The health and socioeconomic needs of soon to be released prisoners: New information from the 2012 National Prisoner Health Data Collection Jenna Pickles – Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

2 The National Prisoner Health Data Collection (NPHDC) First discussed in 2003 (SCATSIH) Development commenced 2005: AIHW & expert group First collection in 2009 (1 week of data collection) Collections conducted again in 2010 & 2012 (2 weeks)

NPHDC Captured data relating to: prison entrants prison dischargees (first time collected) - 9,000 medications - 4,000 clinic visits All states and territories participated except WA. Better participation rate among entrants than dischargees.

4 Entrants – Socioeconomic factors

5 Mental health of prison entrants

6 Entrants’ alcohol and drug use

7 Prison dischargees 84% male 31% Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Median age of 31 Median length of most recent stay in prison: 152 days (or about 5 months) 74% been in prison or youth justice before

8 Dischargees – socioeconomic factors

9 Alcohol consumption & smoking

10 Dischargees – illicit drug use 13% had used drugs in prison 7% had injected drugs in prison 7% had used a needle that had been used by someone else while in prison 22% accessed an NSP in the community

11 Dischargees – health assessments and prison clinic visits 93% of dischargees had a health assessment on entry to prison: 97% Indigenous, 91% non- Indigenous 93% visited the prison clinic 88% reported they could easily see a health professional (same Indigenous & non- Indigenous)

12 Dischargees – prison clinic visits 40% of dischargees diagnosed with a health condition while in prison Most common problems: dental, musculoskeletal injuries, skin conditions and mental health issues 57% received treatment for health conditions they had ever been diagnosed with

13 Dischargees – changes to health More than half reported an improvement: 37% said their health was a lot better and 20% said it was a little better 12% said a little or a lot worse Females more negative 25% of >45 yr olds said a little or a lot worse, compared with 10% of <45 yr olds

14 Reported health changes in prison Indigenous status Health a lot better (%) Health a little better (%) Health stayed the same (%) Health a little or a lot worse (%) Indigenous Non-Indigenous All

15 Dischargees – medication 52% prescribed medication for a health condition in prison 77% who received treatment or were prescribed medication had a plan to continue care after release 46% had a referral to a health professional outside prison: 55% to GP, 22% for AOD

16 Programs and training in prison 35% of dischargees completed a correctional program Eligibility effected by sentence length, detention status, admission of guilt, good behaviour, availability etc 19% completed a qualification in prison

17 Work in a prison industry Sex/Age/Indigenous status% worked in prison industry Male61 Female years years years years85 Indigenous65 Non-Indigenous67 Total66

18 Employment upon release and return to work programs

19 Preparedness for release 76% had access to valid Medicare card 46% of dischargees felt ‘very prepared’ for their release and a further 40% felt ‘prepared’ 6% said ‘unprepared or ‘very unprepared’

20 Further information Download report from: Contact: or