The prevalence and health status of people with developmental disabilities in provincial prisons in Ontario, Canada: A retrospective cohort study

Background Data on the prevalence of developmental disabilities in people who experience imprisonment and on their characteristics are lacking. Methods The present authors identified adults with developmental disabilities who were released from Ontario provincial prisons in 2010 and a general popula...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities 2020-11, Vol.33 (6), p.1368-1379
Main Authors: Whittingham, Lisa, Durbin, Anna, Lin, Elizabeth, Matheson, Flora I., Volpe, Tiziana, Dastoori, Parisa, Calzavara, Andrew, Lunsky, Yona, Kouyoumdjian, Fiona
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adults
Cohort analysis
Continuity of care
Correctional Institutions
Criminal justice
Developmental Disabilities
developmental disability
Disease Incidence
Disproportionate Representation
Foreign Countries
Health
Individual Characteristics
Institutionalized Persons
Intellectual disabilities
intellectual disability
Medical Services
prevalence
prison
Prisoners
Prisons
Psychosis
Self Destructive Behavior
Substance Abuse
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Summary:Background Data on the prevalence of developmental disabilities in people who experience imprisonment and on their characteristics are lacking. Methods The present authors identified adults with developmental disabilities who were released from Ontario provincial prisons in 2010 and a general population comparator group using administrative data. The present authors examined demographic characteristics, morbidity and healthcare use. Results The prevalence of developmental disabilities was 2.2% in the prison group (N = 52,302) and 0.7% in the general population (N = 10,466,847). The prevalence of psychotic illness, substance‐related disorder and self‐harm was higher among people in the prison group with developmental disabilities. People with developmental disabilities were more likely to have emergency department visits and hospitalizations in prison and in the year after release. Conclusions People with developmental disabilities are overrepresented in provincial prisons and have a high burden of disease. Strategies are indicated to prevent incarceration and to improve health.
ISSN:1360-2322
1468-3148
DOI:10.1111/jar.12757