In recent years, the line between correctional facilities and mental health facilities has blurred. Jails and prisons are now some of the largest de facto mental health providers in the country, and many county jails in dense metro areas are seeing more inmates in need of mental health services.
SAN FRANCISCO — The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled against an inmate who sued the state for damages for denial of health care. Though the 11-judge court was divided, the majority defended their position on the grounds that the state has failed to provide enough funding for both medical staff and supplies.
BATON ROUGE, La. — Following the abrupt closure of the Earl K. Long Medical Center in April, Louisiana prison officials quickly began the search for an additional prison health care provider. Rather than continue to send inmates to outside institutions, officials have turned to telemedicine to fill the gap.
United States correctional health systems are in crisis. Few have the funds needed to adequately care for a burgeoning number of prisoners. Some are accused of neglected prisoner health. In California, the prison health system failed its duties so completely that a federal judge took the system out of the state’s hands and placed it into receivership.
How have things gotten to this point?
Recognizing longtime and emerging industry leaders.
Winners announced at annual Corrections Summit.
