The JAMA Network recently posted the results of a study that suggests youth incarceration in adult correctional facilities is associated with early mortality. The study draws from data collected from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997.

The study found that youth incarcerated in adult correctional facilities before the age of 18 were at a 33 percent higher risk of mortality between the ages of 18 and 39, potentially through diminished psychological and physical health. The researchers conclude that the practice of youth incarceration in adult correctional facilities is harmful and should be reassessed.