Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. prison system. How can jails reduce risk factors? Brown University's Lauren Weinstock studies suicide risk for people who have been incarcerated. “ What we know about people who often find themselves in jails and prisons is that they typically have preexisting risk factors for suicide,” Weinstock said. While Weinstock said jails and prisons should continue implementing strategies to keep incarcerated people safe, the risk of suicide for formerly incarcerated people is exponential.