Correctional inmates and ex-offenders are disproportionately burdened by medical and mental health problems. This article reviews the state of programs and research in five health-related issues important to these inmates' successful transitions to the community: discharge planning, community linkages, and continuity of care; adherence to treatment regimens; availability of housing; quick access to benefit programs; and the particular needs of dually and triply diagnosed individuals. In general, such services are currently inadequate, although there are exemplary programs and promising strategies in some of these realms. Additional research is needed to evaluate current programs and encourage their replication and enhancement. The disproportionate share of the nation's total burden of health problems found among inmates and the potential public health and fiscal benefits of an improved response should make this research a high priority.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Abt Associates Inc. (2000-2001). [Study of discharge planning for HIV-infected inmates in 10 state prison systems]. Unpublished data.
2.
Amann, A.
, O'Keefe, O., & Kovacs, P. (1998). Interdisciplinary approach to managing mentally ill offenders. Corrections Compendium, 23, 4-6.
3.
Bayer, R.
(1991). Public health policy and the AIDS epidemic: An end to HIV exceptionalism? [Commentary]. New England Journal of Medicine, 324, 1500-1504.
4.
Bayer, R.
, & Stryker, J. (1997). Ethical challenges posed by clinical progress in AIDS [Commentary]. American Journal of Public Health, 87, 1599-1602.
5.
Beidinger, H.
(1999, October 3-5). Presentation to Conference on Integrating Public Health and Corrections: Preparing for the New Millennium, Chicago.
6.
Center on Crime, Communities, and Culture
. (1996). Research brief: Mental illness in U.S. jails: Diverting the nonviolent, low level offender. New York: Author.
7.
Conklin, T.
, Lincoln, T., & Tuthill, R. (2000). Self-reported health and prior health behaviors of newly admitted correctional inmates. American Journal of Public Health, 90, 1939-1941.
8.
Conklin, T. J.
(1996). A new paradigm for correctional medicine; the link to community health. CorrectCare8-9.
9.
Conklin, T. J.
, Lincoln, T., & Flanigan, T. P. (1998). A public health model to connect correctional health care with communities. American Journal of Public Health, 88, 1249-1251.
10.
Dixon, P. S.
, Flanigan, T. P., DeBuono, B. A., Laurie, J. J., DeCiantis, M. L., Hoy, J., Stein, M., Scott, H. D., & Carpenter, C. C. (1993). HIV infection in prison: Meeting the health care challenge. American Journal of Medicine, 95, 629-635.
11.
Edens, J. F.
, Peters, R. H., & Hills, H. A. (1997). Treating prison inmates with co-occurring disorders: An integrative review of existing programs. Behavioral Science and Law, 15, 439-457.
12.
Farley, J. L.
, Mitty, J. A., Lally, M. A., Burzinsky, J. N., Tashima, K., Rich, J. D., Cu-Uvin, S., Spaulding, A., Normandie, L., Snead, M., & Flanigan, T. P. (2000). Comprehensive medical care among HIV-positive incarcerated women: The Rhode Island experience. Journal of Women's Health and Gender Based Medicine, 9, 51-56.
13.
Flanigan, T. P.
, Kim, J. Y., Zierler, S., Rich, J., Vigilante, K., & Bury-Maynard, D. (1996). A prison release program for HIV-positive women: Linking them to health services and community follow-up [Letter]. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 887.
14.
Frieden, T. R.
, Fujiwara, P. I., Washko, R. M., & Hamburg, M. A. (1995). Tuberculosis in New York City: Turning the tide. New England Journal of Medicine, 333, 229-233.
15.
Gaiter, J.
, & Doll, L. (1996). Improving HIV/AIDS prevention programs in prisons is good public health policy [Editorial]. American Journal of Public Health, 86, 1201-1203.
16.
Glaser, J.
, & Greifinger, R. B. (1993). Correctional health care: A public health opportunity. Annals of Internal Medicine, 118, 139-145.
17.
Hammett, T. M.
(1998). Research in brief: Public health/Corrections collaborations: Prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, STDs, and TB (U.S. Department of Justice Publication No. NCJ 169590). Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
18.
Hammett, T. M.
, Gaiter, J. L., & Crawford, C. (1998). Reaching seriously at-risk populations: Health interventions in criminal justice settings. Health Education & Behavior, 25, 99-120.
19.
Hammett, T. M.
, Harmon, P., & Maruschak, L. (1999). 1996-1997 update: HIV/AIDS, STDs, and TB in correctional facilities (U.S. Department of Justice Publication No. NCJ 176344). Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Bureau of Justice Statistics.
20.
Hammett, T. M.
, Rhodes, W., & Harmon, P. (2000, July 11). “Breaking the silence” on prisons and jails as epicenters of HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases in the United States. Poster abstract TuPeD3554, presented at the XIII International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa.
21.
Hammett, T. M.
, Zeytoonjian, L., Langenbahn, S., Rosenberg, N., & Fischer, E. (2000). “Integrating public health and corrections: Preparing for the new millennium”: Report on conference follow-up. (Draft submitted to the National Institute of Justice)
22.
Kim, J. Y.
, et al. (1997). Successful community follow-up and reduced recidivism in HIV-positive women prisoners. Journal of Correctional Health Care, 4, 5-17.
23.
Maruschak, L.
, & Beck, A. (2001). Medical problems of inmates, 1997 (U.S. Department of Justice Publication No. NCJ 181644). Washington, DC: Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice.
24.
McKinnon, K.
, Carey, M. P., & Cournos, F. (1997). Research on HIV, AIDS, and severe mental illness: Recommendations from the NIMH national conference. Clinical Psychology Review, 17, 327-331.
25.
Morris, S. M.
, Steadman, H. J., & Veysey, B. M. (1997). Mental health services in United States jails: A survey of innovative practices. Criminal Justice & Behavior, 24, 3-19.
26.
Mostashiri, F.
, Riley, E., Selwyn, P. A., & Altice, F. L. (1998). Acceptance and adherence with antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected women in a correctional facility. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes and Human Retrovirology, 18, 341-348.
27.
National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University
. (1998). Behind bars: Substance abuse and America's prison population. New York: Author.
28.
National Commission on Correctional Health Care
. (2000). The health status of soon-to-bereleased inmates [Draft Rep. to Congress].
29.
Nolan, C. M.
, Roll, L., Goldberg, S. V., & Elarth, A. M. (1997). Directly observed isoniazid preventive therapy for released jail inmates. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 155, 583-586.
30.
Polonsky, S.
, Kerr, S., Harris, B., Gaiter, J., Fichtner, R. R., & Kennedy, M. G. (1994). HIV prevention in prisons and jails: Obstacles and opportunities. Public Health Reports, 109, 615-625.
31.
Quinn, T. C.
, Wawer, M. J., Sewankambo, N., Serwadda, D., Li, C., Wabwire-Mangen, F., Meehan, M. O., Lutalo, T., & Gray, R. H. (2000). Viral load and transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1. New England Journal of Medicine, 342, 921-929.
32.
Remien, R. H.
, & Smith, R. A. (2000). HIV prevention in the era of HAART: Implications for providers. AIDS Reader, 10, 247-251.
33.
Rounsaville, B. J.
, Anton, S. F., Carroll, K., et al. (1991). Psychiatric diagnoses of treatment seeking cocaine abusers. Archives of General Psychiatry, 48, 43-51.
34.
Rounsaville, B. J.
, Weissman, M. M., Kleber, H., & Wilber, C. H. (1982). Heterogeneity of psychiatric diagnosis in untreated opiate addicts. Archives of General Psychiatry, 39, 161-168.
35.
Sheu, M.
, Flanigan, T. P., Allsworth, J., Hogan, J., Stein, M. D., Vlahov, D., & Schoenbaum, E. (1998, July 2). Continuity of medical care and risk of incarceration in HIV+ and HIV- high risk women. Oral abstract No. 502 presented at 12th World AIDS Conference, Geneva, Switzerland.
36.
Spaulding, A.
, Greene, C., Davidson, K., Schneidermann, M., & Rich, J. (1999). Hepatitis C in correctional facilities. Preventive Medicine, 28, 92-100.
37.
Steadman, H. J.
, & Veysey, B. M. (1997). Research in brief: Providing services for jail inmates with mental disorders (U.S. Department of Justice Publication No. NCJ 162207). Washington, DC: National Institute of Justice.
38.
Stephenson, B.
, Wohl, D., Kiziah, N., Rosen, D., Ngo, B., Merriman, N., & Kaplan, A. (2000, July 11). Release from prison is associated with increased HIV RNA at time of re-incarceration. Oral abstract TuOrD323 presented at XIII International AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa.
39.
Torrey, E. F.
(1995). Jails and prisons—America's new mental hospitals [Editorial]. American Journal of Public Health, 85, 1611-1613.
40.
Tulsky, J. P.
, White, M. C., Dawson, C., Hoynes, T. M., Goldenson, J., & Schechter, G. (1998). Screening for tuberculosis in jails and clinic follow-up after release. American Journal of Public Health, 88, 223-226.
41.
Vigilante, K. C.
, Flynn, M. M., Affleck, P. C., Stunkle, J. C., Merriman, N. A., Flanigan, T. P., Mitty, J. A., & Rich, J. D. (1999). Reduction in recidivism of incarcerated women through primary care, peer counseling, and discharge planning. Journal of Women's Health, 8, 409-415.
42.
Vivian, J. E.
(1998). Recidivism and programming effects within Hampden County correctional facilities: A preliminary investigation. Unpublished manuscript.
