Study finds high number of preventable inmate deaths

[danielle]

Study finds high number of preventable inmate deaths

Majority died in violent circumstances,
including suicide, in Canadian facilities


By KIRK MAKIN
JUSTICE REPORTER

Prisoners are dying at twice the rate of men in their age group in the outside world -- and many of these deaths could have been prevented, a study appearing today in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says.

The study -- which assembled data about every inmate who died in an Ontario penitentiary, jail or police detention cell during the 1990s -- found 309 deaths.

More than half of the deaths were due to violent causes, including 90 suicides, many of which might have been prevented if staff had been better trained and more willing to take action, the study concludes.

It also found that 50 times as many federal penitentiary inmates die from drug overdoses as in the general population, while the rate is 30 times as high for provincial inmates.

The study compared the prisoners who died with the death statistics for men outside prison between the ages of 24 and 49. To reach their findings, the authors excluded the handful of females who died in custody -- eight -- as well as 17 dead inmates about whom no information was available.

In federal institutions, the study discovered 421.1 deaths per 100,000 prisoners. In provincial institutions, the death rate was 211.5 per 100,000.

"At the end of the 20th Century, we have shown an elevated death rate that is twice that of the general population," the study said.

Any convict sentenced to more than two years is sent to a federal penitentiary. Those with lesser sentences serve them in provincial jails.

The authors said that the rate of suicides and overdoses in the federal system is surprising in view of the fact that penitentiaries have relatively stable environments that lend themselves to preventive measures.

"It is particularly worrisome that suicide rates were higher federally than provincially, whereas one would expect the reverse," they said. The authors concluded that it may suggest "a lack of preventive effort" in federal institutions.

"Many of the suicides in our study population occurred shortly after arrest and around the time of sentencing, which is a well-documented danger period," the study said.

One of the four Queen's University professors involved in the study, Peter Ford, said in an interview that drugs also cause more deaths than are necessary among prisoners. Dr. Ford said he has seen firsthand that there is no truth to a boast from Correctional Services Canada that methadone programs are universally available.

Because of the high cost of treatment, Dr. Ford said, only a modest proportion of inmates are admitted to the programs. "Everybody else is on a waiting list," he said.

Dr. Ford and the other researchers -- Wendy Wobeser, Jason Datema and Benoit Bechard -- also found that:

24 per cent of those who died were under the age of 30. Inmates who died violently were significantly younger than those who died of natural causes.

Fifty-four inmates died of "poisoning," mostly drug overdoses.

An unusual number of young men died from heart attacks in prison, possibly because they were cocaine-users.

The overall rate of death was twice as high among penitentiary inmates as it was among provincial inmates.

The authors said that the propensity of penitentiary inmates to attempt suicide may be a result of the depressions they often fall into when they lose appeals of lengthy sentences.

Two Austrian doctors who reviewed the study before its publication called it one of the few truly extensive studies of prison deaths ever conducted.

[Menally-Ill]

Danielle, I read this study. Then went to get comparable figures for the U.S.

Do you know that it is classified information, in the United States?

Menolly

[danielle]

Really - what do you think they are hiding? The outrageous numbers?

[Shan & Kev]

Just this past week I heard about an inmate who had been to the Psychiatrist 4 times and would sit outside the Unit Manager's office begging for help with his depression. The inmates around him were all aware of his problems and a few of them also went to CO's and Unit Manager on his behalf because they knew he was close to suicide. They found him hanging in his cell last week. According to CSC, there were no warning signs whatsoever with this particular inmate.

Sickening isn't it?

[canadian_eyes]

That is very sick Danielle thank u for the info i really needed it for my essay thank u very very very much!
Canadian_eyes

[br5000@cox.net]

My son "Daniel" 43 years old, died in the Atlanta Pent. 3/15/08. He had been sick with what the prison said was the flu. His health continued in a downward spiral. Inmates and guards tried to get my son help, but was told to "tell the ****** to stay in bed and drink water. My son called me March 10th to tell me if he didn't get medical help he would die, I did not no until later that inmates were holding him up in order for him to make the call. I tried to get him help, but there was absolutely no way to talk to a person, you can not get passed the computers. I was notified March 15th and informed, " with no warning" that Daniel was dead!!!!! I am a widow living alone, the news shocked me so badly, I found out later it was the CHAPLAIN that called me Daniel was taken to the hospital where he was put in on March 12 and then died March 15th. I got an autopsy report that was very confusing, it sounded like it was on two people instead of one. My son was blonde, this person was said to have had black hair and beard with grey strikes~~ I am hurt, shocked, angry, my son was treaded like a piece of garbage instead of the non violent human that he was. I needed to talk this out and although I am crying my heart out while I type this, I am wanting to make things better for other inmates, I would not want another Mom getting a call in the cold callused way that I did.
Thank you
br5000

[justus1]

Originally Posted by br5000@cox.net

My son "Daniel" 43 years old, died in the Atlanta Pent. 3/15/08. He had been sick with what the prison said was the flu. His health continued in a downward spiral. Inmates and guards tried to get my son help, but was told to "tell the ****** to stay in bed and drink water. My son called me March 10th to tell me if he didn't get medical help he would die, I did not no until later that inmates were holding him up in order for him to make the call. I tried to get him help, but there was absolutely no way to talk to a person, you can not get passed the computers. I was notified March 15th and informed, " with no warning" that Daniel was dead!!!!! I am a widow living alone, the news shocked me so badly, I found out later it was the CHAPLAIN that called me Daniel was taken to the hospital where he was put in on March 12 and then died March 15th. I got an autopsy report that was very confusing, it sounded like it was on two people instead of one. My son was blonde, this person was said to have had black hair and beard with grey strikes~~ I am hurt, shocked, angry, my son was treaded like a piece of garbage instead of the non violent human that he was. I needed to talk this out and although I am crying my heart out while I type this, I am wanting to make things better for other inmates, I would not want another Mom getting a call in the cold callused way that I did.
Thank you
br5000

I'm so very sorry for your loss. I cannot even begin to imagine your pain.

There is an organization that advocates for the family members of those who lose loved ones while they are incarcerated. From your post, I gleaned information that tells me something is "fishy".

Here is the link to their website. I can't say for sure that they can help you, but it would certainly be worth contacting them to find out.

http://www.wrongfuldeathinstitute.com/

You're in my prayers. I hope you get the answers you need, and deserve.

[br5000@cox.net]

Yes something is very fishy concerning my son's death, and even his autopsy report read as though it was two different people instead of one. Example: they described my son as having black hair and black beard with gray strikes, Daniel was blonde. At the beginning of the report they said "43" year old white male, then on the last page they said "46" year old male. My lawyer has ordered pictures and I will know then if I buried my son. Thank you so much for the advice, I take it to heart.

Thankful
Brenda "br5000"