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Risk of death in prisoners after release from jail
L M Stewart1, C J Henderson, M S T Hobbs
1School of Population Health, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009.
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
|April 28, 2004
Summary
Released prisoners in Western Australia face a significantly higher risk of death compared to the general population. This increased mortality risk, particularly for female non-Aboriginal individuals, is linked to drug and alcohol abuse.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Criminology
Background:
- Prisoner re-entry into the community presents unique public health challenges.
- Understanding post-release mortality risk is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mortality risk in released Western Australian prisoners against the general population.
- To identify demographic disparities in post-release death risk.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study design was employed, analyzing data from Western Australian prisoners released between 1994 and 1999.
- Mortality data were linked to the Registrar General's records to determine overall mortality and causes of death.
Main Results:
- Both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoners exhibited increased relative risk of death post-release.
- Female non-Aboriginal prisoners aged 20-40 had a 17.8-fold higher mortality risk.
- Excess deaths were primarily attributed to drug and alcohol abuse.
Conclusions:
- All released prisoners face a substantially elevated risk of death.
- Female non-Aboriginal prisoners represent a particularly high-risk group requiring focused support.