Mortality among former youth offenders

Silva, Vinícius Mauat da; Teichmann, Pedro do Valle; Scanlon, Thomas; Santos, José Vicente Tavares dos; Goldani, Marcelo Zubaran

doi:10.1590/1413-812320202510.17622018

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ARTICLE • Ciênc. saúde coletiva 25 (10) • Oct 2020 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320202510.17622018 copy

Mortality among former youth offenders

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

Abstract

The objective of this article is to analyze the detention of youth offenders involved in the juvenile justice system in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FASE-RS), the reason for detention, and mortality among former young offenders. We conducted an observational study with youth offenders discharged from facilities run by FASE-RS in Porto Alegre between 2002 and 2012 (n = 8,290). We collected the following information: date of discharge, offence committed, skin color, gender, and duration of detention. The data was crosschecked with data from the state’s Mortality Information System to identify deaths among former young offenders up to December 2014. The predominant offences were crimes against property and drug-related crimes. The large majority of youth detained for drug-related offences were admitted for offences related to drug trafficking. There was a seven-fold increase in drug-related offences over the period. Death was associated (p<0.001) with being male and number of reentries (>3). The sample’s mortality rate was high and the main cause of death was homicide. The findings suggest that young offenders face high levels of psychosocial vulnerability. There was an association between minor crimes and high rates of mortality among former young offenders.

Key words
Youth; Institutionalized; Detainees; Mortality; Homicide

	n (8290)	%	Death (784)
	n (8290)	%	n	%	P
Skin color					0.832
White	4368	53.7	413	9.5
Non-white	3763	46.3	361	9.6
Not informed	159	1.9
Sex					< 0.001
Male	7490	90.3	756	10.1^* * Positive association using the adjusted residuals test (5% significance level)
Female	800	9.7	28	3.5
Reason for detention (crime)					< 0.001
Against the person	522	8.7	45	8.6
Against property	2776	46.5	249	9
Drug-related	1299	21.7	98	7.5^ Negative association using the adjusted residuals test (5% significance level)
Other	1378	23	172	20.4^* * Positive association using the adjusted residuals test (5% significance level)
Not informed	2315	27.9
Duration of detention (days)					< 0.001
<45	4000	48.3	323	8.1^ Negative association using the adjusted residuals test (5% significance level)
45 - 180	1467	17.7	147	10
180-360	826	10	97	11.7
360 - 720	1370	16.5	145	10.6
>720	627	16.5	72	11.5
Age at detention					0.056
12-15 years	727	8.8	51	7
15-18 years	6042	72.9	581	9.6
18-21 years	1521	18.3	152	10
Number of entries					< 0.001
1 entry	4861	58.6	392	8.1^ Negative association using the adjusted residuals test (5% significance level)
2 entries	1810	21.8	184	10.2
≥ 3 entries	1619	19.5	208	12.8^* * Positive association using the adjusted residuals test (5% significance level)

	Against the person (n = 522)	Against property (n = 2776)	Drug-related (n = 1299)	Other reasons (n = 1378)	Not informed (n = 2315)	Total (n = 8290)
Homicides	40(7.66)	209(7.52)	89(6.85)	133(9.65)	185(7.99)	656(7.91)
Suicide	2(0.98)	5(0.18)	0	9(0.65)	3(0.13)	19(0.23)
Other causes of death	3 (0.57)	37(1.33)	9(0.69)	28(2.03)	32(1.38)	109(1.31)
Total	45(8.62)	251(9.04)	98(7.54)	170(12.33)	220(9.50)	784(9.45)

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[1] Collaborations

VM Silva participated in data collection, reviewing relevant literature, and in the drafting and revision of this article. PV Teichmann participated in reviewing relevant literature and in the drafting and revision of this article. T Scanlon, JVT Santos and MZ Goldani participated in study conception, elaboration, and coordination.