April 14, 2008: Prison Self Injury Rate Growing - Howard League

Rates of self injury in prison have rocketed by almost 40% in the last five years, says the Howard League for Penal Reform. This rate is accelerating well beyond what would be expected from the ever rising prison population in England and Wales.

According to the Howard League, figures show that in 2003, there were 16,393 incidents of self injury in prison. In 2007, there were 22,459 incidents. This rise of 37% is almost four times the rise in the prison population for the same period, which was just over 9.5%. In 2003, the average number of men, women and children in prison was 73,000. By 2007, the average population for the whole year was around 80,000.

Self injury rates among women in prison have risen even further, with a 48% rise in recorded incidents between 2003 and 2007.

These figures are only the registered incidents of self injury in prisons. The scale of the problem may be even larger , with a significant number of incidents going unreported. Howard League Director Frances Crook said:

“This shocking rise in self injury is far above what might be expected as we lock up ever increasing numbers of men, women and children whose mental health problems and addictions will never be properly treated within our flooded and failing jails."

“Warehoused temporarily in prison, many individuals are then released only to reoffend and be returned to custody. Rotting in the chaos and squalor of overcrowded prisons simply serves to exacerbate problems and will most likely to lead to more serious and frequent reoffending on release. The idea that public protection is served by this vicious circle is not one many victims of crime would recognise."

“When men, women and children in jail cut themselves and otherwise assault their own bodies, it is not a cry for help. It is a scream. How much longer before we realise that the national scandal happening behind bars has a direct impact on public safety and the healthiness of our society?”