To the Editor: In 2009, we calculated that an estimated 50 405 prison inmate separations occurred in Australia in the 2007–08 financial year,1 and argued that the significant mortality risks associated with release from custody necessitated accurate and routine dissemination of such information. We believe this is still required, and that reporting the most current estimate of inmate separations may help facilitate better through-care and post-release health service provision. Our previous estimates have been used to contextualise discussions of prisoner health,2 estimate the number of post-release deaths,3 and advocate for needle and syringe programs in Australian prisons.4
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- 1. Martire KA, Larney S. Inadequate data collection prevents health planning for released prisoners [letter]. Med J Aust 2009; 191: 408-409. <MJA full text>
- 2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. The health of Australia’s prisoners 2009. Canberra: AIHW, 2010. (AIHW Cat. No. PHE123.) http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset. aspx?id=6442459982 (accessed Nov 2011).
- 3. Kinner SA, Preen DB, Kariminia A, et al. Counting the cost: estimating the number of deaths among recently released prisoners in Australia. Med J Aust 2011; 195: 64-68. <MJA full text>
- 4. Anex. With conviction: the case for controlled needle and syringe programs in Australian prisons. Melbourne: Anex, 2010. http://www. anex.org.au/downloads/HMPC%20Paper %20on%20NSP%20in%20Prison%20-% 20October%202010.pdf (accessed Nov 2011).
- 5. Martire KA, Larney S. An estimate of the number of inmate separations from Australian prisons 2000/01 and 2005/06. Aust N Z J Public Health 2010; 34: 255-257.
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