Executive Summary

There were 54 deaths recorded in prison custody in 2023-24.  Overall, from 2012-13 to 2023-24, there were 399 deaths recorded in prison custody in total.

The annual number of deaths occurring in prison custody has fluctuated between 2012-13 and 2023-24, but there has been a general upward trend. The figure for the most recent reporting year (54 in 2023-24) is the highest annual figure recorded. Over the reporting period, the average number of deaths occurring in prison custody per year is 33.3.

The prison population is overwhelmingly comprised of men, a consistent pattern over time (94-96% over the reporting period).  Of the 399 deaths that occurred in prison custody from 2012-13 to 2023-24, around 96% were male. In 2023-24, 53 of the 54 deaths in prison custody were male.

This report links the data published by the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) with the official records held by the National Records of Scotland (NRS) to examine cause of death in prison custody and compare deaths in prison custody with deaths occurring in the general Scottish population.

The report provides an overview of high level trends in deaths in prison custody over the period 2012-13 to 2023-24. The report presents a high level summary of deaths in prison custody, and therefore does not reflect the individual personal stories of the people involved.

The analyses presented in this report should not be taken as indicative that the risk of death changes specifically because of an individual being in prison custody. Underlying contributory or determinant factors have not been examined in the analysis here.

Comparison with the General Scottish Population

To compare deaths occurring in prison custody with those occurring in the general population, differences in age structure need to be taken into account. Standardised Mortality Ratios (SMRs) provide the ratio of expected mortality risk for a population, given age-specific mortality rates from a reference population. Given the low number of female deaths in prison custody over the reporting period, comparisons are only made between deaths involving males. Using SMRs shows that:

• The risk of death in the male prison population has been statistically significantly lower than in the male general population in each year between 2012-13 and 2023-24. In 2021-22 and 2023-24, the risk is closer to that of the general population but remains statistically significantly lower.
• The risk of male probable suicide deaths in prison custody was statistically significantly higher in the rolling periods 2019-22, 2020-23 and 2021-24 than the male general population. The risk of male probable suicide deaths in prison custody was statistically similar to the general population across the rolling periods 2012-15 to 2018-21
• The risk of male drug misuse deaths in the prison population was statistically similar to the male general population in the rolling periods 2020-23 and 2021-24. The risk of male drug misuse deaths in prison custody is statistically significantly lower than in the general population for the periods 2012-15 to 2019-2022

The SMRs presented in this report should not be taken as indicative that the risk of death (by probable suicide, drug misuse or any other cause) changes specifically as a result  of an individual being in prison custody. It should be noted that underlying contributory or determinant factors have not been examined in the analysis.

Patterns in both the prison and the general population groups impact on the calculated ratio for each time period presented. Therefore, consideration must be given to the patterns present in both populations when interpreting the results. 

Cause of Death in Prison Custody

Probable suicide was the most common cause of death in prison custody across the reporting period (115 between 2012-13 and 2023-24, 28.8% overall). There were 10 probable suicide deaths in 2023-24 (+1 from 2022-23).

Diseases of the circulatory system were the second most common cause of death in prison custody across the reporting period, (83 between 2012-13 and 2023-24, 20.8% overall). There were 12 deaths associated with diseases of the circulatory system in 2023-24 (+2 from 2022-23), the highest annual figure across the reporting period.

There were 62 drug misuse deaths in prison custody across the reporting period 2012-13 to 2023-24 (15.5%).There were 12 drug misuse deaths in prison custody in 2023-24 (+3 from 2022-23), the joint highest annual figure across the reporting period (2012-13 to 2022-23).

There were 54 deaths in prison custody across the reporting period 2012-13 to 2023-24 categorised as deaths from ‘other causes’ (13.5%). Of these other cause deaths, just over one third (19) were categorised as deaths caused by digestive system diseases. Four deaths from ‘other causes’ occurred in 2023-24, the same number as occurred in 2022-23.

There were 47 deaths in prison custody caused by cancer (malignant neoplasms) between 2012-13 and 2023-24 (11.8%). There were 11 deaths caused by cancer (malignant neoplasms) in 2023-24 (+6 from 2022-23). The number recorded in 2023-24 is the highest annual figure across the reporting period, and is nearly twice the level of the previously observed peak (6 in 2020-21).

If you are a journalist covering these statistics in the media, please consider following the guidelines issued by Samaritans on the reporting of suicide.

If you are struggling to cope, help is available.

NHS inform has a list of resources available to anyone, with many of these available 24 hours a day.

Samaritans can be called for free on 116 123 (UK and Republic of Ireland) or contacted via email at jo@samaritans.org. Visit the Samaritans website for more information.