NCJ Number
79184
Journal
Journal of Prison Health Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (Spring/Summer 1981) Pages: 30-43
Date Published
1981
Length
14 pages
Annotation
Female prisoners from the New York City Correctional Institution for Women were interviewed concerning health issues at that institution. Their views on general conditions, health services, and discipline are presented.
Abstract
Most of the women are poor and the sole support of their children and households. A common health concern is the fear of contagious disease, such as tuberculosis. Medical staff report that skin eruptions, rashes and itching are common, and many prisoners blame these problems on the water and soap. Complaints about environmental conditions at the institution (i.e., cold weather, rodent infestations) illustrate the frequent inability of institutions to deal adequately with such problems. Dietary inadequacies are also mentioned as a major problem, and inadequate health services prevalent in the institution are shown to arise from regulations and procedures endemic to the setting. Other complaints mentioned illustrate that prisoners' knowledge of the arbitrary and definitive nature of disciplinary measures affects every interaction in the jail, including the inmates' contacts with the health service. It is argued that since medical problems are inevitable in jail, alternatives to incarceration should be the first priority for their solution. A second strategy is the use of joint prisoner-custody-health staff committees to improve jail and prison conditions and services. Reference notes and four references are appended. (Author abstract modified)