OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the prevalence of chronic illnesses, including mental illness, and access to health care among US inmates. METHODS: We used the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails and the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities to analyze disease prevalence and clinical measures of access to health care for inmates. RESULTS: Among inmates in federal prisons, state prisons, and local jails, 38.5% (SE = 2.2%), 42.8% (SE = 1.1%), and 38.7% (SE = 0.7%), respectively, suffered a chronic medical condition. Among inmates with a mental condition ever treated with a psychiatric medication, only 25.5% (SE = 7.5%) of federal, 29.6% (SE = 2.8%) of state, and 38.5% (SE = 1.5%) of local jail inmates were taking a psychiatric medication at the time of arrest, whereas 69.1% (SE = 4.8%), 68.6% (SE = 1.9%), and 45.5% (SE = 1.6%) were on a psychiatric medication after admission. CONCLUSIONS: Many inmates with a serious chronic physical illness fail to receive care while incarcerated. Among inmates with mental illness, most were off their treatments at the time of arrest. Improvements are needed both in correctional health care and in community mental health services that might prevent crime and incarceration.
OBJECTIVES: We analyzed the prevalence of chronic illnesses, including mental illness, and access to health care among US inmates. METHODS: We used the 2002 Survey of Inmates in Local Jails and the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State and Federal Correctional Facilities to analyze disease prevalence and clinical measures of access to health care for inmates. RESULTS: Among inmates in federal prisons, state prisons, and local jails, 38.5% (SE = 2.2%), 42.8% (SE = 1.1%), and 38.7% (SE = 0.7%), respectively, suffered a chronic medical condition. Among inmates with a mental condition ever treated with a psychiatric medication, only 25.5% (SE = 7.5%) of federal, 29.6% (SE = 2.8%) of state, and 38.5% (SE = 1.5%) of local jail inmates were taking a psychiatric medication at the time of arrest, whereas 69.1% (SE = 4.8%), 68.6% (SE = 1.9%), and 45.5% (SE = 1.6%) were on a psychiatric medication after admission. CONCLUSIONS: Many inmates with a serious chronic physical illness fail to receive care while incarcerated. Among inmates with mental illness, most were off their treatments at the time of arrest. Improvements are needed both in correctional health care and in community mental health services that might prevent crime and incarceration.
Authors: Grace E Macalino; David Vlahov; Stephanie Sanford-Colby; Sarju Patel; Keith Sabin; Christopher Salas; Josiah D Rich Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2004-07 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Jessica R MacNeil; Cheryl McRill; Gale Steinhauser; Jonathan B Weisbuch; Elizabeth Williams; Mark L Wilson Journal: Am J Prev Med Date: 2005-02 Impact factor: 5.043
Authors: Ingrid A Binswanger; Marc F Stern; Richard A Deyo; Patrick J Heagerty; Allen Cheadle; Joann G Elmore; Thomas D Koepsell Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2007-01-11 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Ingrid A Binswanger; Mary C White; Eliseo J Pérez-Stable; Joe Goldenson; Jacqueline Peterson Tulsky Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2005-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Devin English; Joseph A Carter; Lisa Bowleg; David J Malebranche; Ali J Talan; H Jonathon Rendina Journal: Soc Sci Med Date: 2020-06-12 Impact factor: 4.634
Authors: Mark Malek; Alexander R Bazazi; Garrett Cox; Germaine Rival; Jacques Baillargeon; Armidia Miranda; Josiah D Rich Journal: J Correct Health Care Date: 2011-01
Authors: Patrick J McCabe; Paul P Christopher; Nicholas Druhn; Kristen M Roy-Bujnowski; Albert J Grudzinskas; William H Fisher Journal: J Behav Health Serv Res Date: 2012-07 Impact factor: 1.505
Authors: Amy J Harzke; Jacques G Baillargeon; Sandi L Pruitt; John S Pulvino; David P Paar; Michael F Kelley Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2010-05 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: David L Rosen; Dora M Dumont; Andrew M Cislo; Bradley W Brockmann; Amy Traver; Josiah D Rich Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2014-01-16 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Samantha A Zottola; Sarah L Desmarais; Shevaun D Neupert; Lin Dong; Eric Laber; Evan M Lowder; Richard A Van Dorn Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2019-08-05 Impact factor: 3.084