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Table 7. Health-related conditions reported by prison inmates by background characteristics, 2004

Medical Problems of Prisoners
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Table 7. Health-related conditions reported by prison inmates by background characteristics, 2004
 
  Percent of inmates
Current
medical
problem
Any impairment Since admission
Injured Surgery Dental problem
State inmates                    
Homeless in year before arrest                    
  Yes 51.2%   48.9%   35.1%   12.2%   53.6%  
  No 43.0   34.8   32.3   12.3   49.9  
Employed in month before offense                    
  Yes 43.8%   34.9%   32.7%   12.6%   51.0%  
  No 43.8   39.2   31.9   11.5   48.1  
Source of income                    
  Wages/salary 43.6%   34.6%   33.0%   12.4%   50.9%  
  Government transfers 61.0   55.7   31.4   15.8   52.5  
  Other 41.9   36.3   37.2   12.7   51.9  
Alcohol dependence or abuse                    
  Yes 44.6%   39.2%   34.7%   11.8%   51.9%  
  No 43.1   33.6   30.8   12.7   49.0  
Ever used drugs                    
  Yes 43.2%   37.1%   33.6%   11.7%   50.8%  
  No 47.2   31.9   27.9   15.5   47.7  
Used drugs in month before arrest                    
  Yes 42.9%   37.2%   34.3%   11.8%   51.2%  
  No 45.2   34.8   30.7   13.4   49.6  
Used needle to inject drugs                    
  Yes 60.4%   43.0%   34.3%   15.1%   57.5%  
  No 40.2   34.8   32.2   11.7   48.7  
Drug dependence or abuse                    
  Yes 44.3%   39.3%   34.4%   11.6%   51.6%  
  No 43.2   32.7   30.6   13.1   48.7  
Federal inmates                    
Homeless in year before arrest                    
  Yes 55.9%   33.5%   36.1%   18.7%   53.7%  
  No 37.8   24.1   27.8   11.7   49.9  
Employed in month before offense                    
  Yes 37.9%   23.5%   28%   12.4%   50.0%  
  No 40.4   25.8   28.9   11.2   49.3  
Source of income                    
  Wages/salary 37.0%   22.5%   27.6%   11.8%   50.1%  
  Government transfers 59.1   43.9   29.6   16.4   54.1  
  Other 39.2   23.9   32.5   12.6   52.7  
Alcohol dependence or abuse                    
  Yes 38.4%   25.1%   29.2%   9.3%   49.0%  
  No 38.6   24.1   27.7   13.5   50.4  
Ever used drugs                    
  Yes 39.1%   24.6%   29.1%   11.8%   51.9%  
  No 36.1   24.0   24.3   12.9   43.0  
Used drugs in month before arrest                    
  Yes 37.8%   24.2%   29.8%   11.1%   52.6%  
  No 39.3   24.7   26.6   13.2   47.5  
Used needle to inject drugs                    
  Yes 58.2%   31.3%   35.5%   16.5%   62.1%  
  No 36.0   23.6   27.2   11.5   48.5  
Drug dependence or abuse                    
  Yes 37.9%   25.2%   31.2%   11.4%   52.7%  
  No 38.8   23.9   25.4   12.5   47.4  

Source: Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities, 2004.
See also Methodology.

Date Created: June 11, 2021