Nora Owen
Question:17 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Justice if he will outline whether all suicide attempts or self-mutilations are being recorded in all prisons, as recommended by the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths.
Written Answers. - Prison Statistics.
In line with the recommendations contained in the Report of the Advisory Group on Prison Deaths, August 1991, a system of recording the circumstances relating to cases of attempted suicide and selfmutilation was introduced. Following all such incidents details are furnished by local prison management to the Director of Prison Medical Services on a form designed specially for this purpose. A copy of the form is retained on the prisoner's medical record for local reference.
The data recorded is comprehensive, giving full details of the location of the incident, the method used, the medical treatment given, the explanation given by the prisoner and comment by prison management. Background information which includes the prisoner's medical and psychiatric history, reference to previous attempts at self-injury and sentence details is also provided.
This data will be analysed within my Department to help to identify trends in such behaviour and to assist in the formulation of preventive measures.