I guess I don't understand how it works.
About the only way to commit suicide in a jail cell would be to somehow hang yourself.
How would a vest prevent that?

It is actually a quilted smock. It replaced clothing that could be used to commit suicide.

Turtle suit

quote:

About the only way to commit suicide in a jail cell would be to somehow hang yourself.
How would a vest prevent that?

By being made in such a way that you can't use it to hang yourself.

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Originally posted by gjgalligan:
I guess I don't understand how it works.
About the only way to commit suicide in a jail cell would be to somehow hang yourself.
How would a vest prevent that?

I work in jails and prisons across the entire state. It is referred to as many things like a suicide gown or smock. One of the main jails I work in, the inmates call it a “Pickle Suit” as it is green in color. The inmate has no other clothing other than the smock. The smock is made out of a heavy material that can’t be torn and uses Velcro shoulder straps so there is nothing to be able to put your head through. Every successful in-custody suicide I have worked involves inmates using sheets or tearing up clothing to create a ligature and this can’t be done with a suicide gown. Then if an inmate is on suicide watch, they are either checked very frequently or they have an officer posted on them at all times watching them through the cell door.

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Originally posted by RR:
Turtle suit

Or, pickle suit. I hear both.

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Originally posted by StorminNormin:


they have an officer posted on them at all times watching them through the cell door.

That sounds like fun! Don't know how you do it.

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Originally posted by Schmelby:

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Originally posted by StorminNormin:


they have an officer posted on them at all times watching them through the cell door.

That sounds like fun! Don't know how you do it.

I don’t know how THEY do it. Thank god I don’t. I do internal affairs investigations within the jails and prisons on anyone who works there and gets an allegation on them for doing something illegal.

If there is a death in a Texas jail or prison within my area, it is me and a Texas Ranger who do the investigation into the death.

In that very jail there was a gal several years ago who killed herself by kneeling and leaning her neck against the edge of a bunk long enough it killed her.

Knew of another guy in prison who stuffed a whole boiled egg down his throat to kill himself (out of a sack lunch in a suicide watch cell). If there’s a will there’s a way.

Isn't the time to commit suicide before you get in jail ?

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Originally posted by bendable:
Isn't the time to commit suicide before you get in jail ?

I think a lot of them are still 'high' off their illusions of fame (more so now-a-days), they think they are so smart they will get away with it, etc.

Once reality sets in, it's an 'Oh Shit' moment, they ponder spending many years in that environment if not the rest of their lives, locked in that cell and trying to survive the threats from the rest of the population. They then choose the suicide route as they are not as bad as they thought.

If we could just reverse order on all the murder-suicides, the world would be a much better place.

Doesn’t letting them commit suicide free up cell space and save everyone the time and effort.

Legal fees, meals - it all adds up. Is it worth it?

How important is suicide prevention in prison?

If the old stats hold true, most inmate suicides are young men in their early 20's, first time offenders, in their first 2 years of incarceration, accused or convicted of serious crimes, often child sex abuse. I've seen suicides and attempts with everything from a ball point pen to wads of paper towels to a telephone handset cord (the telephone one succeeded.) And when you say things like "just let them do it and save money," you're ignoring why people get incarcerated. Make a serious paperwork error, travel to the wrong area with a gun, or be involved in a defensive shooting and you very well could find yourself in a cell.

Taking a header down the stairwell or off a balcony is also a popular way of attempting suicide while incarcerated.