Every day there are about 6 suicides in Australia, and a further 180
attempts. Notwithstanding the enormous personal and family emotional
costs, and the great financial costs, suicide is a significant concern for the
criminal justice system.
Since 1964, suicide rates in Australia for females (except teenagers)
have fallen dramatically, and for men over 30 have fallen significantly. For
teenage boys the rate has tripled, for men in their early twenties it has
almost tripled, and for those in their late twenties it has increased by more
than two-thirds. Young men of these ages are also the prime focus of the
criminal justice system.
When we combine this with Institute findings for the period 1990-95 that
43 per cent of deaths in custody or custody-related police operations were
the result of suicide (again predominantly young men), and Institute
homicide data for the period 1989-93 which indicate that 7 per cent of
identified offenders committed suicide after a homicide event, we have a
picture of despair, despondency and “aimlessness” which cries out for
preventive programs. The criminal justice system can focus on part of the
problem only, and collaborative work with other agencies is needed in
order to have any effect on the incidence of suicide.