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Death in prison: changing mortality patterns among male prisoners in Maryland, 1979-87
M E Salive1, G S Smith, T F Brewer
1Department of Health Policy and Management Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health.
Insights
Leading causes of death in Maryland prisons from 1979-87 included circulatory disease and suicide. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) emerged as the top cause by 1987, while homicides and drug overdose deaths decreased.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Criminology
Background:
- Understanding mortality trends in correctional facilities is crucial for public health policy.
- Previous data on leading causes of death in Maryland state prisons during the specified period is limited.
- The emergence of Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) presented a significant challenge to healthcare within prisons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the primary causes of mortality among inmates in Maryland state prisons between 1979 and 1987.
- To analyze trends in specific causes of death, including infectious diseases, suicide, and drug-related fatalities.
- To compare all-cause mortality rates in male inmates to the general male population in Maryland.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of mortality data from Maryland state prisons spanning 1979-1987.
- Calculation of death rates per 100,000 prisoner-years for various causes.
- Age and race adjustment for comparing inmate mortality to the general population.
Main Results:
- Circulatory system disease (59 per 100,000 prisoner-years), suicide (40), and homicide/legal intervention (30) were the leading causes of death.
- Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) became the leading cause of death by 1987.
- Homicides declined post-1980, and drug overdose deaths peaked in 1981 before disappearing; male inmates showed lower age/race-adjusted all-cause mortality than the general population.
Conclusions:
- Mortality profiles in Maryland prisons evolved significantly during the 1980s, with AIDS becoming a dominant cause.
- Specific causes like homicide and drug overdose showed declining or transient trends.
- Male inmates exhibited a lower overall mortality rate compared to the general population when adjusted for age and race.
Abstract:
The leading causes of death (rate per 100,000 prisoner-years) in Maryland state prisons for the period 1979-87 were circulatory system disease (59), suicide (40), and homicide and legal intervention (30). Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) became the leading cause of death in 1987. Homicides declined after 1980; drug overdose deaths peaked in 1981 and later disappeared. Male inmates have 39 percent lower all-cause death rates than the general population of Maryland after adjustment for age and race.