American Economic Journal:
Applied Economics
ISSN 1945-7782 (Print) | ISSN 1945-7790 (Online)
The Health Effects of Prison
American Economic Journal: Applied Economics
(pp. 234–70)
Abstract
This paper studies the health effects of Swedish prison reforms that held sentences constant but increased the share of time inmates had to serve. The increased time served did not harm post-release health and actually reduced mortality risk. We find especially large decreases in mortality for offenders not previously incarcerated, younger offenders, and those more attached to the labor market. Risk of suicide and circulatory death fell for inmates with mental health problems and older inmates, respectively. In-prison health care utilization and program participation increased with time served, suggesting health care treatment and services as the key mechanism for mortality declines.Citation
Hjalmarsson, Randi, and Matthew J. Lindquist. 2022. "The Health Effects of Prison." American Economic Journal: Applied Economics 14 (4): 234–70. DOI: 10.1257/app.20200615Additional Materials
JEL Classification
- I12 Health Behavior
- I18 Health: Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
- K42 Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law