A Review of Opportunities to Improve the Health of People Involved in the Criminal Justice System in the United States

Abstract

In the past decade, many constituencies have questioned the efficacy, cost, and unintended consequences of mass incarceration in the United States. Although substantial evidence now demonstrates that US incarceration policies have had unintended adverse health consequences, we know less about the strategies and policies that can prevent or reduce these problems for justiceinvolved individuals and how the criminal justice system (CJS) can contribute to the Healthy People 2020 national goal of eliminating inequities in health. This review examines strategies that have been used to improve the health of people at various stages of CJS involvement, including diversion from jail and prison stays into community settings, improvements to the social and physical environments within correctional facilities, provision of health and other services to inmates, assistance for people leaving correctional facilities to make the transition back to the community, and systems coordination and integration.

The emerging public discourse on state legalization of marijuana for recreational use in the US: Analysis of news media coverage, 2010–2014

“…In the public discourse on legalization of marijuana for recreational use, possible public health risks are weighed against compelling potential benefits of the policy, such as reductions in racial inequalities in criminal justice system involvement (an outcome that is it itself associated, long-term, with multiple public health benefits (Freudenberg & Heller, 2016)). At least 12 additional states are planning ballot measures to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016 (Focus, 2015).…”

Racial disparities in health conditions among prisoners compared with the general population

“…One of the goals for Health People 2020 is to reduce health disparities for people of color. Yet, it is unclear how the criminal justice system can contribute to this goal ( Freudenberg & Heller, 2016 ). Moreover, incarcerated persons are excluded from national health surveys and correctional facilities often have an inadequate surveillance system for providing valid and reliable data on the health status of inmates.…”

The evolution of health care in the Texas correctional system and the impact of COVID-19

“…21 Prison statistics demonstrate that >50% of prisoners have a mental illness diagnosis, and >66% have a substance abuse disorder. 22 Texas prisons have several treatment programs for substance abuse, including the Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility, the Pre-Release Substance Abuse Program, and the Pre-Release Therapeutic Community. 23 These mental health services have been beneficial, but adequate data on outcomes do not exist due to the lack of widespread implementation and inadequate follow-up.…”