Insiders as Outsiders: Race,Gender,and Cultural Considerations Affecting Health Outcome After Release to the Community

Abstract

This paper describes the formidable barriers to the design and implementation of successful illness prevention programs behind bars, some having to do with the experience and culture of the individual inmate, and some having to do with the culture and biases of correctional facility staff and operations. The implementation of a primary care model with attention to race and culture will go a long way toward improving diagnosis. Treatment planning and prerelease planning can then be designed to improve the opportunities for successful community reintegration.

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