NCJ Number
85296
Journal
Quality Review Bulletin Volume: 7 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1981) Pages: 25-29
Date Published
1981
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the history of concern for prisoners' health status, health conditions in jails, and efforts to improve care.
Abstract
Criticism of prison health care over the last 50 years has centered on the lack of routine physical examinations, health screening, and inadequate time spent by physicians with patients. These problems have cropped up in all types of correctional institutions around the country. Inmates commonly require treatment for alcohol and drug addiction and often exhibit higher incidences of venereal disease and tuberculosis, among other illnesses. In 1970, about one-half of the Nation's jails had no medical facilities, and doctors are still scarce in many prisons. Prisoners have won lawsuits against institutions recently over inadequate medical care, although lack of funds and bureaucratic inertia remain problems. Since 1975, the American Medical Association (AMA) has made impressive gains in upgrading prison health facilities. Today, 59 jail health care systems in 16 States are AMA-accredited, and 31 others have made improvements. Other States should press for reforms. A total of 34 references are supplied.