Suicide rates in correctional institutions have been increasing during the last decades. There has been little interest in whether suicidal ideation and intent has been documented by non-medical prison staff (reports of attempted suicide, suicide threats, self-harm), and whether these signs of suicidality had the consequence of adequate intervention efforts.

The personal files of inmates who committed suicide in the 29 Austrian jails and prisons during the last 25 years (1975–1999) were included. We analysed personal characteristics, criminological data, circumstances of custody and information about psychiatric disorders and treatment.

Of a total of 250 suicides, 220 personal files were available and included. Suicide attempts were known in 50% of all suicides and 37% had expressed suicidality. In >20%, non-medical staff had documented signs of suicidality, but no further preventive action (e.g. referral to psychiatric care) had taken place.

Signs of suicidality play an important role in vulnerability profiles for jail and prison suicides and should have the minimal consequence of further psychiatric care.

Few risk factors and indicators of vulnerability for suicide in custody are known so far.

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the relevance of criminal history, psychiatric morbidity and social integration to suicide in prison.

For every suicide that occurred in an Austrian correctional institution between 1975 and 1999, two controls matched for correctional institution, gender, nationality, age, custodial status and time of admission were selected. Psychiatric characteristics, previous suicidal behaviour, criminal history and indicators of social integration were compared.

Of 250 recorded suicides, 220 personal files were available and matched to 440 controls. The most important predictors for suicide in custody were a history of suicidality (status following attempted suicide and suicide threat), psychiatric diagnosis, psychotropic medication, a highly violent index offence and single-cell accommodation.

A significant finding is the importance of suicidal behaviour as an indicator of risk of suicide in correctional institutions, which until now has been a matter of debate. This study demonstrates the need for staff to take suicidal behaviour as seriously in custodial settings as in any other circumstances.

Las tasas de suicidio en las instituciones correccionales han aumentado durante las últimas décadas. Ha habido poco interés en si el personal de prisiones no médico ha informado por escrito de la ideación y la intención suicidas (informes de intento de suicidio, amenazas de suicidio, daño autoinfligido) y si estos signos de suicidalidad tuvieron como consecuencia esfuerzos de intervención adecuados.

Se incluyeron los expedientes personales de los intemos que se suicidaron en 29 cárceles y prisiones austríacas durante los 25 últimos años (1975-1999). Analizamos las características personales, los datos criminológicos, las circunstancias de la custodia y la información sobre los trastornos psiquiátricos y el tratamiento.

De un total de 250 suicidios, 220 expedientes personales estaban disponibles y se incluyeron. Se conocían intentos de suicidio en el 50% de todos los suicidios y el 37% había expresado suicidalidad. En más del 20%, el personal no médico había informado por escrito signos de suicidalidad, pero no había tenido lugar ninguna acción preventiva posterior (por ejemplo, la derivación a asistencia psiquiátrica).

Los signos de suicidalidad desempeñan un papel importante en los perfiles de vulnerabilidad para los suicidios en la cárcel y en prisión, y deben tener como consecuencia mínima una asistencia psiquiátrica posterior.