Archiv für Kriminologie
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In this study, 275 fatalities in Hamburg's prisons from 1962 to 1995 have been evaluated retrospectively. 57% unnatural causes of death have been found. These included 120 suicides, 21 drug-related deaths and 6 homicides. Suicides are committed primarily by socially desintegrated prisoners with some experienced time of custody and the expectation of another, longer period of arrest. ⋯ Especially in the last years violent acts with succeeding death increased, but the absolute numbers are very low. Since 1989 a series of drug-related deaths occurred; among these there were no imprisoned being substituted with methadone up to 1995. Although one must regret every single case of death in prison, this study has shown in general that the circumstances in Hamburg have to be assessed by far less critical than it has been done occasionally with single cases in the public discussion.