Health Care in Jails: An Evaluation of the American Medical Association's Pilot Projects

Abstract

In 1975 the American Medical Association was awarded a grant by the Law Enforcement Assistance Administration to conduct pilot projects to improve the quality of health care in jails. The medical societies of six states were selected as subgrantees and projects were initiated in thirty jails. The evaluation of these projects involved both process and impact components. The principle criterion for the process evaluation was the success of jails in meeting the standard of health care for jails that were established by the AMA as part of the project. The principle criterion employed in the impact assessment was the extent of improvement in the early detection of inmates' health problems. The project was determined to be successful in both the process and the impact evaluation, although notable improvements in jail health care are still to be made.