This novel research study examined the mortalities of prisoners, exclusively occurring due to illness, who were living in about 1,330 prisons (NCRB data-2022), located in 36 states and union territories of India. The study included all the mortalities related to illness in prisoners of India from 1st January 2017 to 31 December 2022. A total of 11,289 custodial death occurred among the above mentioned prisoners residing in various prisons of India, during the study period, out of which 9,406 (83.32 percent, Total-9406 (Obs-216, Mean-43.55, Std. Dev.- 68.87, Min-0, Max-401, Std. Err.- 4.69, 95% Conf. Interval of mean-34.31 -52.78) mortalities were attributed due to illness, see Table-2. NCDs (non communicable diseases were mostly responsible for mortality in judicial custody. Due to lack of information about CDs (communicable diseases), a real comparison is not possible.
The total number of observations for various fifteen variables was 3240 (216 observations for each). The study revealed that during the study period, majority of the mortalities were due to heart diseases in prisoners (27.28 percent, Total-2566 (Obs-216, Mean-11.88, Std. Dev.- 19.30, Min-0, Max-123, Std. Err.- 1.31, 95% Conf. Interval of mean-9.29 -14.47), see Table-2.
Cholera / Diarrhea attributed to the least number of mortalities during the study period (0.21 percent, Total-20 (Obs-216, Mean-0.09, Std. Dev. − 0.40, Min-0, Max-4, Std. Err.- 0.03, 95% Conf. Interval of mean-.04 − .15), see Table-2.
Annual mortality analysis due to illness
2017- A total of 1,671 mortalities in judicial custody were observed in prisoners during 2017, out of which 1,373 (82.17 percent) custodial deaths were due to Illness. Out of the 1,280 mortalities due to illness (excluding 93 (6.77 percent) custodial deaths from West Bengal, due to non-availability of illness wise break), majority of the custodial deaths were due to CVDs (348 − 27.2 percent), Lung diseases (164 − 12.8 percent), Tuberculosis (TB) (85 − 6.6 percent), Carcinoma of various types (67 − 5.2 percent), Hepatic diseases (67 − 5.2 percent), Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (63 − 4.9 percent), Kidney diseases (48 − 3.8 percent), CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (40 − 3.1 percent), HIV, (39, 3.0%); Schizophrenia with Epilepsy, (16, 1.3%),Paralysis, (15, 1.2%), Intestine Perforation, (9, 0.7%), Cholera/Diarrhoea, (5, 0.4%) and illness other than the above (314 − 24.5 percent). Furthermore, West Bengal did not furnish the break up but total count is taken for percentage calculation, see table-1 and 3, figure-1.
During 2017, we found that highest number of prisoner’s mortalities due to illness (321) is from the various jails of Uttar Pradesh, followed by Punjab (112) and Maharashtra (111).
2018- During 2018, 1,845 prisoners died in judicial custody, out of which 1,559 (84.50 percent) custodial deaths were due to Illness.
Out of the 1,559 mortalities due to illness (excluding 93 (5.97 percent) custodial deaths from West Bengal, due to non-availability of illness wise break), majority of the custodial deaths were due to CVDs (411 − 28.0 percent), Lung diseases (231 − 15.8 percent), Tuberculosis (TB) (103- 7 percent), Carcinoma of various types (80 − 5.5 percent), Hepatic diseases (72 − 4.9 percent), CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (59 − 4.0 percent), Kidney diseases (58 − 4.0 percent), HIV (46 − 3.1 percent), Drugs/ Alcohol Withdrawal, (25, 1.7%), Intestine Perforation, (17, 1.2%), Paralysis, (10, 0.7%), Cholera/ Diarrhoea,( 5, 0.3%), Schizophrenia with Epilepsy, (5, 0.3%) and others category (illness other than the mentioned illnesses (344 − 23.5 percent). Furthermore, West Bengal did not furnish the breakup of 93 custodial deaths due to illness; hence it is not taken for percentage calculation, see table-1 and 3, figure-1. During 2018, we found that highest number of prisoner’s mortalities due to illness (401) is from the various jails of Uttar Pradesh, followed by Madhya Pradesh (133), Maharashtra (127), and Punjab (114).
Table- 3-Mortality in prisoners due to various illnesses in India during 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022.
2017 (numbers, %)
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2018(numbers, %)
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2019(numbers, %)
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2020(numbers, %)
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2021(numbers, %)
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2022(numbers, %)
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CVDs (348 − 27.2 percent),
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CVDs (411 − 28.0 percent),
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CVDs (406 − 29.6 percent),
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CVDs (480, 31.1percent),
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CVDs (493, 27.4 percent),
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CVDs (428, 25.6 percent),
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Lung diseases (164 − 12.8 percent),
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Lung diseases (231 − 15.8 percent),
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Lung diseases (190 − 13.8 percent),
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Lung diseases (224, 14.5 percent),
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Lung diseases (294, 16.4 percent),
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Lung diseases (190, 11.4 percent),
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Tuberculosis (TB) (85 − 6.6 percent),
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Tuberculosis (TB) (103- 7 percent),
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Tuberculosis (TB) (81 − 5.9 percent),
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Kidney diseases (92, 6.0percent),
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Carcinoma of various types ( 103, 5.7 percent),
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Hepatic diseases (, 104, 6.2 percent),
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Carcinoma of various types (67 − 5.2 percent),
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Carcinoma of various types (80 − 5.5 percent),
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Carcinoma of various types (78 − 5.7 percent),
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Tuberculosis (TB) (65, 4.2percent),
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Tuberculosis (TB) (83, 4.6 percent),
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Carcinoma of various types (100, 6.0 percent),
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Hepatic diseases (67 − 5.2 percent),
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Hepatic diseases (72 − 4.9 percent),
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Hepatic diseases (61 − 4.4 percent),
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Carcinoma of various types (64, 4.2percent),
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Kidney diseases (78, 4.3 percent),
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Tuberculosis (TB) (89, 5.3 percent),
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Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (63 − 4.9 percent),
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CVA (Brain Hemorrhage) (59 − 4.0 percent),
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CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (56 − 4.1 percent),
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Hepatic diseases (61 − 4.0 percent),
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Hepatic diseases (76, 4.2 percent),
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Kidney diseases ( 81, 4.9 percent),
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Kidney diseases (48 − 3.8 percent),
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Kidney diseases (58 − 4.0 percent),
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Kidney diseases (51 − 3.7 percent),
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CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (39, 2.5 percent),
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CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (57, 3.2 percent),
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CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (58, 3.5 percent),
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CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (40 − 3.1 percent),
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HIV (46 − 3.1 percent)
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HIV (43 − 3.1 percent),
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HIV (37, 2.4% percent),
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HIV (42, 2.3 percent),
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Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (37, 2.2 percent)
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HIV, (39, 3.0%);
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Drugs/ Alcohol Withdrawal, (25, 1.7%),
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Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (37 − 2.7 percent),
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Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (16, 1.0 percent),
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Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (31, 1.7 percent),
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HIV (32, 1.9 percent),
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Schizophrenia with Epilepsy, (16, 1.3%),
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Intestine Perforation, (17, 1.2%),
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Intestine Perforation ( 21, 1.5% ),
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Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (16, 1.0%),
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Intestine Perforation (22, 1.2% ),
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Intestine Perforation (13, 0.8% ),
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Paralysis, (15, 1.2%),
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Paralysis, (10, 0.7%),
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Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (19, 1.4%),
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Intestine Perforation (15, 1.0% ),
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Paralysis, (12, 0.7%),
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Paralysis, (13, 0.8%),
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Intestine Perforation, (9, 0.7%),
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Cholera/ Diarrhoea,( 5, 0.3%),
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Paralysis, (16, 1.2%),
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Paralysis, (14, 0.9%),
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Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (5, 0.3%),
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Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (8, 0.5%),
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Cholera/Diarrhoea, (5, 0.4%)
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Schizophrenia with Epilepsy, (5, 0.3%)
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Cholera/ Diarrhoea ( 2, 0.1%),
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Cholera/ Diarrhoea 3, 0.2%),
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Cholera/ Diarrhoea 3, 0.2%),
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Cholera/ Diarrhoea 2, 0.1%),
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2019- In 2019, 1,775 prisoners died in judicial custody, out of which 1,466 (82.59 percent) custodial deaths were due to Illness.
Out of the 1,466 mortalities due to illness (excluding 93 (6.34 percent) custodial deaths from West Bengal, due to non-availability of illness wise break), majority of the custodial deaths were due to CVDs (406 − 29.6 percent), Lung diseases (190 − 13.8 percent), Tuberculosis (TB) (81 − 5.9 percent), Carcinoma of various types (78 − 5.7 percent), Hepatic diseases (61 − 4.4 percent), CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (56 − 4.1 percent), Kidney diseases (51 − 3.7 percent), HIV (43 − 3.1 percent), Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (37 − 2.7 percent), Intestine Perforation ( 21, 1.5% ), Schizophrenia with Epilepsy ( 19, 1.4%), Paralysis, (16, 1.2%), Cholera/ Diarrhoea ( 2, 0.1%), and others category (illness other than the mentioned illnesses (358-24.42 percent). Furthermore, West Bengal did not furnish the breakup of 93 custodial deaths due to illness; hence it is not taken for percentage calculation, see table-1 and 3, figure-1.
During 2019, we found that highest number of prisoner’s mortalities due to illness (383) is from the various jails of Uttar Pradesh, followed by Madhya Pradesh (156), Maharashtra (121), Bihar (99), West Bengal (93), and Punjab (81).
2020- In 2020, 1,887 prisoners died in judicial custody, out of which 1,542 (81.72 percent) custodial deaths were due to Illness.
Out of the 1,542 mortalities due to illness, majority of the custodial deaths were due to CVDs (480, 31.1percent), Lung diseases (224, 14.5 percent), Kidney diseases (92, 6.0percent), Tuberculosis (TB) (65, 4.2percent), Carcinoma of various types (64, 4.2percent), Hepatic diseases (61 − 4.0 percent), CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (39, 2.5 percent), HIV (37, 2.4% percent), Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (16, 1.0 percent), Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (16, 1.0%), Intestine Perforation (15, 1.0% ), Paralysis, (14, 0.9%), Cholera/ Diarrhoea 3, 0.2%), and others category (illness other than the mentioned illnesses (416, 27.0percent), see table-1 and 3, figure-1.
During 2020, we found that highest number of prisoner’s mortalities due to illness (394) is from the various jails of Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar (119), Madhya Pradesh (116), Punjab (100). Maharashtra (94), and West Bengal (89).
2021- In 2021, 2,116 prisoners died in judicial custody, out of which 1,796 (84.88 percent) custodial deaths were due to Illness.
Out of the 1,796 mortalities due to illness, majority of the custodial deaths were due to CVDs (493, 27.4 percent), Lung diseases (294, 16.4 percent), Carcinoma of various types ( 103, 5.7 percent), Tuberculosis (TB) (83, 4.6 percent), Kidney diseases (78, 4.3 percent), Hepatic diseases (76, 4.2 percent), CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (57, 3.2 percent), HIV (42, 2.3 percent), Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (31, 1.7 percent), Intestine Perforation (22, 1.2% ), Paralysis, (12, 0.7%), Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (5, 0.3%), Cholera/ Diarrhoea 3, 0.2%), and others category (illness other than the mentioned illnesses (497, 27.7 percent), see table-1 and 3, figure-1.
During 2021, we found that highest number of prisoner’s mortalities due to illness (397) is from the various jails of Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar (171), Punjab (145), Madhya Pradesh (139), West Bengal (136) and Maharashtra (121).
2022- In 2022, 1,995 prisoners died in judicial custody, out of which 1,670 (83.71 percent) custodial deaths were due to Illness.
Out of the 1,670 mortalities due to illness, majority of the custodial deaths were due to CVDs (428, 25.6 percent), Lung diseases (190, 11.4 percent), Hepatic diseases (, 104, 6.2 percent), Carcinoma of various types (100, 6.0 percent), Tuberculosis (TB) (89, 5.3 percent), Kidney diseases ( 81, 4.9 percent), CVA (Brain Haemorrhage) (58, 3.5 percent), Drugs / Alcohol Withdrawal Symptom (37, 2.2 percent), HIV (32, 1.9 percent), Intestine Perforation (13, 0.8% ), Paralysis, (13, 0.8%), Schizophrenia with Epilepsy (8, 0.5%), Cholera/ Diarrhoea 2, 0.1%), and others category (illness other than the mentioned illnesses (515, 30.8 percent), see table-1 and 3, figure-1.
During 2022, we found that highest number of prisoner’s mortalities due to illness (297) is from the various jails of Uttar Pradesh, followed by West Bengal (164), Bihar (165), Punjab (158), Madhya Pradesh (124), and Maharashtra (118).