Is there data on that? Or is it an assumption?

There's plenty of data indicating that's the case, for instance [1]. That said, the population is also much younger and age has a much bigger impact than comorbidities.

[1] https://issues.org/correctional-health-is-community-health/

surely there are data. "assumptions" underlie all "data"[1], but i would call "prisoners not having good health care" a pretty decent assumption. if you're so curious, maybe go google it yourself, and then post a study if you find one.

i'm so tired of literally every other HN comment being like this. there is truly nothing more low effort / "i am very smart" than the HN-classic "do you have a source for that? where's the peer-reviewed study?". it adds absolutely nothing to the discussion, and yet i see all sorts of materially less obnoxious things be downvoted to oblivion.

[1] "citation needed"

Basic healthcare in prison is free (I believe?), and I reckon the food is comparatively less likely to give you diabetes?

Healthcare may be "free" but that doesn't mean it's any good.

One would suspect, but one would be wrong. The data bears this out but also food that's bad for you tends to be cheaper than food that's good for you and Bureau of Prisons isn't known for doting upon its charges.

Even then I imagine the financially and socially disadvantaged would be more likely to end up in jail, who are unlikely to be in good health to begin with.