Medical Causes of Death in State Prisons

All Years - National:

January 21, 2007 NCJ 216340 2001-2004:

Describes the specific medical conditions causing deaths in state prisons nationwide during a four-year period.

For the leading medical causes of death, mortality rates are presented by gender, age, race and Hispanic origin, and the length of time served in prison.

The report includes detailed statistics on cancer deaths. Mortality among older prisoners is examined in detail. Prisoner death rates are compared with rates in the general U.S. resident population.

Data on medical treatments provided for these fatal illnesses are presented, along with findings on the presence of medical problems at time of admission to prison.

State-by-state mortality rates are presented for the leading causes of illness deaths in appendix tables. Detailed data tables are included in the electronic version.

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See also: "Suicide and Homicide in State Prisons and Local Jails"

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August 21, 2005 NCJ 210036

(Key Report: Specifically Tables 4-5 in PDF file which Shows how many sex offenders (Rape and Other Sexual Assaults) have suicided or been murdered in jails and prisons.)

Describes historical trends in State prison and local jail inmate mortality rates based on inmate death records submitted by local jails (for 2000-2002) and State prisons (for 2001-2002). The report also compares current prison and jail mortality rates by demographic characteristics, offense types, and facility size and jurisdiction and compares the general population mortality rates with mortality rates in correctional facilities. Comparisons are made to both the raw mortality rates for the general population and those standardized to match the demographic makeup of the inmate populations.

This report presents the first findings from the Deaths in Custody Reporting Program, which implements the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-297). This new program involves the collection of individual records for every inmate death in the Nation s local jails and State prisons. The program also includes the collection of death records from State juvenile correctional authorities (begun in 2002) and State and local law enforcement agencies (begun in 2003).(Continued at Link above)

For updated data, see Key Facts at a Glance: Suicide and homicide rates in prison and jails.

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