The health and socioeconomic needs of soon to be released prisoners:

1. 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)

3. 2012 NPHDC • Captured data relating to: - 794 prison entrants - 387 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

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

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: www.aihw.gov.au Contact: prisoner.health@aihw.gov.au or jenna.pickles@aihw.gov.au