Policy Press

Prison Suicide

What Happens Afterwards?

By Philippa Tomczak

Published

Nov 7, 2018

Page count

180 pages

ISBN

978-1529203585

Dimensions

198 x 129 mm

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Nov 7, 2018

Page count

180 pages

ISBN

978-1529203660

Dimensions

Imprint

Bristol University Press

Published

Nov 7, 2018

Page count

180 pages

ISBN

978-1529203684

Dimensions

Imprint

Bristol University Press
Prison Suicide

Although prison suicide is a global problem, there is little knowledge about the investigations occurring after prison suicides. Addressing this gap, this book provides the first detailed case study of the investigations that follow prison suicides: using England and Wales.

Despite the large range of institutions that monitor English and Welsh prisons, suicides reached a record high in 2016, with the rate having doubled since 2012. These deaths represent the sharp end of a continuum of suffering, self-harm, despair and distress within prisons, which affects prisoners, their families and prison staff.

This book details and critiques the lengthy and expensive police, ombudsman and coroner investigations that follow prison suicides. Drawing on extensive document analysis, including analysis of over 100 Prison and Probation Ombudsman fatal incident investigations, and original semi-structured interviews with stakeholders undertaken between 2016-2017, this book provides a novel analysis of prison oversight.

Prison suicide and its aftermath

Post-suicide investigations

Experiencing investigations

Prison oversight