Study Examines Causes Of 1,000 Prison Deaths In New Jersey

NEW JERSEY — Heart disease and cancer are the biggest killers in New Jersey when it comes to prison deaths, a new study says.

Personal injury lawyers Connecticut Trial Firm recently analyzed data from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics to find out the leading causes of death in state and federal prisons across America.

Researchers used data on prisoner fatalities that took place between 2001 and 2019, and compared the numbers to state population sizes to find the “prison mortality rate” per 100,000 people. Each state's number of deaths for prisons and local jails were used from the same source.

In New Jersey, there were 1,029 recorded prisoner deaths that took place from 2001 to 2019 (the year before the first confirmed COVID-19 case in the state). That came out to a 11.1 prison mortality rate per 100,000 residents – which ranked New Jersey at 36th on the list.

The top five causes of death in New Jersey were:

• Heart Disease – 329
• Cancer – 244
• Other Illnesses – 137
• AIDS-related – 83
• Respiratory Disease – 62

Suicide was the leading cause of “unnatural deaths” in prisons across New Jersey, accounting for 53 deaths, researchers said.

Nationally, Louisiana recorded the highest prison mortality rate with 42.7 deaths per 100,000 people. The remaining top five states were Oklahoma (38.9), Mississippi (36.5), Alabama (33.9) and Arkansas (31.8).

Researchers noted that New Jersey saw an average of 26.1 deaths annually within the same time frame at local and county prisons.

“Monitoring prison mortality rates is crucial for upholding human rights standards,” said Ryan Keen of Connecticut Trial Firm.

“Examining patterns and causes of prison deaths enables authorities to implement preventive measures,” Keen added. “Whether it involves addressing mental health issues, improving sanitation, or enhancing safety protocols, understanding the root causes of mortality allows for targeted interventions to mitigate risks and save lives.”

• See Related: NJ Governor Launches 'Clemency' Plan For Prison Inmates, Parolees
• See Related: Here’s How You’re Most Likely To Die On The Job In New Jersey

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