Surgical Care in the Criminal Justice Health Care System: Comparable Mortality and Readmission Rates, but Higher Morbidity in Incarcerated Patients

Patients who are incarcerated within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) receive similar rates of mortality and readmission compared to the general nonincarcerated population when undergoing surgical procedures. However, incarcerated patients have significantly higher rates of morbidity. These findings highlight the need for further research to understand the factors contributing to perioperative morbidity and to explore long-term surgical outcomes in the incarcerated population.