Article Figures & Data
Figures
Figure 1. NJDOC hunger strikes over time. Controlled for year-end census; linear regression: R2 = 0.07, F = 0.46, p = .53.
Tables
Pre-ICRA Post-ICRA All p Strikes 151 62 213 .93 Unique strikers 133 57 190 .681 Strikes annually (prorated) 27.0 25.7 26.6 .939 Unique strikers annually (prorated) 23.8 23.6 23.8 .681 Mean hunger strike duration (days) 28.9 9.7 23 .034a Median hunger strike duration (days) 4 3 4 — Percent strikes >3 days 60.3% 45.2% 55.9% .049a Max duration (days) 888 222 888 — Mean weight change (pounds) −6.9 −5.5 −6.4 .587 Weight loss >10% (when known) 11.1% 8.7% 10.3% 1 Percent unknown weight change 70.2% 62.9% 68.1% .331 ICRA = Isolated Confinement Restriction Act; NJDOC = New Jersey Department of Corrections.
↵a p < .05.
- Table 2
Demographics and Housing Locations of NJDOC Hunger Strikers Before and After Reform (2015–2022)
Pre-ICRA Post-ICRA All p Average age 36.9 37.1 36.9 .895 Median age 35 36 35 — Men 92.5% 98.4% 93.9% .114 Women 6.0% 1.6% 4.8% — TG-F 2.0% 0% 1.4% — TG-M 0 0% 0% — African American 56.3% 53.23 55.4% .245 White 27.8% 37.1% 30.5% — Hispanic 11.3% 6.5% 9.9% — Asian 2.7% 0% 1.9% — Other 0.7% 0% 0.5% — Unknown 1.3% 3.2% 1.9% — Disciplinary housing 72.2% 74.2% 72.8% .866 PHD, PHDH, or Detention 27.2% 29.0% 27.7% .866 Ad Seg (Pre-ICRA) 43.7% — — 1 RHU (Post-ICRA) — 43.6% — — Ad Seg = administrative segregation; ICRA = Isolated Confinement Restriction Act; NJDOC = New Jersey Department of Corrections; PHD = prehearing detention (pre-ICRA); PHDH = prehearing detention housing (post-ICRA); RHU = restorative housing unit; TG-F = transgender female; TG-M = transgender male.
Pre-ICRA Post-ICRA All p Any personality disorder 62.9% 58.1% 61.5% .538 ASPD 39.1% 41.9% 39.9% .759 Malingering 29.1% 9.7% 23.5% .002a No diagnosis 19.9% 32.3% 23.5% .074 ICD or ADHD 17.2% 19.4% 17.8% .697 Anxiety disorder 13.3% 17.7% 14.6% .399 Psychotic disorder 11.9% 12.9% 12.2% .821 MDD 11.9% 6.5% 10.3% .323 BPAD 11.3% 9.7% 10.8% .813 Adjustment 4.0% 0.0% 2.8% .184 Placement on the MH Special Needs roster 63.4% 57.4% 61.5% .355 No diagnosis or any personality disorder 82.8% 90.3% 85.0.% .207 ADHD = attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder; ASPD = antisocial personality disorder; BPAD = bipolar affective disorder; ICD = impulse control disorder; ICRA = Isolated Confinement Restriction Act; MDD = major depressive disorder; MH = mental health; NJDOC = New Jersey Department of Corrections.
↵a p < .05.
Pre-ICRA Post-ICRA All p Housing change 25.8% 25.8% 25.8% 1 Protest discipline 19.9% 19.4% 19.7% 1 Conflict with custody 11.3% 3.2% 8.9% .108 Suspected psychiatric symptoms 8.6% 11.3% 9.4% .607 Unknown 8.6% 9.7% 8.9% .795 Disagreement with medical treatment 8.0% 11.3% 8.9% .436 Conditions of confinement 6.6% 8.1% 7.0% .770 Legal 4.0% 6.5% 4.7% .482 Parole 3.3% 0.0% 2.4% .325 Disagreement with mental health treatment 2.7% 6.5% 3.8% .235 Property 2.7% 3.2% 2.8% 1 Classification 2.7% 0.0% 1.9% .325 Conflict with peers 2.7% 0.0% 1.9% .325 Dietary 2.0% 4.9% 2.8% .360 Lack of family contact 1.3% 1.6% 1.4% 1 Support hunger striking peer 1.3% 0.0% 0.9% 1 ICRA = Isolated Confinement Restriction Act.
Pre-ICRA Post-ICRA All p Unknown 43.1% 53.2% 46.0% .226 DOC intervention 17.9% 8.1% 15.0% .090 MH intervention total 11.7% 11.3% 11.3% 1 MH intervention (medication) 3.3% 3.2% 3.3% — MH intervention (housing) 3.3% 1.6% 2.9% — MH intervention (higher LOC) 2.7% 3.2% 2.9% — MH intervention (education) 2.0% 3.2% 2.4% — MH intervention (liaison with DOC) 0.7% 0.0% 0.5% — Gave up 10.6% 11.3% 10.8% 1 Medical intervention total 7.3% 3.2% 6.1% .355 Medical intervention (education) 5.3% 3.2% 4.7% — Medical intervention (diet) 1.3% 0.0% 0.9% — Medical intervention (hospitalization) 0.7% 0.0% 0.5% — Wanted off hunger strike protocol 3.3% 8.1% 4.7% .159 Gave up after medical illness 2.7% 0.0% 1.9% .325 Moot (released) 1.3% 1.6% 1.4% 1 Denied hunger strike 1.3% 1.6% 1.4% 1 Legal intervention 0.7% 0.0% 0.5% 1 DOC = Department of Corrections; ICRA = Isolated Confinement Restriction Act; LOC = level of care; MH = mental health.
