Financial and Human Costs of In-Custody Deaths

Episode 4 of season 8 is about deaths that occur while individuals are in custody. The science discusses these tragedies in terms of both human and financial loss. The research suggests a clear link between inadequate healthcare and in-custody deaths. The study also emphasizes the need for improved access to quality medical and psychological treatment within jails. Researchers close with a discussion on the human cost and preventable deaths.

Download the one-pager (PDF).

El-Sabawi, T., Weizman, S. R., Brown, S. M., & LaBelle, R. M. (2023). Dying inside: Litigation patterns for deaths in jail custody. Journal of Correctional Health Care.

This project was supported by Grant [5PBJA-22-AG-00031-MUMU] awarded by the Bureau of Justice Assistance. The Bureau of Justice Assistance is a component of the Office of Justice Programs, which also includes the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the National Institute of Justice, the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, the Office for Victims of Crime, and Office of Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering, and Tracking. Points of view or opinions in this podcast are those of the host and the research team and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.