A new report released on Jul. 29 warns that insufficient data on prisoner characteristics is hindering efforts to understand and prevent deaths in custody. The report, titled 'How recording inequalities can reduce prisoner deaths,' was produced by a team from the University of Nottingham as part of the European Research Council funded RECEDE project.
The researchers highlight that key equality data—such as information about prisoners' disabilities and socioeconomic status—is essential for evidence-based action but is not routinely recorded or published during investigations into prisoner deaths. Professor Philippa Tomczak, who led the study with Dr. Laura Haas, said, "Our report highlights that enhanced data is an essential foundation for evidence-based action to prevent prisoner deaths. Yet, information on key prisoner characteristics such as ethnicity, disability and socioeconomic deprivation is not routinely recorded or published as part of prisoner death investigations."
Since 2012, the number of deaths among prisoners in England and Wales has risen significantly. Many are considered preventable but remain largely invisible to the public due to gaps in available information.
The team recommends that authorities such as the Ministry of Justice and Prisons and Probation Ombudsman strengthen their collection and publication of relevant equality data. Dr. Haas said, "Implementing our recommendations would enable an analysis of patterns of inequality and unmet needs in prisoner deaths that are currently obscured, and support evidence-based prevention of deaths and service development. In our report, we provide examples of good practice from other death datasets to illustrate how to align recording practices and facilitate implementation of our recommendations."
The release coincides with a touring production by theatre company LUNG called Woodhill, which shares stories from families affected by prison deaths at HMP Woodhill between 2013 and 2018. The Woodhill Families said, "Our boys needed help, not punishment. They were given a prison sentence that turned into a death sentence... We will not stop until our voices are heard." Matt Woodhead, Co-Director at LUNG and Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Nottingham, said, "HMP Woodhill has received two urgent notifications in the last three years... Recognizing prisoner characteristics and publishing an intersectional breakdown of equality data is vital in taking the first step to saving lives at HMP Woodhill... To prevent future deaths, we need to understand who is at most risk so they can get the support they need - which is their human right."
