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Investing in Healthy Communities
Elizabeth F. Gondles, Ph.D.
Institute for Criminal Justice Healthcare
October 2009, Corrections Today
Many who commit crimes are unable to sustain healthy lives. They often
come from poor neighborhoods and dysfunctional families and lack formal
education, job opportunities, and quality health care. According to the
Bureau of Justice Statistics, as of 2007 there were more than 7.3
million people in correctional systems (jails, prisons, probation,
parole and community corrections). This population has a high prevalence
of chronic medical and mental health issues, high rates of infections
and sexually transmitted diseases, and substantial substance abuse
disorders.
When I interview offenders, most of them say that
they want help with their health problems, but have had limited or no
access to health care throughout their lives. Time spent incarcerated
may be the only time these men and women have access to adequate care.
The majority of the diseases and disorders found in
correctional populations are contracted or developed in the community as
a result of high-risk behaviors: substance abuse, unsafe sexual
practices, violence, smoking and poor diet. This offender population
with infectious or chronic diseases moves from the community, through
correctional systems, and back to the community. Offenders in our
correctional system today have been given the chance to improve their
health through quality health care and to learn what they can do to
support their continued wellness both “inside” and when they reenter the
community.
Correctional health care professionals and public
health agencies have a responsibility to reach this population.
Together, in partnership, we have a responsibility to society and to
offenders to continue developing and evaluating efficient, effective,
and cost-conscience methods of delivering valid, evidence-based
treatment and programs. We also have a legal, ethical and moral
obligation to return offenders to the community in a reasonable state of
health to facilitate their successful reentry.
In state correctional systems, at least 95 percent
of all inmates will be released to the community — and more than 12
million people pass through our nation’s jails annually. While
incarcerated, inmates receive health care that requires continuity in
community health systems. In order to optimize this care they receive in
our facilities, inmates must not return to a society plagued with social
disparities, exhausted community resources, poorly equipped health
clinics, and economic disadvantages. To address these public health
challenges and ensure continued wellness and quality of life, community
leaders must work with correctional health professionals, nurses, and
the allied health professions to improve access to health, mental health
and support services to the correctional population in our charge.
Our professional and fiscal responsibility is
clear: corrections, public health agencies, and community health
programs must collaborate to promote continuity of care for the
incarcerated and ex-offenders. Correctional systems should have access
to public health services in the community, and more attention should be
focused on preventive care, as well as connecting successful
interventions to both correctional and communal settings. Using
evidence-based research, we must develop innovative programs that
involve community educators and stakeholders in these health care
initiatives. Correctional health professionals can help improve the
health of communities throughout the country when they address the
health concerns of offenders.
Health care is an ever-growing and ever-changing field. Correctional
health care is growing and changing as well. These developments are not
only the concern of health personnel, they affect all corrections
professionals from line personnel to wardens to agency directors. It is
important for society to recognize that the health care and education of
offenders is closely tied to improved community health. Investing in the
health care of adult and juvenile offenders and returning them back home
healthy is a key to overall public wellness. By reaching offenders in
the criminal justice system, we in corrections have the ability to
deliver vital messages about healthy practices and strengthen and
improve the health of the overall community. We must continue to
reinforce and develop new strategies, as well as revamp old partnerships
and form new ones to improve the health of all.
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