Although oral health, diabetes, and uncontrolled blood pressure concerns possess issues specific to that aliment, some challenges appear to be shared when it comes to justice-involved people that transcend the three illnesses mentioned above. The challenges faced by justice-involved individuals living with chronic or acute illnesses range from multiple psychological issues to inadequate access to foods, treatments, and activities that could regulate or neutralize one’s illness, to structural, and discriminatory activities, which exacerbates the challenges these groups face (Greifinger, 2022; Benjamin et al, 2016; The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 2018). From a macro perspective, those who possess access to resources to reduce the challenges faced by justice-involved individuals, commonly do nothing unless it benefits their stakeholders (Greifinger,2022; Punishment & Profit, 2021). Antiquated laws that should be reviewed and updated to reflect the needs of modern times remain in place and welcome environments for health disparities and additional challenges (Greifinger, 2022).
Although some healthcare professionals and agencies possess cultural competencies and the capacity to address chronic issues incarcerated people face, they fail to possess the drive to serve this population (Howard et al., 2016). Structurally, health care systems that support incarcerated personnel are rarely organized, possess the personnel, equipped, or funded to effectively provide health care correctional facilities (Greifinger, 2022; Benjamin et al, 2016; The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology, 2018). When addressing the release of justice-involved care persons, we must consider the second, and third-order effects. These effects are not limited to the time one was incarcerated, but these illnesses follow them into the civilian community after release (Greifinger, 2022; Benjamin et al, 2016). Additionally, because of the absence of formal training or the proper administering of treatments, these people cannot correctly manage and request medications. Psychologically, many suffer from low self-esteem because of the health care received while incarcerated. This low self-esteem could be instigated by a condition visible to the public upon causal observation, such as poor oral health (i.e., chronically bad breath, missing and/ or broken teeth) (Greifinger, 2022). The previously mentioned challenges to justice-involved people are just examples of the trials this group has experienced and continues to experience. A demonstration of empathy and understanding is needed to alleviate their issues. This demonstration could be by providing access to practical resources to mitigate challenges faced by justice-involved people within correctional facilities and upon their release.
References
Greifinger,R.B. (2022). Public Health Behind Bars: From Prison to Communities (2nd ed.). Springer. New York, NY.
Punishment & Profit. (2021). Healthcare: Punishment & Profit. Retrieved on January, 3, 2023, from https://thegreenespace.org/watch/punishment-profit-healthcare/
The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology. (2018). Diabetes behind bars: challenges inadequate care in prisons. Editorial. Vol 6, May 2018. Retrieved from www.thelancet.com/diabetes-endocrinology.
Howell, B. A., Long, J. B., Edelman, E. J., McGinnis, K. A., Rimland, D., Fiellin, D. A., Justice, A. C., & Wang, E. A. (2016). Incarceration History and Uncontrolled Blood Pressure in a Multi-Site Cohort. Journal of general internal medicine, 31(12), 1496–1502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-016-3857-1
Leave a Reply