Suicides in New York State prisons surged to 25 in 2024—more than double the number reported the previous year—according to a new data dashboard released by the Correctional Association of New York (CANY).
The figures, obtained through a Freedom of Information Law request, highlight what CANY calls a growing crisis in prison mental health care. The suicide rate has risen by 208% since 2013, despite a sharp decline in the state’s prison population.
“This dashboard provides visibility into yet another crisis in New York’s prisons,” said CANY Executive Director Jennifer Scaife. “A dramatic increase in suicides coupled with an increasing share of incarcerated people on mental health caseloads.”
Key findings from the dashboard include:
- Suicides rose from 12 in 2023 to 25 in 2024.
- The suicide rate increased from 0.24 per 1,000 people in 2013 to 0.74 in 2024.
- The prison population fell from over 54,000 in 2013 to around 33,600 in 2024.
- 29% of people in prison are now on the mental health caseload, up from 26% in 2022.
- Women’s facilities show the highest mental health treatment rates: Bedford Hills (71%), Albion (70%), and Taconic (62%).
The new dashboard adds to CANY’s existing tools tracking deaths in custody, unusual incidents, staffing levels, and other key indicators.
View the dashboards:
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