Decreased mortality among male prisoners

The mortality among a population of male prisoners between 1977 and 1983 was compared with that among the general French population. The overall mortality rate (for all deaths except external causes) was lower among prisoners (SMR = 84; p less than 0.05). Moreover, the risk of dying from all causes, as well as from malignant neoplasms, diseases of the circulatory system, and suicides fell significantly with increasing duration of imprisonment. These findings suggest that the lifestyle specific to imprisonment might overcome the prejudicial effect of risk factors such as alcohol, tobacco, or drug abuse that tend to be common among prisoners.