalenz psychischer Störungen, Psychopathologie und Behandlungsbedarf bei weiblichen und männlichen Gefangenen. Nervenarzt 77:830–841

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Wasserman D, Wasserman C (2009) Suicidology and suicide prevention. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  59. Wolfersdorf M (2008) Suizidalität. Nervenarzt 79:1319–1336

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Zamble E, Proporino FJ (1988) Coping, behaviour, and adaptation in prison inmates. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York Tokio

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Interessenkonflikt

Die Autoren erklären, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. LVR-Klinik Düren, Abteilung für Forensische Psychiatrie I, Meckerstr. 15, 52353, Düren, Deutschland

    Klaus Rabe M.A.

  2. Institut für Forensische Psychiatrie, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Limonenstr. 27, 12203, Berlin, Deutschland

    Norbert Konrad

Authors
  1. Klaus Rabe M.A.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Norbert Konrad
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Klaus Rabe M.A..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rabe, K., Konrad, N. Aktuelle Aspekte des Gefängnissuizids. Forens Psychiatr Psychol Kriminol 4, 182–192 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11757-010-0064-5

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11757-010-0064-5

Schlüsselwörter

Keywords

Search

Navigation