New Data Reveals Alarming Death Rates in Alabama’s Prisons

A new study conducted by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) has uncovered disturbing statistics about the high rates of homicide, suicide, and fatal overdoses in Alabama’s state prisons. The data highlights that individuals incarcerated in these “secure” facilities are dying at much higher rates than residents of Alabama who are not incarcerated.

The findings are particularly concerning, with Alabama’s prison mortality rate reported to be four times higher than the most recent national averages. Compared to other Southern states like Georgia, Mississippi, and Florida, Alabama is an outlier in terms of prison deaths, showing a particularly extreme disparity.

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According to the Alabama Department of Corrections (ADOC), over 45% of deaths in state prisons were attributed to causes such as homicide, suicide, or fatal overdose. To gain a clearer picture, EJI researchers analyzed and compared the mortality rates inside Alabama's prisons to those of the general population in the state.

The results are staggering:

• People incarcerated in Alabama’s prisons are murdered at a rate 513% higher than non-incarcerated Alabamians.
• The rate of fatal overdoses in Alabama’s prisons is 1,629% higher than that of the general public.
• The suicide rate in Alabama’s prisons is 135% higher than in the broader state population.

These numbers are based on official reports from the ADOC, which include only deaths directly caused by homicide, suicide, or overdose. However, the true scope of the problem may be even worse, as ADOC has not yet reported the causes of death for 6% of the total deaths in 2023 (18 out of 325), with some deaths being reported years later.

This shocking data paints a dire picture of the safety and well-being of those incarcerated in Alabama’s prisons. It raises urgent questions about the conditions within the state’s correctional facilities and the need for immediate reforms to address the violence, neglect, and lack of adequate mental health care that contribute to these preventable deaths.