The Behind Bars Data Project from UCLA School of Law provides national data on deaths in U.S. prisons and other carceral facilities. The database compiles information on deaths in custody across state and federal prisons and allows users to explore mortality data by state and year. It includes data on total deaths, causes of death and trends in prison mortality. The project aims to increase transparency about prison conditions and provide researchers, journalists and policymakers with accessible data on deaths behind bars. Data is available from 2019 through 2024, and was last updated in December 2025.
From UCLA Law