TY  - JOUR
T1  - PRison rape and suicide-reply
AU  - Salive ME, Smith GS, Brewer T
Y1  - 1989/12/22
N1  - 10.1001/jama.1989.03430240037011
JO  - JAMA
SP  - 3403
EP  - 3403
VL  - 262
IS  - 24
N2  - In Reply.— 
    We agree with Dr Wiggs that homosexual rape in prison may be a significant risk factor for inmate suicide. However, our data sources (prison census and death investigation information, as well as death certificates) included no information for either the completed suicides or the prison population on the incidence of homosexual rape. Differences between self-reported lifetime prevalence of sexual assaults in prison (up to 9%) and those reported to prison authorities (a handful each year)1 suggest that underreporting of such activities is substantial. This consequently restricts the ability to conduct such studies, even with information from prison authorities on reported rapes. There is a need for more detailed followup to investigate risk factors for prison suicide, including its relationship to prison rape.
SN  - 0098-7484
M3  - doi: 10.1001/jama.1989.03430240037011
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jama.1989.03430240037011
ER  -