Medical Problems of Jail Inmates

• NCJ Number: 210696
• Author(s): Laura M. Maruschak, Bureau of Justice Statistics
• Date Published: November 2006
• Publication Type: Publication

Annotation

Presents findings on jail inmates who reported a current medical problem, a physical or mental impairment, or an injury since admission based on data from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails.

Abstract

Presents findings on jail inmates who reported a current medical problem, a physical or mental impairment, or an injury since admission based on data from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails. The prevalence of specific medical problems and conditions are also included. The report examines medical problems and other conditions by gender, age, time served since admission, and select background characteristics.

Highlights

• More than a third of jail inmates reported having a current medical problem.
• 22% of jail inmates reported having a learning impairment; 11% said they had impaired vision.
• Heart valve damage (290 per 10,000 inmates) and arrhythmia (211 per 10,000) were the most commonly reported types of heart problems.