The Olympian has a story this morning about a recent death at the Thurston County Jail: DUI suspect found hanged inside jail. (Note from Norm: EDIT: I would add, for your own well-being, if you read the article, do not click on the remarks link.) Results of police investigation and coroner's report are not yet in. So we don't know for certain that this was a suicide. At the moment I'm going on the assumption that it was.

The Seattle Weekly awhile back ran excellent articles on suicides at the King County jail: Dead-End Jail and Unreported Jail Deaths. And the National Institute of Corrections has an extensive library of related resources available online. But until the investigation and coroner reports are in, and most likely even after that, many questions remain.

As I read the article I had immediate questions such as: Why was there a cord of any sort anywhere near this man? But really, I don't have a clue, I wasn't present, I don't work there, this is not my field. And my guess is that no matter how trained and prepared and vigilant staff may be, if an inmate wants to die, they can find a way.

Condolences to Mr. Spears' family and friends and community. Community includes people who work at the jail. This cannot be easy for anyone.