An Exploratory Analysis of Violent Offending and the Acquired Capability for Suicide in Male Prisoners

• Author: Jon Mandracchia,Kristen Tieman,Phillip Smith,Ashley Sylvara,Addie Wikowsky
• Published date: 01 August 2018
• Date: 01 August 2018
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X17740558
• Subject Matter: Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X17740558

International Journal of

Offender Therapy and

Comparative Criminology

2018, Vol. 62(11) 3436 –3446

© The Author(s) 2017

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DOI: 10.1177/0306624X17740558

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Article

An Exploratory Analysis of

Violent Offending and the

Acquired Capability for

Suicide in Male Prisoners

Jon Mandracchia1, Ashley Sylvara1,

Addie Wikowsky1, Kristen Tieman1,

and Phillip Smith2

Abstract

Recently, the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide has offered some understanding as to

why inmates are at a disproportionately high risk to die by suicide. The present study

was designed to investigate how one aspect of the theory, the acquired capability for

suicide, may differ between prison inmates with violent offenses versus those without.

Data from 343 male prisoners within the Mississippi Department of Corrections

were used to examine potential differences between these two groups on scales of

the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale. Contrary to the hypothesis that violent

offenders would evidence higher levels of acquired capability, only the Spectator

Enjoyment of Violence subscale was significantly different between the two groups,

with nonviolent offenders producing higher scores. Potential explanations for these

findings and implications for correctional mental health care providers are discussed.

Keywords

acquired capability, prisoners, suicide, interpersonal theory, inmates, violence, violent

offending

1Missouri Western State University, Saint Joseph, USA

2University of South Alabama, Mobile, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jon Mandracchia, Missouri Western State University, 4525 Downs Drive, Saint Joseph, MO 64507-2246,

USA.

Email: jmandracchia@missouriwestern.edu

740558IJOXXX10.1177/0306624X17740558International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative CriminologyMandracchia et al.

research-article2017