The Effect of Incarceration on Mortality

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Norris, Samuel; Pecenco, Matthew; Weaver, Jeffrey
• 署名单位: University of British Columbia; Brown University; University of Southern California
• 刊物名称: REVIEW OF ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0034-6535
• DOI: 10.1162/rest_a_01224
• 发表日期: 2024-07
• 页码: 956-973
• 关键词: adult mortality; state prisoners; health-care; all-cause; death; RISK; education; release; white; black

摘要

This paper analyzes the effect of incarceration on mortality using administrative data from Ohio between 1992 and 2017. We first document that long-run survival is higher among the incarcerated than similar nonincarcerated defendants. Using event study designs centered around the time of release, we show why: mortality risk halves during the period of incarceration, with large reductions in murders, overdoses, and natural causes of death. However, incarceration does not increase postrelease mortality, and so the overall effect is increased longevity. These estimates reflect the high-risk environment faced by defendants when not incarcerated and suggest noncarceral policies to reduce these risks.