19 Jan 2026
A recent BMJ publication presents an important research protocol that aims to shed light on a long‑overlooked issue: the incidence of deaths among people in prison. The study, published in December 2025 as part of BMJ Open Volume 15 (Issue 12), outlines a comprehensive global approach to understanding all‑cause mortality within prison systems worldwide.
People in prison experience disproportionate health burdens compared with community-based populations, including elevated rates of infectious and non-communicable diseases, mental illness and substance use disorders. Previous studies have consistently shown increased rates of mortality following release from incarceration, particularly from external (unnatural) causes such as suicide and violence. However, evidence on mortality incidence during imprisonment is scarce, and many deaths may be preventable through targeted health and prevention interventions. This study aims to synthesise worldwide evidence on all-cause mortality incidence in prisons.
You can access the full article here: Incidence of all-cause mortality in prisons: research protocol for a global registry study and systematic literature review with meta-regression analyses | BMJ Open