Nonfatal Violence-Related and Accident-Related Injuries Among Jail Inmates in the United States

Traumatic injuries undermine the physical well-being of jail inmates and could complicate their reentry process. This study assessed the prevalence, nature, and risk factors of violence- and accident-related injuries among jail inmates in the United States. Data from the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails (N = 6,982) were analyzed. Findings showed that injury as a health problem posed an urgent challenge to jail administration and was associated with an identified set of risks, many of them susceptible to preventive interventions. Unlike many preexisting health conditions, injury can be proactively controlled by jail authorities and its negative effects can be successfully reduced with community partnerships.