Demographic and criminal determinants of mortality in prison: The odds of surviving confinement

Abstract

Several studies have demonstrated the importance of sociodemographic factors on prison mortality. This study advances our understanding of mortality by expanding demographic models to include habitual offenders, primary offenses and sentence length. Using data from the Florida Department of Corrections, this article explores the relationship
between demographic and criminal characteristics of inmates and the odds of surviving confinement. Results indicate that criminal characteristics of inmates and medical status more strongly affect the probability of surviving confinement than race and sex. Finally, there was no indication of confounding and interaction effects with the exceptions of a two-way interaction of good health and race, good health and prison offense, and prison offense and sentence length.