Health Care for the Incarcerated: A Plea to Save a Vulnerable Population
Publication Date
2020
Start Date
29-8-2020 10:10 AM
End Date
29-8-2020 10:35 AM
Moderator
Adrian Nava
Description
In the Constitution of the United States of America, the 8th amendment states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Contrary to belief, each day, men, women, and children behind bars suffer from the lack of access to adequate medical and mental health care. Out of the incarcerated population, 40 percent of inmates suffer from a chronic health condition, and without proper access to healthcare while incarcerated, inmates and post-release inmates continue to suffer. Their medical needs are not met, prisons are often overcrowded, and those conditions allow contagious illnesses to spread faster. Without action being taken, this vulnerable population continues to see uncivil practices being ignored by legislatures. We should stop ignoring the discussion on the rights of the incarcerated and improve our health care system in correctional facilities. In this presentation, I will talk about the inadequate health care in jails and prisons, what contributes to this issue, why we should care about this ongoing issue, and what we can do to address the issue.
Health Care for the Incarcerated: A Plea to Save a Vulnerable Population
In the Constitution of the United States of America, the 8th amendment states, “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.” Contrary to belief, each day, men, women, and children behind bars suffer from the lack of access to adequate medical and mental health care. Out of the incarcerated population, 40 percent of inmates suffer from a chronic health condition, and without proper access to healthcare while incarcerated, inmates and post-release inmates continue to suffer. Their medical needs are not met, prisons are often overcrowded, and those conditions allow contagious illnesses to spread faster. Without action being taken, this vulnerable population continues to see uncivil practices being ignored by legislatures. We should stop ignoring the discussion on the rights of the incarcerated and improve our health care system in correctional facilities. In this presentation, I will talk about the inadequate health care in jails and prisons, what contributes to this issue, why we should care about this ongoing issue, and what we can do to address the issue.