Healthcare & Deaths
Prison Mortality & Deaths in Custody: Data Gaps, Misclassification, and Accountability Failures
This document comprehensively examines prison mortality data gaps, cause-of-death misclassification, and accountability failures at both federal and state levels. Key findings include massive underreporting of deaths in custody nationally (over 5,000 uncounted deaths), with only 1 of 54 prison systems releasing complete and timely death data. GPS original research identified at least 44 deaths misclassified by the Georgia Department of Corrections, where drug overdoses were labeled as 'natural causes' or 'undetermined.' The document catalogs major mortality drivers including healthcare deficiency, drug overdoses, COVID-19, aging populations, suicide, and violence, while highlighting the near-total collapse of federal DCRA data collection after responsibility shifted from BJS to BJA in 2019.
Pre-written explainers based on this research
Key Findings
The most impactful data from this research collection.
5,674
5,674 deaths in custody reported in FY 2020
Statistic5,000
5,000+ in-custody deaths went uncounted by DOJ
Statistic75%
75% of death reports failed federal recording standards
Statistic49
Georgia: 49 prison overdose deaths in 4 years, 2 in 2018
StatisticAll Data Points
42 verified data points extracted from primary sources.
DCRA originally passed in 2000, updated in 2013 Legal fact
The Death in Custody Reporting Act (DCRA) was originally passed in 2000 and updated in 2013 (Public Law 113-242), requiring states receiving Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) funding to report deaths of any person detained, under …
DCRA requires 10 data elements reported within one quarter Legal fact
DCRA requires reporting 10 data elements for each death within one quarter (3 months), including: decedent's name, date of birth, gender, race, ethnicity; date, time, and location of death; law enforcement/carceral agency involved; and description (…
MCI collects from approximately 3,095 local jails Methodology note
The Mortality in Correctional Institutions (MCI) data collection collects quarterly inmate death records from each of the 50 state prison systems, 50 state juvenile correctional authorities, and approximately 3,095 local jails.
BJS collected and published mortality data from 2000-2019 Finding
From approximately 2000 until 2019, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) collected and published mortality in correctional institutions data. Responsibility then shifted to the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), and data quality and transparency …
BJA-reported deaths in custody FY 2020: 5,674 Statistic
BJA reported 5,674 deaths in custody for fiscal year 2020. These figures are widely understood to be significant undercounts.
5,674 deaths
BJA-reported deaths in custody FY 2021: 6,909 Statistic
BJA reported 6,909 deaths in custody for fiscal year 2021. These figures are widely understood to be significant undercounts.
6,909 deaths
BJA-reported deaths in custody FY 2022: 6,085 Statistic
BJA reported 6,085 deaths in custody for fiscal year 2022. These figures are widely understood to be significant undercounts.
6,085 deaths
BJA-reported deaths in custody FY 2023: 6,725 Statistic
BJA reported 6,725 deaths in custody for fiscal year 2023. These figures are widely understood to be significant undercounts.
6,725 deaths
DOJ report found more than 5,000 uncounted in-custody deaths Statistic
The Department of Justice published a scathing report in 2022 regarding more than 5,000 uncounted in-custody deaths in the national mortality data.
5,000 uncounted deaths
Marshall Project found nearly 700 law enforcement custody deaths missing from DCRA Statistic
A Marshall Project investigation found nearly 700 individuals who died in law enforcement custody but were not present in the DCRA dataset. Entire states, like Mississippi, had reported almost zero deaths in their prisons or jails.
700 missing deaths
Mississippi reported almost zero deaths in prisons or jails Data gap
Entire states, like Mississippi, had reported almost zero deaths in their prisons or jails to the DCRA dataset, according to The Marshall Project investigation.
Over 75% of DCRA entries failed to meet federal recording criteria Statistic
A review of a random sample of approximately 1,000 DCRA entries found that more than three-quarters did not meet the federal government's own criteria for how a death should be recorded.
75%
Thousands of DCRA records lacked basic cause or location information Data gap
There were thousands of records lacking any basic information about the cause or location of death, and hundreds that did not note the law enforcement agency involved or the race or ethnicity of the person who died.
21 of 54 prison systems release NO individual death data Statistic
According to a Third City Mortality project study published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice (May/June 2024), 21 of 54 prison systems (38%) release no individual death data.
21 prison systems vs. total prison systems
13 prison systems release incomplete data slower than 1 year Statistic
13 of 54 prison systems release incomplete death data slower than 1 year, according to the Third City Mortality project study.
13 prison systems vs. total prison systems
19 prison systems release timely but incomplete death data Statistic
19 of 54 prison systems release timely but incomplete death data, according to the Third City Mortality project study.
19 prison systems vs. total prison systems
Only Iowa releases complete and timely death data Statistic
Only 1 system (Iowa) releases complete and timely death data, according to the Third City Mortality project study.
1 prison system vs. total prison systems
Only 8 states have laws requiring regular reporting of deaths in custody Statistic
Only 8 states reported having their own laws requiring police, jails, and prisons to regularly report deaths in custody to state authorities, according to a Project on Government Oversight review of DCRA State Implementation Plans.
8 states
UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project shifted to all-cause prison mortality Finding
The UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project (formerly the COVID Behind Bars Data Project) has shifted its focus to report on all-cause mortality in state and federal prisons, filling the void left by the DCRA implementation collapse. This is currently the…
BJS published comprehensive federal mortality analysis covering 2001-2019 Methodology note
BJS published 'Mortality in State and Federal Prisons, 2001-2019' (NCJ 309427) providing the most recent comprehensive federal analysis. Mortality rates are calculated per 100,000 state prisoners based on annual deaths and 1-day custody population o…
BJS tracks multiple causes of death including illness, suicide, drug intoxication, homicide Methodology note
BJS MCI data tracks causes including: illness (cancer, heart disease, liver disease, AIDS-related, respiratory disease, other specified illness, unspecified illness), suicide, drug/alcohol intoxication, homicide (by prisoners, incidental to staff us…
Racial disparities in prison mortality rates Finding
BJS data shows significant racial disparities in prison mortality rates. Black prisoners had different mortality patterns from white prisoners, with disparities varying by cause of death.
Aging prison population driving rising illness-related mortality and healthcare costs Trend
As the prison population ages due to longer sentences (including Truth in Sentencing laws), mortality rates from illness-related causes have increased. The aging prison population is a major driver of rising healthcare costs and death rates.
GDC misclassified at least 13 drug overdose deaths as 'natural causes' Finding
GPS original research found that in at least 13 cases, GDC reported prisoners died of 'natural causes' while medical examiners later determined the deaths were accidental drug overdoses.
GDC misclassified 31 drug overdose deaths as 'undetermined' Finding
GPS original research found that in 31 additional cases, GDC labeled deaths as 'undetermined' while medical examiners later ruled them accidental drug overdoses.
At least 44 deaths misclassified by GDC combined Statistic
Combined, at least 44 deaths were misclassified by GDC, where drug overdose deaths were reported as either 'natural causes' or 'undetermined' rather than accidental drug overdoses as determined by medical examiners.
44 misclassified deaths
Factors contributing to national cause-of-death misclassification Finding
Cause-of-death misclassification is a widespread problem in correctional settings. Factors include: reliance on facility medical staff rather than independent medical examiners; financial and reputational incentives to minimize reporting of violent …
Illinois: 36% of prison deaths confirmed preventable, up to 73% potentially preventable Statistic
In Illinois, a court-appointed medical expert studying 33 prison deaths found 12 were preventable, 7 might have been preventable, and 5 could not be determined because the deaths were not adequately documented. This roughly 36% confirmed preventable…
36% vs. percent potentially preventable
Over 20% of state prisoners with persistent medical conditions go without care Statistic
Medical neglect kills hundreds of incarcerated people every year despite the constitutional standard. Over 20% of state prisoners with persistent medical conditions go without care, according to the Vera Institute (2025).
20%
Nearly 3,000 incarcerated people died from COVID-19 since March 2020 Statistic
Nearly 3,000 incarcerated people died from COVID-19 since March 2020. The pandemic exposed and amplified existing healthcare deficiencies.
3,000 deaths
Georgia saw at least 49 drug overdose deaths 2019-2022, up from 2 in 2018 Statistic
Drug overdose deaths have surged in prisons nationally, mirroring but lagging the community opioid and fentanyl crisis. Georgia saw at least 49 drug overdose deaths between 2019 and 2022, up from just 2 in 2018.
49 drug overdose deaths vs. drug overdose deaths in 2018
Suicide remains a leading unnatural cause of death in custody Finding
Suicide remains a leading unnatural cause of death in custody, with rates significantly higher than the general population. Factors include mental health treatment deficits, isolation/restrictive housing, and inadequate screening.
Understaffing, overcrowding, and classification failures contribute to violence-related deaths Finding
Understaffing, overcrowding, and classification failures (such as housing close-security inmates in medium-security facilities) contribute to violence-related deaths.
Raw prison-general population mortality comparisons are misleading Methodology note
Researchers caution that raw rate comparisons between prison and general population mortality are misleading because the prison population differs systematically from the general population in age, health status at entry, socioeconomic background, a…
Virginia 2024 prison death rate approximately 418 per 100,000 inmates Statistic
Virginia's 2024 deaths in custody data showed approximately 418 deaths per 100,000 inmates in state prisons.
418 deaths per 100,000 inmates
Georgia does not proactively publish individual death data Data gap
Georgia does not proactively publish individual death data. GPS has tracked mortality through its own data collection systems, finding patterns of misclassification and underreporting.
DCRA 2013 required AG to study how death data can reduce deaths Legal fact
DCRA 2013 required the Attorney General to study how death-in-custody data can be used to reduce deaths and to examine the relationship between deaths and facility management actions. NIJ commissioned two studies: Literature Review and Data Analysis…
Washington Post database documents 10,000+ fatal police shootings 2015-2024 Statistic
The Washington Post has compiled a database of police shootings documenting over 10,000 fatal shootings from 2015 to 2024.
10,000 fatal shootings
Data quality deteriorated after BJS-to-BJA transition Trend
After responsibility for mortality data collection shifted from the Bureau of Justice Statistics to the Bureau of Justice Assistance around 2019, data quality and transparency deteriorated significantly, creating what amounts to a collapse of the DC…
Drug overdose deaths surging in prisons nationally lagging community crisis Trend
Drug overdose deaths have surged in prisons nationally, mirroring but lagging the community opioid and fentanyl crisis.
Medical examiner independence varies by state and can be circumvented Finding
The independence and authority of medical examiners to determine cause of death varies by state. In some jurisdictions, correctional facility staff may influence or circumvent medical examiner findings. Independent autopsy requirements are not unive…
Reuters created largest and most comprehensive database of jail deaths Finding
Reuters conducted an investigation of jail deaths resulting in the largest and most comprehensive database of jail deaths nationally.
Sources
14 cited sources backing this research.
Primary
Data portal
Primary
Official report
BJS: Mortality in State and Federal Prisons, 2001-2019 (NCJ 309427)
Primary
Data portal
Primary
Legislation
Death in Custody Reporting Act (Public Law 113-242)
Primary
Official report
DOJ DCRA Underreporting Report (2022)
Primary
Gps original
GPS Original Research on Mortality and Cause-of-Death Misclassification
Primary
Official report
NIJ/RTI International: Understanding and Reducing Deaths in Custody (2024)
Secondary
Official report
Project on Government Oversight: DCRA State Implementation Plans Review
Secondary
Journalism
Reuters: Investigation of Jail Deaths
Secondary
Journalism
The Marshall Project: DCRA Data Investigation (August 2025)
Primary
Academic
Third City Mortality Project (JPHMP, May/June 2024)
Primary
Data portal
UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project
Secondary
Official report
Vera Institute (2025)
Primary
Journalism
Washington Post: Database of Police Shootings
Key Entities
Organizations, people, facilities, and other named entities referenced in this research.
Andrea Armstrong
[person]
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
[organization]
Bureau of Justice Assistance
[organization]
Bureau of Justice Statistics
[organization]
Death in Custody Reporting Act
[legislation]
Department of Justice
[organization]
Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant
[program]
Georgia Department of Corrections
[organization]
Georgia Prisoners' Speak
[organization]
Grant Duwe
[person]
Iowa Department of Corrections
[organization]
Mortality in Correctional Institutions
[program]
National Institute of Justice
[organization]
Project on Government Oversight
[organization]
Reuters
[organization]
RTI International
[organization]
The Marshall Project
[organization]
Third City Mortality Project
[program]
UCLA Law Behind Bars Data Project
[program]
Vera Institute of Justice
[organization]
Washington Post
[organization]