A Qualitative Analysis of the Etiology, Manifestation, and Institutional Responses to Self-Injurious Behaviors in Prison

Although self-injurious behavior among prisoners is both a significant drain on state and federal funds and a major health risk among inmates, it has gone largely unexamined in a correctional setting, in favor of inter-inmate violence and other phenomena. Additionally, few correctional facilities currently maintain programs specifically designed to treat self-injury, opting instead to default to suicide protocols or disciplinary measures. By searching for trends in a collection of incident reports involving self-injury, we aim to highlight factors that influence prisoner self-injury, including mental illness, the prison environment, and the response of the institution. Knowledge of these factors may be critical in formulating a more effective treatment program for prisoners who self-injure