Suicides and self-harm

'Care, concern and carpets': How women's prisons can use first night in custody centres to reduce distress

This report argues that the early period in prison custody is a time of heightened risk of self-harm and suicide. It offers practical guidance on how first night in custody arrangements can be used to help reduce distress amongst newly arrived prisoners. The report should be read by policy makers and practitioners, and all those interested in the experience of women in prison. (2006)

22pp, £10.00, ISBN 090368389-X Buy your copy

Death at the Hands of the State

Professor David Wilson's new book, published by the Howard League for Penal Reform, reveals the scandalous truth about the scale of death in prisons in England and Wales. The book uses primary research in England, Wales and abroad plus first person accounts to analyse deaths in prison. It uncovers the "secret death penalty" where:

two people a week take their own lives the murder rate in prison is higher than in the community, and courts are increasingly imprisoning more mentally ill people, more elderly people, and more people who are sick and dying.

Professor Wilson argues not just for penal reform but also for the immediate contraction of the penal system. (2005)

131pp, £12.95, ISBN 0909368378-4 Buy your copy

Suicide and self-harm prevention: a strategy for Northern Ireland

This new report from the Howard League for Penal Reform is essential reading for anyone working with prisoners in Northern Ireland or with an interest in suicide prevention. The author reviews the numbers of deaths and self-inflicted injuries, the current suicide prevention strategy and makes recommendations for change. The report draws on the responses to an unprecedented survey of all prisoners within the Northern Ireland prison estate and provides detailed statistical and qualitative feedback from prisoners about the best ways to reduce suicide and self-harm. (2003)

20pp, £5.00, ISBN 090368368-7 Buy your copy

Suicide and self-harm prevention: the management of self-injury in prison

This report from the Howard League asks key questions about the management of self-injury in prison. Are we asking staff to prevent self-injury or reduce its frequency or lethality? Can prisons tolerate on-going self-injury in the name of empowerment? How can staff be supported to cope with the acute anxiety of working with people who self-injure? What interventions are being tried across the prison estate? The report includes figures from the new pilot which shows that as many as 21,000 incidents of self-injury happen in our prisons each year, three times the previously recorded figure. This report is essential reading for all prison staff or anyone seeking to understand more about the context of self-injury in a custodial environment. (2003)

20pp, price £5.00, ISBN 090368367-9 Buy your copy

Suicide and self harm prevention: following release from prison

More than fifty people kill themselves every year shortly after leaving prison, research from the Howard League reveals, because the Prison and Probation services are failing adequately to support these vulnerable individuals. The Howard League report reveals that ex-prisoners are extremely vulnerable to suicide; yet short sentence prisoners receive little or no preparation for release and no post-release support. Those serving long sentences are supervised on release but the Probation Service prioritises public protection rather than the welfare of the ex-prisoners. (2002)

20pp, £5.00, 090368366-0 Buy your copy

Suicide and self-harm prevention: repetitive self-harm among women and girls in prison

The rate of self-harm is highest among women and girls in prison and many self-harmers will cut and burn themselves day after day. This report uses the voices of women and girls in prison to try to understand their motivations for self-harm and provides strategies for supporting them based on the views of prison staff and policy makers. (2001)

20pp, £5.00, ISBN 090368360-1 Buy your copy

Suicide and self-harm prevention: court cells and prison vans

This report examines the shortcomings of the present system of holding and transporting prisoners between prisons and courts. It examines the physical conditions, treatment of prisoners, logistics and accountability and calls for courts to employ link workers to provide vulnerable prisoners with support and guidance. (2001)

20pp, £5.00, ISBN 090368359 8 Buy your copy

Desperate measures: prison suicides and their prevention

This report examines the factors which lead to suicides in prison, discusses the failings of the current prison service strategy and argues that the solution lies in reforming the way in which prison is used. (1999)

39pp, £10.00, ISBN 090368344-X Buy your copy

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