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The Effect of Incarceration on Mortality
Samuel Norris1, Matthew Pecenco2, Jeffrey Weaver3
1Department of Economics, University of British Columbia.
The Review of Economics and Statistics
|August 14, 2025
Summary
Incarceration significantly lowers mortality risk, especially from murder and overdose, leading to increased longevity for incarcerated individuals. This highlights the dangerous environment outside of prison and suggests policy changes.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Incarceration's impact on mortality is a critical public health and sociological concern.
- Previous research has not fully elucidated the mortality risks associated with incarceration and release.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the effect of incarceration on mortality using administrative data.
- To investigate the differential mortality risks between incarcerated and non-incarcerated individuals.
- To examine the impact of release from incarceration on mortality risk.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of administrative data from Ohio (1992-2017).
- Event study designs centered around the time of release from incarceration.
- Comparison of survival rates between incarcerated and similar non-incarcerated defendants.
Main Results:
- Long-run survival is higher among incarcerated individuals compared to similar non-incarcerated defendants.
- Mortality risk is halved during incarceration, with significant reductions in deaths from murder, overdose, and natural causes.
- Incarceration does not increase post-release mortality, resulting in overall increased longevity.
Conclusions:
- The findings suggest that the period of incarceration offers protective effects against high-risk behaviors and environments.
- The study underscores the elevated mortality risks faced by defendants in non-incarcerated settings.
- Results imply that non-carceral policies aimed at reducing risks in the community could mitigate mortality disparities.
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