A study conducted jointly by University of Melbourne and University of Queensland researchers has reported that the risk of death for people leaving prison is more than four times greater than that of people in the wider community.
The study also found an increase in risk of death after leaving prison was greatest for young people aged 18-24. The risk of death for male ex-prisoners in this age group was around six times higher than it was for young males in the wider community. Female ex-prisoners in the 18-24 age group were 20 times more likely to die than were other young women in the wider community.
The majority of these deaths were due to drug-related causes or suicide.
Read more at The University of Melbourne