source:SCCJR

published: 29 April 2025

Image Credit: sakhon at www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net

A major new research study has found the number of people dying in prison has surged to a record number of 64 in 2024, a 60% increase on the previous year, making Scotland’s mortality rate among the highest in Europe.

The annual report, ‘Nothing to See Here? Deaths in Custody and their Investigation in Scotland in 2024’ which is published today (29 April) by the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research, looked into the number of people who had died while in prison, in police custody, a mental health facility, immigration detention centre and in care settings for looked after children and young people.

In total 244 people have died in Scotland while detained in custody or under the control of the state in 2024, equivalent to more than four deaths per week. 

Most of these deaths (138) occurred among those detained on mental health grounds, 19 were after police contact and a further three in police custody, 16 children and young people died in care, three people died while detained in immigration centres, and one inpatient with learning disabilities died while living in hospital.

The research team led by Professor Sarah Armstrong at the University of Glasgow, made a series of worrying findings; the sharp rise in prison deaths being the most striking. 

Professor Armstrong said: “Last year we reported there were 40 deaths in prisons in 2023 which has now surged to 64 in 2024. It is of real concern that the mortality rate in our prisons has more than doubled in the last decade and is now among the highest in Europe. When we looked at international comparators our death rates are more like Azerbaijan and Moldova, where torture and corruption have been documented, than England and Wales.”

Read the full article >