Between 2000 and 2019, 30.5 percent of local jail inmate deaths in the United States were suicides. This was the leading cause of death for local jail inmates over that time period. The second leading cause of death was heart disease, accounting for 23.7 percent of deaths.
Percent of local inmate deaths in jail by cause of death in the United States between 2000 and 2019
Characteristic
Causes of death in percent
Suicide
30.5%
Heart disease
23.7%
Drug/alcohol intoxication
8.5%
Cancer
3.6%
AIDS-related
3%
Respiratory diseases
2.9%
Accident
2.5%
Liver disease
2.4%
Homicide
2.3%
All other illnesses
14.7%
Missing
2.6%
Other/unknown
3.4%
0%2%4%6%8%10%12%14%16%18%20%22%24%26%28%30%32%34%
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US Bureau of Justice Statistics. (December 1, 2021). Percent of local inmate deaths in jail by cause of death in the United States between 2000 and 2019 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 03, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/220652/percent-and-cause-of-local-inmate-deaths-in-jail-in-the-us-in-2009/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Percent of local inmate deaths in jail by cause of death in the United States between 2000 and 2019." Chart. December 1, 2021. Statista. Accessed May 03, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/220652/percent-and-cause-of-local-inmate-deaths-in-jail-in-the-us-in-2009/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics. (2021). Percent of local inmate deaths in jail by cause of death in the United States between 2000 and 2019. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 03, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/220652/percent-and-cause-of-local-inmate-deaths-in-jail-in-the-us-in-2009/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics. "Percent of Local Inmate Deaths in Jail by Cause of Death in The United States between 2000 and 2019." Statista, Statista Inc., 1 Dec 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/220652/percent-and-cause-of-local-inmate-deaths-in-jail-in-the-us-in-2009/
US Bureau of Justice Statistics, Percent of local inmate deaths in jail by cause of death in the United States between 2000 and 2019 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/220652/percent-and-cause-of-local-inmate-deaths-in-jail-in-the-us-in-2009/ (last visited May 03, 2025)
Percent of local inmate deaths in jail by cause of death in the United States between 2000 and 2019 [Graph], US Bureau of Justice Statistics, December 1, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/220652/percent-and-cause-of-local-inmate-deaths-in-jail-in-the-us-in-2009/
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