교정시설 내 자살예방대책

Abstract

The suicide of inmates in correctional institutions is one of major correctional accidents, whose impact is going beyond correctional institutions and spreading over multiple spheres of the society. This thesis based on statistical data and sociological and psychological theories of suicides, analyzes a difference between general suicides and suicides in correctional institutions, and compares suicides taking place in Korea and other counties, with a view to formulating suicide prevention schemes. In Korea, most of suicide attempts committed by correctional institution inmates have failed and there is an eight times difference between the attempt rate and the actual suicide rate. It implies that the essence of suicide problems remains intact. Inmates in correctional institutions have a much higher crisis for committing suicide, but they stay in difficult and violent culture and situations of overcrowded correctional institutions. Detention stress, to which healthy inmates have been long exposed, will very possibly lead them to become melancholy. It calls for the resolving excessive accommodation, improvement of violent and dangerous surroundings, and alleviation of criminally too coercive investigations and punishing procedures. As for ‘safe custody’ which most frequently instigates suicide attempts, a ban on touching with other inmates(Article 5 of the enforcement decree of Act on the sentence and Treatment of Prisoners) shall be alleviated or removed. Without improving "the decree of a ban on touching with other inmates", Re-socialization as well as it seems difficult to escape the reality of the 'solitary detention abuses’ that caused mental illness. Positive prevention schemes will provide inmates’ families with comfort and inmates with communications with various walks in the society so that the inmates may have a stronger will to live and become a healthier person who keeps further away from suicide. It means that efforts need be made to allow the inmates to touch with their family and society in many ways. In preventing suicides in correctional institutions, it is necessary that screening and managing should be instituted for such inmates as are expected to given severe sentences and may have a higher suicide danger and/or as are mentally diseased. To do that, relevant manpower need be secured, and it is still useful preventive measures through which current and CCTV installation. Lastly, a really important thing is for the Korean government to endeavor to have correctional institutions establish traditions respecting men. It is because an active intention and implementation is required for the government to improve excessive accommodations, repeal wrong laws and regulations, and establish right rules and stipulations.