Data collected under the Death in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP) indicate half of all state prisoner deaths between 2001-2004 were the result of heart diseases and cancer. This report contains the first national data collected and published on the number, characteristics, and circumstances of the 10 leading causes of state prisoner deaths.

Highlights:

• Male State prisoners had a death rate 72% higher than female State prisoners
• Two-thirds of the deaths involved inmates age 45 or older
• Death from illness increased with time served in prison
• Over 40% of prisoner deaths took place in 5 States

The full report is available here.