Sykes Lead Authors Study of Shifting Mortality Trends in U.S. Prisons

Posted: 2/28/2025 ()

Research about mortality rates in jails and prisons remains limited despite significant advancements in the availability of criminal legal system data in recent years. A recent study from CSDE External Affiliate Bryan Sykes (Cornell University) and co-authors attempts to fill this gap with analysis of prisoner mortality across 44 states from 2000 to 2014. Findings demonstrate a sharp decline in prisoner mortality, particularly among older men, with the most significant life-expectancy gains seen in Non-Hispanic Black men. However, the study also raises concerns about discrepancies in reported death data, suggesting that underreporting may obscure the true scope of racial disparities in prison mortality. Read the full study here.