Growing concern for high rate of suicides in Massachusetts prisons

BOSTON, Mass. — In the wake of Aaron Hernandez's suicide at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, local sheriffs are expressing concern over the rising rate of inmate suicide.

Prisons across the country have been struggling with inmates taking their own lives, and, according to the US DOJ. The state of Massachusetts has one of the highest inmate suicide rates in the country.

Bristol County Sheriff Thomas Hodgson said its been challenging to keep that number down despite his staff's numerous attempts at identifying troubled inmates and taking immediate action.

"The majority of people who are successful are generally the ones who will never give you the indicators, including the mental health screeners," Hodgson says.

Hodgson attributes the added strain on corrections staff to many mental health hospitals closing in the 80's, forcing jails and prisons to handle mental health cases even though they might not be properly equipped to do so.

Inmates at Bristol County, the jail where Hernandez was once housed, have swallowed light bulbs and door handles in attempts to take their lives, according to Hodgson. He added that while suicides rates tend to fluctuate, there has been a recent uptick in those numbers at Bristol County House of Correction.

The prison where Hernandez committed suicide, MCI Souza-Baranowski, remains on lockdown while the investigation into his death is still ongoing.

Cox Media Group