Suicide and supervision

Date01 March 2017
Published date01 March 2017
DOI10.1177/0264550516677770
Subject MatterArticles
Article
Suicide and supervision:
Issues for probation
practice
Jo Borrill
University of Westminster, UK
Lisa Cook
National Probation Service London, UK
Amy Beck
National Probation Service London, UK
Abstract
Suicides by offenders in the community have been relatively under-researched in
comparison with prison suicides. This study examined in-depth the events and
experiences of 28 service users under probation supervision, based on continuous
records from the start of their sentence to their death by suicide. The study presents
novel findings through mapping suicidal behaviour onto the probation supervision
process, and demonstrates the complex pathways leading to suicide in this population.
Key issues identified include missed appointments, the impact of legal proceedings,
changes in supervision, and the importance of recording risk.
Keywords
deaths, suicide, supervision, probation, service users, risk, legal proceedings, training
Introduction
Suicidal behaviour by offenders under probation supervisionin the community has
been relatively under-researched and addressed in comparison with prison sui-
cides (Mackenzie et al., 2013). Sattar (2001) found that in England and Wales,
community offender suicide rates were then seven to eight times higher than the
Corresponding Author:
Jo Borrill, University of Westminster, Psychology, 115 New Cavendish St, London W1W 6UW.
Email: j.borrill@westminster.ac
The Journal of Community and Criminal Justice
Probation Journal
2017, Vol. 64(1) 6–19
ªThe Author(s) 2016
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DOI: 10.1177/0264550516677770
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