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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for suicides
24 results foundAuthor: Noonan, Margaret Title: Mortality in Local Jails, 2000 - 2007 Summary: This report describes the specific medical conditions causing deaths in jails nationwide during an eight-year period. For the leading medical causes of mortality, comparative estimates and mortality rates are presented by gender, age, race and Hispanic origin, and the length of time served in jail. The report includes detailed statistics on causes of death as well as more acute events such as suicides, homicides and accidents. Mortality as related to the size of the jail is also discussed. Jail inmate death rates are compared with rates in the general U.S. resident population using a direct standardization. Estimates and mortality rates for the top 50 jail jurisdictions in the United States are also presented. Highlights include the following: 1) From 2000 through 2007, local jail administrators reported 8,110 inmate deaths in custody. Deaths in jails increased each year, from 905 in 2000 to 1,103 in 2007; 2) The mortality rate per 100,000 local jail inmates declined from 152 deaths per 100,000 inmates to 141 per 100,000 between 2000 and 2007, while the jail inmate population increased 31% from 597,226 to 782,592; 3) Between 2000 and 2007, the suicide rates were higher in small jails than large jails. In jails holding 50 or fewer inmates, the suicide rate was 169 per 100,000; in the largest jails, the suicide rate was 27 per 100,000 inmates. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Deaths in Custody Reporting Program: Accessed August 20, 2010 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/mlj07.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/mlj07.pdf Shelf Number: 119647 Keywords: Deaths in CustodyHealth CareInmate DeathsJail HomicidesJailsSuicides |
Author: National Confidential Inquiry into Suicides and Homicides by People with Mental Illness Title: A National Study of Self-Inflicted Deaths in Prison Custody in England and Wales from 1999 to 2007 Summary: The study of self-inflicted deaths by prisoners is a collaborative project between The National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (University of Manchester), Offender Health (Department of Health) and the Safer Custody and Offender Policy Group (Ministry of Justice). A comprehensive national sample of self-inflicted deaths by prisoners in England and Wales was identified by the Safer Custody and Offender Policy Group. In each case, 2 questionnaires were sent to the prison where the death occurred. One was sent to the prison governor, the second to prison healthcare staff. If a psychiatrist had assessed the prisoner, a third questionnaire was completed. The period covered by data collection was between January 1999 and December 2007. The sample was therefore a 9 year consecutive case series, defined by date of death. Key findings -- Number of self-inflicted deaths ï‚· Seven hundred and sixty-six self-inflicted deaths occurred among prisoners in 110 prisons, averaging 85 deaths per year. Forty six prisons had 6 or more self-inflicted deaths ï‚· Nine (1%) self-inflicted deaths occurred under the care of the Prison Escort Custody Service and the majority of these were in court cells. ï‚· Seven hundred and five (92%) self-inflicted deaths were by hanging or self-strangulation ï‚· The most common ligature point was window bars and the most common ligature used was bedding (489; 64%). Details: Manchester, UK: University of Manchester, 2011. 114p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 25, 2011 at: http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/mentalhealth/research/suicide/prevention/offenders/reports/prisoncustodyselfinflicteddeaths.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/mentalhealth/research/suicide/prevention/offenders/reports/prisoncustodyselfinflicteddeaths.pdf Shelf Number: 121483 Keywords: Inmate Deaths (U.K.)Prisoner DeathsSuicideSuicides |
Author: Dabby, Chic Title: Shattered Lives: Homicides, Domestic Violence and Asian Families Summary: The Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence has identified and focused on domestic violence related homicides as a critical issue affecting Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander battered women since 2001. Shattered Lives: Homicides, Domestic Violence and Asian Families establishes the complexity of the problem and its far-reaching effects on women, children, families, and communities. This report’s goals are to raise awareness of the problem in order to counter denial and victim-blaming; generate discussions that will inform culturally-specific intervention, prevention and community organizing strategies; influence the field so safety for battered women takes into account an expanded definition of domestic violence related homicides; and develop questions for future research. Newspaper clippings collected over a six year period from 2000-2005 by advocates, state coalitions and the National Domestic Violence Fatality Review Initiative were the primary data source for this report. We included cases where domestic violence or family violence was explicitly mentioned or could reasonably be inferred. Despite a thorough search, we may have missed some newspaper reports. We analyzed data from a total of 160 cases of domestic violence related homicides in Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander families, spanning 23 states. We identified 14 types of homicides, defined by the perpetrator’s relationship to the victim(s). These were differentiated into homicides and homicides-suicides to calculate the number of cases in each type; and further categorized into single and multiple killings, i.e. two or more victims killed by a single perpetrator. Selected Findings -- 160 cases resulted in 226 fatalities, of which 72% were adult homicide victims, 10% were child homicide victims, and 18% were suicide deaths. Three types of homicides dominated: intimate partner homicide with 81 cases, intimate partner homicide-suicide with 34 cases, and non-intimate family killing with 25 cases. 78% of victims were women and girls, 20% were men and boys, 2% unknown. 83% of perpetrators were men, 14% were women, 3% unknown. 68% of victims were intimate partners (either current, estranged, or ex-partners). Almost one-third (59 out of 184) of total homicide victims were wives. Children were the second largest group of homicide victims and the primary victims of familicides (13 out of 20 victims). Over two-thirds (14 out of 22) of all children killed were age 5 and below. Perpetrators’ in-laws and parents of girlfriends were the third largest group of victims. 118 out of 184 victims were killed in the home. Details: San Francisco: Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence; American Health Forum, 2010. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed Ocboer 4, 2011 at: http://www.apiidv.org/files/Homicides.DV.AsianFamilies-APIIDV-2010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.apiidv.org/files/Homicides.DV.AsianFamilies-APIIDV-2010.pdf Shelf Number: 122988 Keywords: Asian-AmericansBattered WomenDomestic Violence, Asian Victims (U.S.)Family ViolenceHomicidesIntimate Partner ViolenceSuicides |
Author: Edmundson, Anna Title: Fatally Flawed: Has the State Learned Lessons from the Deaths of Children and Young People in Prison? Summary: The inquests and investigations into the deaths of children and young people in prison between 2003 and 2010 reveal that they were often very vulnerable and that none received the level of support and protection they needed. In many of the cases, the fact that they were in prison in the first place can be seen as symptomatic of failures by agencies within and outside the criminal justice system to address their multiple, often complex, needs. The detailed stories of six of the children and young people who died in prison which feature in this report vividly illustrate the extent of their vulnerabilities and the shortcomings of their treatment both within the justice system and by agencies outside. The information and evidence collated for this report revealed common themes in the experiences and treatment of children and young people who died in prison between 2003 and 2010. These overlapping findings included that they: 1 were some of the most disadvantaged in society and had experienced problems with mental health, self-harm, alcohol and/or drugs; 2 had significant interaction with community agencies before entering prison yet in many cases there were failures in communication and information exchange between prisons and those agencies; 3 despite their vulnerability, they had not been diverted out of the criminal justice system at an early stage and had ended up remanded or sentenced to prison; 4 were placed in prisons with unsafe environments and cells; 5 experienced poor medical care and limited access to therapeutic services in prison; 6 had been exposed to bullying and treatment such as segregation and restraint; 7 were failed by the systems set up to safeguard them from harm. Our analysis also found there had been: 8 inadequate institutional responses to the deaths of children and young people in prison. Our findings indicate there have been failures in how the state treats children and young people in conflict with the law and that the learning and recommendations from inquests and investigations into previous deaths have not been properly implemented. The question this report addresses is whether the State can learn lessons from the deaths of children and young people in prison and act now to put right the flaws identified in order to prevent further deaths in the future. Details: London: Prison Reform Trust and INQUEST, 2012. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 25, 2012 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Fatally%20Flawed.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Fatally%20Flawed.pdf Shelf Number: 126797 Keywords: Deaths in Custody (U.K.)Juvenile DetentionJuvenile InmatesSuicides |
Author: Care Inspectorate (Scotland) Title: A Report Into the Deaths of Looked After Children in Scotland 2009-2011 Summary: Any time a looked after child dies, local authorities must inform the Care Inspectorate, which is charged with reviewing the circumstances of the death. The report shows that 30 looked after children in Scotland died between 2009 and 2011. The report examines the causes of death, praises hospices for their care of children with life-limiting conditions and makes specific recommendations to ensure looked after children can access substance misuse treatment and local psychological services as necessary. The Care Inspectorate also recommends that all staff involved in the care of looked after children be confident in recognising and managing suicide risk factors. Details: Dundee, Scotland: Care Inspectorate, 2013. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2013 at: http://www.scswis.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=940&Itemid=378 Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scswis.com/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=940&Itemid=378 Shelf Number: 128683 Keywords: Child DeathsChild MaltreatmentDrug Abuse and AddictionLooked After Children (Scotland)Substance Abuse TreatmkentSuicides |
Author: Kegler, Scott R. Title: Firearm Homicides and Suicides in Major Metropolitan Areas — United States, 2006–2007 and 2009–2010 Summary: Firearm homicides and suicides are a continuing public health concern in the United States. During 2009–2010, a total of 22,571 firearm homicides and 38,126 firearm suicides occurred among U.S. residents. This includes 3,397 firearm homicides and 1,548 firearm suicides among persons aged 10–19 years; the firearm homicide rate for this age group was slightly above the all-ages rate. This report updates an earlier report that provided statistics on firearm homicides and suicides in major metropolitan areas for 2006–2007, with special emphasis on persons aged 10–19 years in recognition of the importance of early prevention efforts. Firearm homicide and suicide rates were calculated for the 50 most populous U.S. metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for 2009–2010 using mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) and population data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Comparison statistics were recalculated for 2006–2007 to reflect revisions to MSA delineations and population estimates subsequent to the earlier report. Although the firearm homicide rate for large MSAs collectively remained above the national rate during 2009–2010, more than 75% of these MSAs showed a decreased rate from 2006–2007, largely accounting for a national decrease. The firearm homicide rate for persons aged 10–19 years exceeded the all-ages rate in many of these MSAs during 2009–2010, similar to the earlier reporting period. Conversely, although the firearm suicide rate for large MSAs collectively remained below the national rate during 2009–2010, nearly 75% of these MSAs showed an increased rate from 2006–2007, paralleling the national trend. Firearm suicide rates among persons aged 10–19 years were low compared with all-ages rates during both periods. These patterns can inform the development and monitoring of strategies directed at reducing firearm-related violence. Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2013. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, August 2, 2013: Accessed August 8, 2013 at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6230.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm6230.pdf Shelf Number: 129586 Keywords: Crime StatisticsGun-Related Violence (U.S.)HomicidesSuicidesViolent Crime |
Author: Parks, Sharyn E. Title: Surveillance for Violent Deaths - National Violent Death Reporting System, 16 States, 2010 Summary: Problem/Condition: An estimated 55,000 persons die annually in the United States as a result of violence-related injuries. This report summarizes data from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding violent deaths from 16 U.S. states for 2010. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics. Reporting Period Covered: 2010. Description of System: NVDRS collects data regarding violent deaths obtained from death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports, and secondary sources (e.g., child fatality review team data, supplementary homicide reports, hospital data, and crime laboratory data). NVDRS data collection began in 2003 with seven states (Alaska, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Oregon, South Carolina, and Virginia) participating; six states (Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin) joined in 2004, four (California, Kentucky, New Mexico, and Utah) in 2005, and two in 2010 (Ohio and Michigan), for a total of 19 states. This report includes data from 16 states that collected statewide data in 2010; data from California are not included in this report because data were not collected after 2009. Ohio and Michigan were excluded because data collection, which began in 2010, did not occur statewide until 2011. Results: For 2010, a total of 15,781 fatal incidents involving 16,186 deaths were captured by NVDRS in the 16 states included in this report. The majority (62.8%) of deaths were suicides, followed by homicides and deaths involving legal intervention (i.e., deaths caused by law enforcement and other persons with legal authority to use deadly force, excluding legal executions) (24.4%), deaths of undetermined intent (12.2%), and unintentional firearm deaths (0.7%). Suicides occurred at higher rates among males, non-Hispanic whites, American Indians/Alaska Natives, and persons aged 45-54 years. Suicides most often occurred in a house or apartment and involved the use of firearms. Suicides were preceded primarily by a mental health or intimate partner problem, a crisis during the previous 2 weeks, or a physical health problem. Homicides occurred at higher rates among males and persons aged 20-24 years; rates were highest among non-Hispanic black males. The majority of homicides involved the use of a firearm and occurred in a house or apartment or on a street/highway. Homicides were precipitated primarily by arguments and interpersonal conflicts or in conjunction with another crime. Interpretation: This report provides a detailed summary of data from NVDRS for 2010. The results indicate that violent deaths resulting from self-inflicted or interpersonal violence disproportionately affected persons aged <55 years, males, and certain minority populations. For homicides and suicides, relationship problems, interpersonal conflicts, mental health problems, and recent crises were among the primary precipitating factors. Because additional information might be reported subsequently as participating states update their findings, the data provided in this report are preliminary. Public Health Action: For the occurrence of violent deaths in the United States to be better understood and ultimately prevented, accurate, timely, and comprehensive surveillance data are necessary. NVDRS data can be used to monitor the occurrence of violence-related fatal injuries and assist public health authorities in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies to reduce and prevent violent deaths at the national, state, and local levels. NVDRS data have been used to enhance prevention programs. Examples include use of linked NVDRS data and adult protective service data to better target elder maltreatment prevention programs and improve staff training to identify violent death risks for older adults in North Carolina, use of Oklahoma VDRS homicide data to help evaluate the effectiveness of a new police and advocate intervention at domestic violence incident scenes, and data-informed changes in primary care practice in Oregon to more effectively address older adult suicide prevention. The continued development and expansion of NVDRS is essential to CDC's efforts to reduce the personal, familial, and societal impacts of violence. Further efforts are needed to increase the number of states participating in NVDRS, with an ultimate goal of full national representation. Details: Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Morbidity and Mortality Weekley Report, January 17, 2014: Surveillance Summaries, vol. 63, no. 1: Accessed May 5, 2014 at: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6301.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss6301.pdf Shelf Number: 132233 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceHomicideSuicidesViolence-Related InjuriesViolent Crime |
Author: Independent Police Complaints Commission (U.K.) Title: Deaths during or following police contact: Statistics for England and Wales 2014/15 Summary: This report presents figures on deaths during or following police contact that happened between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015. It provides a definitive set of figures for England and Wales and an overview of the nature and circumstances in which these deaths occurred. This publication is the eleventh in a series of statistical reports on this subject published annually by the IPCC. To produce the IPCC annual statistics on deaths, the circumstances of all deaths referred to the IPCC are examined to decide whether they meet the criteria for inclusion in the report under one of the following five categories: - road traffic fatalities - fatal shootings - deaths in or following police custody - apparent suicides following police custody - other deaths following police contact that were subject Details: London: The Commission, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2016 at: https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/research_stats/Deaths_Report_1415.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.ipcc.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Documents/research_stats/Deaths_Report_1415.pdf Shelf Number: 138350 Keywords: Complaints Against PoliceDeadly ForcePolice CustodyPolice Use of ForceSuicides |
Author: New Jersey. Commission on Violence Title: Report of the Study Commission on Violence Summary: The Study Commission on Violence discharged its duty to examine trends and sources of violence, the impact of violence on the community, identified funding opportunities that address violence, and the mental health system through the receipt of subject matter expert briefings, public hearings, and its own independent research. This report summarizes the Study Commission's findings and its recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor. Violence in our communities is a concern we heard expressed time and again in our public hearings and in examining data related to the frequency of violence in New Jersey. There is no one source of violence or a single impact on the communities where it occurs. Rather, violence is brought on by a host of socio-economic factors and individual decisions made by people who choose to perpetrate violent acts against others or themselves. While "violence" is an all-encompassing term, it can also be imprecise. Deaths due to violence are at a generational low; yet, violence remains stubbornly high in certain areas - in New Jersey, roughly 80 percent of all violent crime occurs in just 21 cities. It is not coincidental that these cities also have lower rates of high school graduation, higher rates of unemployment, lower rates of household income, and higher rates of school truancy. Violence does not occur in a vacuum; rather, it thrives in poor and disadvantaged communities where educational and economic opportunities are limited and residents have become accustomed to a certain level of lawlessness. In recent years, the challenges facing these communities have been compounded by economic turmoil that has resulted in reductions in law enforcement. Violence, however, is not confined to urban settings and occurs in suburban and rural communities as well. The issue of violence should be a concern to all New Jersey residents, to one degree or another. And while violent "street" crime is found disproportionately in a small number of places in New Jersey, certain crimes like domestic violence are more widespread. Still others, like elder abuse, are emerging as concerns in the community. At the same time, a consensus has begun to form around the manner in which those who are drug addicted, particularly those suffering from heroin addiction, are treated when they are arrested. Whereas public policy once focused exclusively on incarcerating individuals, even for low-level offenses, for significant periods of time, current policy has shifted toward diverting non-violent offenders away from incarceration and into treatment. Moreover, this trend has extended into how law enforcement treats juvenile delinquents. Through diversion programs that offer community-based oversight, some county youth detention facilities have closed because too few juveniles are being remanded to custody and the number of juveniles in Juvenile Justice Commission facilities has dropped by roughly half. Of course, violence is not limited to acts by one person against another. Self-directed violence in the form of suicide and attempted suicide is also prevalent in our country. Indeed, the number of suicides that occur nationally each year is more than twice the number of homicides that occur in our nation. The Study Commission took seriously its charge to examine the trends, sources, and impact of violence in the community, the availability of grant funding to combat violence, the implementation of expanded involuntary outpatient commitments, and whether and how defendants with identified mental health disabilities but who are charged with crimes, can be offered an alternative to incarceration in the form of a structured, case managed program of treatment and counseling. The Commission learned that there are a wide range of programs and services available to those with a diagnosed mental health disability or illness. Indeed, coverage for mental health treatment is now available to more individuals through the expansion of Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. That said, issues still remain regarding access to that treatment due to limited resources and reimbursement for practitioners who treat these patients. With respect to at least one specific charge of the Commission - examining the involuntary outpatient commitment program and whether it should be extended statewide - the Commission determined that this has been mooted by legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. Details: s.l.: The Commission, 2015. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 23, 2016 at: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2455899/study-commission-on-violence-report.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2455899/study-commission-on-violence-report.pdf Shelf Number: 138801 Keywords: Gang ViolenceGun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesMental Health ServicesSocioeconomic Conditions and CrimeSuicidesUrban AreasViolenceViolent Crime |
Author: Howard League for Penal Reform Title: Preventing Prison Suicide Summary: Prisons need to change to enable staff to build relationships with prisoners and reduce the risk of suicide, according to research published jointly by the Howard League for Penal Reform and Centre for Mental Health. Preventing Prison Suicide: Perspectives from the inside focuses on the views and experiences of current and former prisoners about what contributes to vulnerability and what increases or reduces their risk of suicide. It is one of a series of briefing papers by the two charities. It finds that relationships between staff and prisoners are key. Prisoners need to feel supported, cared for and able to confide in and trust staff. Prisoners reported that staff shortages, inexperience and lack of training can all increase the risk of suicide. Prisoners described a culture where distress was often not believed or responded to with compassion. Arrival, being released and being transferred were all cited as times when prisoners felt most vulnerable. Details: London: The Howard League, 2016. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2017 at: http://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Preventing-prison-suicide.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Preventing-prison-suicide.pdf Shelf Number: 141187 Keywords: Mental HealthPrison SuicidesSuicides |
Author: University of Texas. Austin School of Law. Civil Rights Clinic Title: Preventable Tragedies: How to Reduce Mental Health-Related Deaths in Texas Jails Summary: The first section of this report tells the stories of ten tragic and preventable deaths in Texas jails. These ten people suffered from mental disorders and related health needs, and died unexpectedly in jail as a result of neglect or treatment failures. The second section of this report sets forth widely accepted policy recommendations based on national standards and best practices to improve diversion and treatment of persons with mental illness and related health needs who are incarcerated in Texas county jails. RECOMMENDATION NO. 1: INCREASE JAIL DIVERSION FOR LOW-RISK PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. As state and local stakeholders develop pretrial diversion programs, they should ensure that mental illness is factored in, and not as a barrier to pretrial release. In addition, the Legislature and counties should find new ways to reduce warrants and arrests for low-level misdemeanors, to prevent the use of jails for low-risk arrestees. RECOMMENDATION NO. 2: IMPROVE SCREENING. As counties implement the revised mental health screening instrument, they should train correctional officers to recognize signs of mental illness and suicide risk, and explore partnerships with their local mental health authority (LMHA) to have mental health professionals from the LMHA assist with intake screening. RECOMMENDATION NO. 3: INCREASE COMPLIANCE WITH TEX. CODE CRIM. P. §§ 16.22 AND 17.032. The legislature should clarify the law to increase compliance with the requirement that magistrates be notified of an arrestee's mental illness or suicide risk, so as to enable pretrial diversion into mental health treatment when appropriate. Counties should implement the law's requirements, using partnerships with LMHAs if needed. RECOMMENDATION NO. 4: STRENGTHEN SUICIDE PREVENTION. Counties should make their suicide prevention plans more effective by: (1) increasing training and promoting culture change; (2) providing for ongoing suicide risk assessment throughout an inmate's stay in the jail; (3) avoiding housing at-risk inmates alone; (4) designating suicide-resistant cells; and (5) having mental health professionals assist with the assessment of suicide risk. RECOMMENDATION NO. 5: COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH AUTHORITIES. County jails should form broad - and preferably formal - partnerships with their area LMHAs, and work to place LMHA staff in the jail full-time. The Legislature should fund LMHAs to add capacity to provide more services in jails. RECOMMENDATION NO. 6: BOLSTER FORMULARIES. County jails should promote continuity of mental health care by (1) including in their formulary the medications listed in the local mental health authority's formulary and (2) contracting with outside providers to quickly acquire any medication not kept in stock. RECOMMENDATION NO. 7: PROMOTE MEDICATION CONTINUITY. County jails should promote continuity of care by allowing inmates to continue taking prescribed medication that the inmate had been taking prior to booking, after taking certain precautions. Specifically, county jails should replace policies of denying access to prescribed medications with more flexible alternatives. RECOMMENDATION NO. 8: DEVELOP AND UPDATE DETOX PROTOCOLS. Each county jail's health service plan should include a detoxification protocol for supporting withdrawal from alcohol, opioids, benzodiazepines, and other commonly used substances, in conformance with current national standards. RECOMMENDATION NO. 9: ADD FORENSIC PEER SUPPORT. County jails should strengthen their mental health care services by implementing a forensic peer support program. RECOMMENDATION NO. 10: IMPROVE MONITORING. Counties should promote more effective monitoring of inmates by: (1) requiring jail staff to proactively engage inmates and take action during regular observation; (2) increasing the frequency of observation for at-risk inmates and setting irregular monitoring intervals; (3) ensuring adequate staffing; (4) using technology along with personal interaction to make observation more accountable; and (5) using technology to alert staff of inmate crises. RECOMMENDATION NO. 11: REDUCE THE USE OF RESTRAINT AND SECLUSION. County jails should (1) set an explicit goal to reduce the use of restraint and seclusion, with an eye toward eliminating them altogether; (2) abolish the most dangerous restraint and seclusion practices; and (3) train officers to reduce reliance on restraint and seclusion, and collect data to evaluate performance. The Texas Legislature should require stricter regulation of seclusion that mirrors its strict regulation of restraint. RECOMMENDATION NO. 12: LIMIT THE USE OF FORCE. County jails should strengthen their policies and training on use of force, explicitly address use of force against inmates with mental health needs, promote the goals of eliminating excessive use of force, and use force only as a last resort. Details: Austin: University of Texas School of law Civil Rights Clinic, 2016. 107p. Source: Internet Resources: Accessed May 6, 2017 at: https://law.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2016/11/2016-11-CVRC-Preventable-Tragedies.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://law.utexas.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/11/2016/11/2016-11-CVRC-Preventable-Tragedies.pdf Shelf Number: 145336 Keywords: Deaths in Custody Jail InmatesMental Health CareMental Health ServicesMental Health TreatmentMentally Ill OffendersSuicides |
Author: Lindon, Giles Title: Deaths in police custody: A review of the international evidence Summary: This report provides a summary of the published research literature and administrative data on deaths in or following police custody, and apparent suicides following police custody, to support the independent review chaired by the Rt Hon. Dame Elish Angiolini DBE QC, which was announced in July 2015. The review's terms of reference include: - reviewing the processes and procedures surrounding deaths in police custody in England and Wales; and - identifying why investigations following such deaths have, according to the then Home Secretary, "fallen short of many families' needs". This report provides a review of statistics and research to answer five key questions. - What are the extent and trends in deaths in or following police custody, and apparent suicides following police custody, in England and Wales? - What are the extent and trends of such deaths in comparable Western countries? - What are the main causes of deaths in police custody, and suicides following police custody, in England and Wales? - What research evidence is there for procedures or 'good practice' to prevent or reduce deaths in or following police custody? - What evidence is there of 'good practice' for the running and management of investigations into deaths in or following police custody? Details: London: HM Treasury; Home Office, 2017. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 95: Accessed November 3, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655202/deaths-in-police-custody-review-international-evidence-horr95.pdf Year: 2017 Country: International URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/655202/deaths-in-police-custody-review-international-evidence-horr95.pdf Shelf Number: 148020 Keywords: Deaths in Custody Suicides |
Author: Public Health - Seattle and King County Title: The Impact of Firearms on King County's Children: 1999 - 2012 Summary: Every day in the United States, five children age 18 and under are killed by guns. King County is not immune to this violence. Between 1999 and 2012, 68 King County children under the age of 18 died from gun violence, and another 125 children were injured and had to be hospitalized. All of these deaths and injuries were preventable. This report describes what we know about these tragic deaths with the aim of informing what we can do to prevent other children from needlessly dying by gun violence. In reviewing data from the Medical Examiner's Office and Child Death Review, three key findings emerge: 1) There is a paucity of data to inform policy and program decision making; 2) gun violence among children is really two problems, one being homicide and the other suicide, and each may require different approaches to prevent; and 3) the risk of a completed suicide by firearm among children is nine times greater in households where firearms are kept unlocked and are easily accessible. Based upon these findings, we have two major recommendations: 1. King County has decided to take a public health approach to preventing gun violence, but there are barriers. If we want to move forward, we need changes in our systems to improve information gathering and sharing, to allow creation of a robust data system - the basis for developing and implementing effective interventions. 2. Every effort should be made to encourage and incentivize gun owners to safely store their firearms, away from the reach of children. Details: Seattle, WA: Public Health - Seattle and King County, 2013. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 6, 2017 at: http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/violence-prevention/gun-violence/LOK-IT-UP/~/media/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/documents/impact-firearms-children-report.ashx Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.kingcounty.gov/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/violence-prevention/gun-violence/LOK-IT-UP/~/media/depts/health/violence-injury-prevention/documents/impact-firearms-children-report.ashx Shelf Number: 148738 Keywords: Children and Violence Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicides Public Health Approach SuicidesViolence Prevention |
Author: Fowler, Katherine A. Title: Surveillance for Violent Deaths -- National Violent Death Reporting System, 18 States, 2014 Summary: Problem/Condition: In 2014, approximately 59,000 persons died in the United States as a result of violence-related injuries. This report summarizes data from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding violent deaths from 18 U.S. states for 2014. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, marital status, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics. Reporting Period Covered: 2014. Description of System: NVDRS collects data from participating states regarding violent deaths. Data are obtained from death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports, and secondary sources (e.g., child fatality review team data, supplemental homicide reports, hospital data, and crime laboratory data). This report includes data from 18 states that collected statewide data for 2014 (Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin). NVDRS collates documents for each death and links deaths that are related (e.g., multiple homicides, a homicide followed by a suicide, or multiple suicides) into a single incident. Results: For 2014, a total of 22,098 fatal incidents involving 22,618 deaths were captured by NVDRS in the 18 states included in this report. The majority of deaths were suicides (65.6%), followed by homicides (22.5%), deaths of undetermined intent (10.0%), deaths involving legal intervention (1.3%) (i.e., deaths caused by law enforcement and other persons with legal authority to use deadly force, excluding legal executions), and unintentional firearm deaths (<1%). The term "legal intervention" is a classification incorporated into the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) and does not denote the lawfulness or legality of the circumstances surrounding a death caused by law enforcement. Suicides occurred at higher rates among males, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives (AI/AN), non-Hispanic whites, persons aged 45-54 years, and males aged ≥75 years. Suicides were preceded primarily by a mental health, intimate partner, substance abuse, or physical health problem or a crisis during the previous or upcoming 2 weeks. Homicide rates were higher among males and persons aged <1 year and 15-44 years; rates were highest among non-Hispanic black and AI/AN males. Homicides primarily were precipitated by arguments and interpersonal conflicts, occurrence in conjunction with another crime, or related to intimate partner violence (particularly for females). When the relationship between a homicide victim and a suspected perpetrator was known, it was most often either an acquaintance/ friend or an intimate partner. Legal intervention death rates were highest among males and persons aged 20-44 years; rates were highest among non-Hispanic black males and Hispanic males. Precipitating factors for the majority of legal intervention deaths were alleged criminal activity in progress, the victim reportedly using a weapon in the incident, a mental health or substance abuse problem, an argument or conflict, or a recent crisis. Deaths of undetermined intent occurred more frequently among males, particularly non-Hispanic black and AI/AN males, and persons aged 30-54 years. Substance abuse, mental health problems, physical health problems, and a recent crisis were the most common circumstances preceding deaths of undetermined intent. Unintentional firearm deaths were more frequent among males, non-Hispanic whites, and persons aged 10-24 years; these deaths most often occurred while the shooter was playing with a firearm and were most often precipitated by a person unintentionally pulling the trigger or mistakenly thinking the firearm was unloaded. Details: Atlanta: e Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2018. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Surveillance Summaries / Vol. 67 / No. 2: Accessed February 6, 2018 at: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/ss/pdfs/ss6702-H.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/67/ss/pdfs/ss6702-H.pdf Shelf Number: 149005 Keywords: Domestic ViolenceFamily ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicideMurdersSuicidesViolence-Related InjuriesViolent Crime |
Author: Fischer, Aaron J. Title: Suicides in San Diego County Jail: A System Failing People with Mental Illness Summary: San Diego County faces a crisis in its jail system. It has the highest reported number of suicides in a California jail system over several years - more than 30 suicide deaths since 2010. The inmate suicide rate has been many times higher than the rate in similarly sized county jails in California, the State prison system, and jails nationally. This is a crisis demanding meaningful action. While the County reported just one inmate suicide in 2017, which is a welcome decrease compared to previous years, the system remains deeply challenged. The incidence of inmate suicide attempts and serious self-harm remains extremely high - a rate of approximately two (2) per week. The frequency of suicide attempts indicates that the County must improve its treatment of people with mental health needs. Recognition that San Diego County has a problem with suicides and other deaths at the jail is not new. There has been a steady drumbeat of calls to action, from the County's grand juries, the media, and people who have been incarcerated at the jail and their loved ones. As the designated protection and advocacy system charged with protecting the rights of people with disabilities in California, Disability Rights California (DRC) opened an investigation into conditions at the San Diego County jails in 2015. We conducted tours of the County's jail facilities, and completed extensive interviews with Sheriff's Department leadership, jail staff, and jail inmates. We have reviewed thousands of pages of relevant policies and procedures, Sheriff's Department records, and individual inmate records. Our investigation focuses on four interconnected aspects of San Diego's County jail and mental health systems. We provide specific Recommendations regarding each. Over-Incarceration of People with Mental Health Needs. First, we found that there is an extremely high number of jail inmates with significant mental health treatment needs. The County's mental health care system, both inside and outside of the jail, has long operated in a way that leads to the dangerous, costly, and counter-productive over-incarceration of people with mental health-related disabilities. This includes a historical failure to provide sufficient community-based mental health services and supports that help individuals with mental health needs to thrive and avoid entanglement with the criminal justice system and incarceration. There is an urgent need for a better approach. We found that the County's recently developed Mental Health Services Act Plan and related initiatives - including increased community based-services and diversion/reentry efforts - provide a reason for optimism. Of course, the County's efforts will be judged on outcomes in the months and years ahead. Deficiencies in Suicide Prevention. Second, our two subject matter experts, who reviewed inmate suicide cases as well as relevant policies, identified significant deficiencies in the County's suicide prevention practices. These experts, Karen Higgins, M.D., and Robert Canning, Ph.D., CCHP, have considerable expertise in suicide prevention and mental health treatment in detention facilities. They have completed a detailed written report (Appendix A), which identifies twenty-four (24) Key Deficiencies in the County's system and provides forty-six (46) Recommendations to address those deficiencies. While we are convinced that the Sheriff's Department has begun to take the issue of suicide prevention seriously, there remain many aspects of the system's treatment of people at risk of suicide that require urgent action. Failure to Provide Adequate Mental Health Treatment. Third, we found that the County's jail system subjects inmates with mental health needs to a grave risk of psychological and other harms by failing to provide adequate mental health treatment. Making matters worse, the County subjects inmates to dangerous solitary confinement conditions that take an enormous toll on individuals' mental health and well-being. A substantial number of the suicides in San Diego County's jails have occurred in designated segregation units and other units with solitary confinement conditions. Even with committed jail leadership and staff efforts to reduce solitary confinement and improve conditions, insufficient staffing and lack of other critical resources have caused these problems to persist. Lack of Meaningful, Independent Oversight. Fourth, we found that the existing systems of jail oversight have failed. The time has come for the County to create an independent and professional oversight entity to monitor jail conditions, suicide prevention and mental health treatment practices, and other jail operations. A truly effective independent oversight entity, building on the models developed in Los Angeles County, Santa Clara County, Sonoma County, and other jurisdictions across the country, would enhance the County's efforts to address its historical challenges in its jails, help to achieve and solidify system improvements, and strengthen the trust of the community through greater transparency. We have found that the County's jails have the great advantage of committed mental health staff and a number of strong leaders within the Sheriff's Department. They will need sustained investment and support from the County - along with true transparency and accountability - to achieve a durable solution to the inmate suicide crisis, the deficiencies in mental health treatment inside the jail, and the over-incarceration of people with mental health needs. Details: Sacramento: Disability Rights California, 2018. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 8, 2018 at: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/system/files/file-attachments/SDsuicideReport.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.disabilityrightsca.org/system/files/file-attachments/SDsuicideReport.pdf Shelf Number: 150114 Keywords: Jail InmatesJail SuicidesMental Health ServicesMentally Ill InmatesMentally Ill PersonsSuicides |
Author: Ludlow, Amy Title: Self-inflicted Deaths in NOMS' Custody Amongst 18-24 Year Olds: Staff Experience, Knowledge and Views Summary: This Report presents the findings of research into self-inflicted deaths (SID) in custody amongst 18-24 year olds in National Offender Management Service (NOMS) custody in England and Wales. This research was commissioned by the Harris Review into Self-Inflicted Deaths In Custody Amongst 18-24 Year Olds, and was undertaken by RAND Europe and the Prisons Research Centre, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge. This research focused on staff experience, knowledge and views, which have been gathered through interviews and observations at five prisons in England and Wales. The document will be of interest to government, civil society and academic audiences interested in improving prisoner wellbeing and safety generally and SID reduction and risk management specifically. The Report consists of seven sections that address the research questions set out by the Harris Review. Sections 1 and 2 provide an overview of the background, context and methods of the study. Sections 3-6 present the findings of the study relating to four key themes - how staff conceive of risk of SID, how SID risk is managed, staff training and institutional and individual responses to SID. The report closes with a review of promising practice and areas for improvement based on staff suggestions. Details: Santa Monica, CA: Cambridge, UK: RAND Europe and the University of Cambridge, 2015. 102p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2018 at: http://iapdeathsincustody.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Self-Inflicted-Deaths-in-NOMS%E2%80%99-Custody-amongst-18%E2%80%9324-Year-Olds-Staff-Experience-Knowledge-and-Views.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://iapdeathsincustody.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Self-Inflicted-Deaths-in-NOMS%E2%80%99-Custody-amongst-18%E2%80%9324-Year-Olds-Staff-Experience-Knowledge-and-Views.pdf Shelf Number: 150162 Keywords: Deaths in CustodyPrison SuicidesSuicides |
Author: Vars, Fredrick E. Title: Slipping Through the Cracks? The Impact of Reporting Mental Health Records to the National Firearm Background Check System Summary: Both sides of the contentious debate over firearm regulation agree that some people with mental illness should be prohibited from purchasing firearms. This consensus exists despite limited empirical support. Such support will be essential to courts deciding the prohibition's constitutionality. We assess the impact on homicide and suicide of states reporting mental health records to the national firearm background check system. Using panel data and a difference-in-differences methodology, we find that upon adding mental health records to the national system, states experienced a 3.3-4.3% decrease in firearm-related suicides with no evidence of substitution to non-firearm suicides. Our findings suggest that mental health restrictions on gun sales do effectively reduce suicide but not homicide. Details: Unpublished paper, 2018. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: U of Alabama Legal Studies Research Paper No. 3127786: Accessed May 16, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3127786 Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3127786 Shelf Number: 150244 Keywords: Firearm Background ChecksGun Control PolicyHomicidesMentally Ill PersonsSuicides |
Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice Title: A Review of Self-inflicted Deaths in Prison Custody in 2016 Summary: In January 2017, the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice, Dr Phillip Lee, committed to carry out an internal review of self-inflicted deaths in prison custody in 2016, with a focus on cases where mental health had been identified as an issue. This commitment was made as part of a response to a question in Parliament from Luciana Berger MP about the death of Mr Dean Saunders at HMP&YOI Chelmsford in January 2016. It also followed increasing concern from parliamentarians and interest groups over the high numbers of self-inflicted deaths and self-harm in our prisons. Our annual safety in custody statistics in January 2017 showed that in the 12 months to December 2016, there were 122 self-inflicted deaths in our prisons, the highest number since records began. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) have undertaken this review together. Its scope was to review the details of these cases, particularly the way in which mental health concerns were identified, assessed and managed, to see whether a pattern of common factors exists that indicates a need for policy change relating to mental health assessments in prisons. The review considered a wide range of information sources, including: - a review of published reports and recommendations made by independent and parliamentary scrutiny bodies on self-inflicted deaths and mental health in custody in 2016-17 - analysis of the published data on self-inflicted deaths in custody and the general population in 2016 - examination of all recommendations made by the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) , following its investigations into self-inflicted deaths in 2016, to identify the most common areas for improvement - a review of a sample of published PPO cases where there was a mental health concern What follows are the findings, themes and lessons from this review and a summary of the steps we are taking to address them. Chapter 1 then sets out the known risks and triggers associated with self-inflicted deaths and gives information on prison reception screening, mental health assessments and the provision of care in prisons. This chapter also details the government’s commitment in its white paper to reform the prison system and the key aims of the prison safety programme. Chapter 2 provides an overview of the themes and lessons from independent and parliamentary scrutiny of self-inflicted deaths, while Chapter 3 details the results of our analysis of safer custody data, the PPO's recommendations from its investigations, and our response to the issues identified. Finally, in Chapter 4, we set out the wider work under way to build the capability of staff and of the prison system overall to make prisons safer Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2018. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/747470/review-of-deaths-in-custody-2016.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/747470/review-of-deaths-in-custody-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 152928 Keywords: Deaths in Custody Inmates Prisoners Suicides |
Author: Weisser, Michael Title: Understanding Guns and Gun Violence Summary: This paper analyzes the type, brand, caliber and manufacturing date of more than 9,000 guns connected to suicide, homicide and theft in multiple jurisdictions throughout the United States. The paper finds that gun violence is not a function of the number of privately-owned guns per se, but of the ownership and availability of handguns. The paper further argues that regulatory policies which are based on understanding the provenance of individual guns cannot be utilized for more than one-third of all crime guns, given their age and lack of serialization. Details: Unpublished paper, 2018. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3251032 Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3251032 Shelf Number: 153356 Keywords: Crime Statistics Gun Policy Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence Homicides Murder SuicidesTheft |
Author: Jack, Shane P.D. Title: Surveillance for Violent Deaths-- National Violent Death Reporting System, 27 States, 2015 Summary: Problem/Condition: In 2015, approximately 62,000 persons died in the United States as a result of violence-related injuries. This report summarizes data from CDC's National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) regarding violent deaths from 27 U.S. states for 2015. Results are reported by sex, age group, race/ethnicity, location of injury, method of injury, circumstances of injury, and other selected characteristics. Reporting Period: 2015. Description of System: NVDRS collects data regarding violent deaths obtained from death certificates, coroner/medical examiner reports, law enforcement reports, and secondary sources (e.g., child fatality review team data, supplemental homicide reports, hospital data, and crime laboratory data). This report includes data from 27 states that collected statewide data for 2015 (Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin). NVDRS collates documents for each death and links deaths that are related (e.g., multiple homicides, a homicide followed by a suicide, or multiple suicides) into a single incident. Results: For 2015, NVDRS captured 30,628 fatal incidents involving 31,415 deaths in the 27 states included in this report. The majority (65.1%) of deaths were suicides, followed by homicides (23.5%), deaths of undetermined intent (9.5%), legal intervention deaths (1.3%) (i.e., deaths caused by law enforcement and other persons with legal authority to use deadly force, excluding legal executions), and unintentional firearm deaths (<1.0%). (The term "legal intervention" is a classification incorporated into the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision [ICD-10] and does not denote the lawfulness or legality of the circumstances surrounding a death caused by law enforcement.) Demographic patterns varied by manner of death. Suicide rates were highest among males, non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Natives, non-Hispanic whites, adults aged 45-54 years, and men aged ≥75 years. The most common method of injury was a firearm. Suicides often were preceded by a mental health, intimate partner, substance abuse, or physical health problem, or a crisis during the previous or upcoming 2 weeks. Homicide rates were higher among males and persons aged <1 year and 20-34 years. Among males, non-Hispanic blacks accounted for the majority of homicides and had the highest rate of any racial/ethnic group. Homicides primarily involved a firearm, were precipitated by arguments and interpersonal conflicts, were related to intimate partner violence (particularly for females), or occurred in conjunction with another crime. When the relationship between a homicide victim and a suspected perpetrator was known, an acquaintance/friend or an intimate partner frequently was involved. Legal intervention death rates were highest among males and persons aged 20-54 years; rates among non-Hispanic black males were approximately double the rates of those among non-Hispanic white males. Precipitating circumstances for legal intervention deaths most frequently were an alleged criminal activity in progress, the victim reportedly using a weapon in the incident, a mental health or substance abuse problem (other than alcohol abuse), an argument or conflict, or a recent crisis (during the previous or upcoming 2 weeks). Unintentional firearm deaths were more frequent among males, non-Hispanic whites, and persons aged 10–24 years; these deaths most often occurred while the shooter was playing with a firearm and most often were precipitated by a person unintentionally pulling the trigger or mistakenly thinking the firearm was unloaded. Deaths of undetermined intent were more frequent among males, particularly non-Hispanic black and American Indian/Alaska Native males, and persons aged 30–54 years. Substance abuse, mental health problems, physical health problems, and a recent crisis were the most common circumstances preceding deaths of undetermined intent. In 2015, approximately 3,000 current or former military personnel died by suicide. The majority of these decedents were male, non-Hispanic white, and aged 45-74 years. Most suicides among military personnel involved a firearm and were precipitated by mental health, physical health, and intimate partner problems, as well as a recent crisis. Interpretation: This report provides a detailed summary of data from NVDRS for 2015. The results indicate that deaths resulting from self-inflicted or interpersonal violence most frequently affect males and certain age groups and minority populations. Mental health problems, intimate partner problems, interpersonal conflicts, and general life stressors were primary precipitating events for multiple types of violent deaths, including suicides among current or former military personnel. Public Health Action: NVDRS data are used to monitor the occurrence of violence-related fatal injuries and assist public health authorities in the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies to reduce and prevent violent deaths. For example, Virginia VDRS data are used to help identify suicide risk factors among active duty service members, Oregon VDRS suicide data are used to coordinate information and activities across community agencies that support veterans and active duty service members, and Arizona VDRS data are used to develop recommendations for primary care providers who deliver care to veterans. The continued development and expansion of NVDRS to include all 50 states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia are essential to public health efforts to reduce deaths due to violence. Details: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, Surveillance Summaries / Vol. 67 / No. 11: Accessed December 6, 2018 at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6181254/pdf/ss6711a1.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6181254/pdf/ss6711a1.pdf Shelf Number: 153921 Keywords: Child DeathsGun ViolenceGun-Related ViolenceHomicidesMurdersPolice Deadly ForcePublic Health IssuesSuicides Violence |
Author: Duggan, Mark Title: The Effect of Gun Shows on Gun-Related Deaths: Evidence from California and Texas Summary: Thousands of gun shows take place in the U.S. each year. Gun control advocates argue that because sales at gun shows are much less regulated than other sales, such shows make it easier for potential criminals to obtain a gun. Similarly, one might be concerned that gun shows would exacerbate suicide rates by providing individuals considering suicide with a more lethal means of ending their lives. On the other hand, proponents argue that gun shows are innocuous since potential criminals can acquire guns quite easily through other black market sales or theft. In this paper, we use data from Gun and Knife Show Calendar combined with vital statistics data to examine the effect of gun shows. We find no evidence that gun shows lead to substantial increases in either gun homicides or suicides. In addition, tighter regulation of gun shows does not appear to reduce the number of firearms-related deaths. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2008. 53p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper Series; Working Paper 14371: Accessed December 10, 2018 at: https://www.nber.org/papers/w14371 Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: https://www.nber.org/papers/w14371 Shelf Number: 153953 Keywords: Black Markets Gun Shows Gun Violence Gun-Related Violence Suicides |
Author: Strategic Applications International Title: Officers' Physical and Mental Health and Safety Summary: Abstract The OSW Group's April 2018 meeting expanded on previous discussions of ways to support officers' emotional health and organizational wellness. This meeting focused particularly on line-of-duty deaths in felonious assaults as well as in accidents, mental health and suicide, and crisis hotlines and other programs. Families, community members, and others can contribute to the important work that is needed in this area by supporting officer safety and wellness, participating in conversations and programming, and working to reduce the negative stigma surrounding mental health issues. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2018. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://ric-zai-inc.com/Publications/cops-w0862-pub.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://ric-zai-inc.com/ric.php?page=detail&id=COPS-W0862 Shelf Number: 154175 Keywords: Crisis Hotline Emotional Health Felonious Assaults Line-of-Duty Deaths Mental Health Officer Safety and Wellness Organizational Wellness Police Officers Suicides |
Author: Cerqueira, Daniel R.C. Title: A Panel-Based Proxy for Gun Prevalence in the US Summary: There is a consensus that the proportion of suicides committed with a firearm is the best proxy for gun ownership prevalence. Cerqueira et al. (2108) exploit the socioeconomic characteristics of suicide victims in order to develop a new and more refined proxy. It is based on the fixed effects of the victim's place of residence estimated from a discrete choice model for the likelihood of committing suicide with gun. We empirically assess this new indicator using gun ownership data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and suicide registers of the US National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) from 1995 through 2004. We demonstrate that this new gun proxy provides significant gains in correlation with the percentage of households with firearms. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2019. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: NBER Working Paper No. 25530: Accessed February 14, 2019 at: https://www.nber.org/papers/w25530.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.nber.org/papers/w25530.pdf Shelf Number: 154600 Keywords: Gun Control Gun Ownership Gun Policy Suicides |
Author: Schell, Terry L. Title: Evaluating Methods to Estimate the Effect of State Laws on Firearm Deaths: A Simulation Study Summary: The RAND Corporation launched its Gun Policy in America initiative with the goal of creating objective, factual resources for policymakers and the public on the effects of gun laws. As a part of this project, RAND researchers conducted a systematic literature review and evaluation of scientific studies on the effects of 13 classes of policies. One of the findings of the review was that the effects of policies estimated in the literature appeared to be sensitive to the specific statistical methods that were employed. This suggests the importance of identifying the most-appropriate statistical methods to use on these data. In this report, the authors use simulations to assess the performance of a wide range of statistical models commonly used in the gun policy literature to estimate the effects of state-level gun policies on firearm deaths. The study aimed to identify the most-appropriate statistical modeling and analysis methods for estimating the effect of these policies on firearm deaths, which may help in the evaluation of whether estimates from prior research can be considered to be accurate. The results suggest substantial statistical problems with many of the methods used. The authors also identify the best method among those assessed. This report should be of interest to researchers familiar with statistical methods for estimating causal effects in longitudinal time series data, those who are trying to understand the effects of gun policies as revealed in the existing literature, or those who are planning new studies that use statistical models to investigate these effects. Key Findings -- Simulation results reveal that many commonly used modeling approaches in gun policy research have quite poor type 1 error rates. Several models have type 1 error rates ten times greater than the nominal α = 0.05 that was intended. Huber and cluster adjustments often do not fix these problems, and Huber adjustments can sometimes make them worse. The models also had surprisingly low statistical power to detect an effect-sized equivalent to a change of 1,000 deaths per year if a law were implemented nationally. Most models could correctly reject the null hypothesis only about 10 percent of the time with this true effect. With power this low, a large fraction of effects that are statistically significant will be found to be in the opposite direction as the true effect, and all significant effects will greatly exaggerate the magnitude of the true effect. One model was identified as having the best performance across all assessed criteria. This model is a negative binomial model of firearm deaths that includes time-fixed effects, an auto-regressive effect, and change coding for the law effect. The preferred specification includes no state-fixed effects or standard error adjustment. Recommendations -- Researchers should consider using Bayesian statistical methods when estimating the effect of state laws on firearm death rates. Given the lack of power to conduct traditional significant testing, policymakers will be well served to understand the range of possible effects associated with a given policy and where the weight of current evidence lies. To correctly estimate the uncertainty in the model estimates, the models may need to include an auto-regressive term. However, this requires careful consideration of how effects are coded to avoid dramatically biased effect estimates. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2018. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 12, 2019 at: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2685.html Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR2685.html Shelf Number: 155368 Keywords: Firearm Deaths Firearms Gun Legislation Gun Policy Gun Safety Gun Violence Homicides Suicides |