NCJ Number
178526
Date Published
September 1998
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This paper examines care for terminally ill inmates, with particular attention to the implementation of a formal hospice program within secure facilities.
Abstract
Information for this report was provided through written surveys completed by 53 correctional jurisdictions. Most corrections departments (DOC) did not keep complete data on placement of terminally ill inmates. Nationally, 824 terminally ill inmates were placed in regular DOC infirmaries or prison hospitals, 152 terminally ill inmates were placed in formal hospice settings within the correctional system and at least 96 inmates were released from prison on parole or another form of compassionate release. The report includes data on availability of hospice care in prisons, formal prison hospice programs, other approaches to palliative care in prisons, advantages of the hospice approach in the prison environment, difficulties encountered with prison hospice programs and the outlook for prison hospice programs. Tables, appendix