Abstract
A total of 442 unnatural deaths occurred in prisons in England and Wales between 1972 and 1987 inclusive. Of these, 300 received a coroner's verdict of suicide. Fifty-two of the remaining deaths resulted from consciously self-inflicted injuries. The circumstances surrounding these deaths were compared to those of the suicides. It was found that where there was a history of self-injury during the same period of custody, deaths that occurred during the day-time or involved dying relatively slowly were more likely to receive a verdict other than suicide. Furthermore, where there was a history of recent treatment with major tranquillizers, a suicide verdict was less likely. In reviewing the remaining 90 unnatural deaths it was noted that homicide was rare in British prisons.
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