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Violence-Related Deaths Among People Released From Prison: A Data Linkage Study
Melissa Willoughby1,2, Matthew J Spittal1, Rohan Borschmann1,2,3
1The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
Journal of Interpersonal Violence
|February 15, 2020
Summary
People released from prison face a significantly higher risk of death from violence. Women experience the greatest increase in this risk, highlighting an urgent need for targeted prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Individuals released from prison are a marginalized group with elevated mortality risks from preventable causes, including violence.
- Understanding the epidemiology of violence-related death (VRD) post-release is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the epidemiology of violence-related deaths (VRDs) among individuals released from prisons in Queensland, Australia.
- To identify risk factors and demographic disparities in VRDs after release, stratified by sex and Indigenous status.
Main Methods:
- A representative sample of 41,970 individuals released from Queensland prisons (1994-2007) was probabilistically linked to the National Death Index.
- Crude mortality rates (CMRs) and standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated, with Cox regression used to identify VRD predictors.
Main Results:
- Violence-related deaths (VRDs) accounted for 3% of 2,158 post-release deaths.
- The SMR for VRD was 10.0, with women showing the highest SMR (16.3).
- VRD rates peaked between 2-6 months post-release; short sentences and multiple imprisonments were risk factors for non-Indigenous males.
Conclusions:
- Individuals released from prison experience a substantially elevated rate of VRD compared to the general population.
- Women released from prison face a disproportionately higher risk of VRD.
- Targeted violence prevention interventions for this population are essential to improve health outcomes and reduce mortality.
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