For some people, being in prison affords a level of health protection not available in the outside world. Does it surprise us that a new study out of North Carolina found that black men were 30 to 40 percent less likely to die than their non-incarcerated counterparts?
Black prisoners seemed to be especially protected against alcohol- and drug-related deaths; they were also less likely to die of certain chronic health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
It isn’t the first time a study has found lower death rates among certain groups of inmates — particularly disadvantaged people, who might get protection against violent injuries and murder.
Prisons are often the only health care provider some disadvantaged populations have access to. P
