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Research shows increased risk of death by external causes for people on probation or serving a community sentence

People on probation following a prison sentence or serving a community sentence face an increased risk of death by external causes such as suicide, homicide and drug overdose, according to new research.

    Shadow on a wall of a man sitting down behind prison bars
    The study looked at people on probation after being in prison and those serving a community sentence as one population

    The study, led by Nottingham Trent University (NTU), examined official data held by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service in England and Wales on the cause of death of 1,700 men and women under supervision of the Probation Service between 2019-2021.

    It is the first to compare cause of death – including natural causes - among those on post-custody release or serving a community sentence as one population.

    Where a cause of death was categorised, 26% of cases were reported as drug overdose, 10% as suspected suicides, 8% as accidental death and 5% as homicide.

    The findings showed that drug misuse, known suicide or self-harm risk, and enforcement action due to a breach of conditions were directly related to suspected suicide, drug-related and accidental deaths.

    Drug overdose was found to be a common cause of death for females, along with those who were homeless or in short-term accommodation, unemployed with financial support, or in receipt of a recent enforcement action, as well as those with risk markers for drug misuse, or a history of carrying out domestic violence or abuse.

    Karen Slade
    Professor Karen Slade

    Suspected suicide deaths were also more frequently found among those with a history of abuse or family violence, but also among people who were fully or self-employed and held settled accommodation.

    Homicide deaths were relatively more common in within Black, Mixed or Asian ethnicity or Muslim religion and the age of people who died from homicide was significantly younger than other causes of death.

    Karen Slade, lead researcher and Professor of Applied Forensic Psychology at NTU’s School of Social Sciences, said: “The rate of death for people under supervision is three times higher than that of their peers from the general population – and our findings show that around 50% of these deaths are premature, caused by external factors.

    “In particular, with consistent evidence of the interlink between drug use and suicide, we have highlighted the heightened risk of drug-related deaths, not only after custody release, but in the days and weeks after community sentencing.

    “Probation services do not have the same statutory duty of care as prisons have for people in custody, and rely on other agencies to deliver many key services such as health and social care and housing.

    “This study reinforces the importance of joint working and improved communication between health and justice partners in order to prevent avoidable deaths of individuals who are in regular contact with these agencies.”

    The research recommends that policies, training, and services are reassessed to ensure they are responsive to the needs of those under probation supervision, and encompass those serving community sentences.

    Deaths among adults under supervision of the England and Wales’ probation services: variation in individual and criminal justice-related factors by cause of death has been published in the journal Health and Justice.

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      About Nottingham Trent University

      Nottingham Trent University (NTU) received the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further Education in 2021 for cultural heritage science research. It is the second time that NTU has been bestowed the honour of receiving a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its research, the first being in 2015 for leading-edge research on the safety and security of global citizens.

      The Research Excellence Framework (2021) classed 83% of NTU’s research activity as either world-leading or internationally excellent. 86% of NTU’s research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent.

      NTU was awarded The Times and The Sunday Times Modern University of the Year 2023 and ranked University of the Year in the Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023. It was awarded Outstanding Support for Students 2020 (Times Higher Education Awards), University of the Year 2019 (Guardian University Awards, UK Social Mobility Awards), Modern University of the Year 2018 (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide) and University of the Year 2017 (Times Higher Education Awards).

      NTU is the 5th largest UK institution by student numbers, with approximately 40,000 students and more than 4,400 staff located across five campuses. It has an international student population of 7,000 and an NTU community representing over 160 countries.

      Since 2000, NTU has invested £570 million in tools, technology, buildings and facilities.

      NTU is in the UK’s top 10 for number of applications and ranked first for accepted offers (2021 UCAS UG acceptance data). It is also among the UK’s top five recruiters of students from disadvantaged backgrounds and was the first UK university to sign the Social Mobility Pledge.

      NTU is ranked the second most sustainable university in the world in the 2022 UI Green Metric University World Rankings (out of more than 900 participating universities).

    Published on 10 April 2024
    • Category: Press office; Research; School of Social Sciences