Post-Prison Mortality: Unnatural Death Among People Released From Victorian Prisons Between January 1990 and December 1999

The extent & nature of unnatural death among people released from Victorian prisons between January 1990-December 1999 were examined. A total of 820 men & women were identified as having died unnatural deaths while not imprisoned prior to July 2000. The unnatural death rate of ex-prisoners was 10 times that found in the general Victorian population. Just over a third of the deaths were due to suicide. The risk of unnatural death was greatest during the weeks immediately after release & greater among those who had previous imprisonments. Study results did not provide evidence if & how the suicides could have been prevented. (29 refs.)