Criminal Justice System Contacts among Suicide Decedents in Toronto, 1998-2020: An Observational Study: Démêlés avec le système de justice pénale parmi les personnes décédées par suicide à Toronto, entre 1998 et 2020 : Une étude d'observation.

Abstract

ObjectiveThis exploratory correlational study explored the demographic, clinical, and offence-type characteristics of people with documented past-year contact with the criminal justice system (CJS) in Toronto, Canada who died by suicide. We aimed to compare demographic and clinical factors among individuals with CJS contact who died by suicide to those without recorded CJS contact who died by suicide.MethodsCoroners' final death reports from all recorded suicide deaths in Toronto between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2020 were retrieved by research staff and coded at the Office of the Chief Coroner (OCC) of Ontario. A series of bivariate analyses and binary logistic regression analyses were performed to compare demographic and clinically relevant characteristics between these groups. Descriptive statistics relating to demographic, clinical, and offence-type characteristics were reported.ResultsA total of 5,288 people died by suicide, of whom 251 (4.7% of all suicides) had recorded CJS contact prior to death. Assault, physical assault, impaired driving, serious/death threats, and sexual assault were the most common criminal charges among those in the CJS contact group. When compared with the no recorded CJS contact group, the CJS contact group was slightly younger (M = 40.0, SD = ±13.4 vs. M = 47.5, SD = ±18.1, p < 0.001), had a higher proportion of males (85.6% vs. 69.9%, p < 0.001), more commonly experienced interpersonal (36.3% vs. 14.5%, p < 0.001) and/or relationship break-up/breakdown stressors (16.7% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001), and substance misuse or substance use disorders (37.5% vs. 18%, p < 0.001).ConclusionsOur findings highlight that younger men with interpersonal stressors and/or substance misuse characterize suicide decedents with recorded CJS contact in Toronto, Canada. Suicide prevention efforts and strategies should consider the profile differences among those navigating the CJS.