Health and Corrections: A Public Health Approach to Incarcerated Populations

Putting forward a new approach to the study of corrections, this book draws together public health and corrections and explores the importance of this nexus. Presenting a theoretical overview of relevant sociological and public health theories, the book introduces basic concepts, terminology, analytical frameworks, and theories, covering major issues in the domain of public health, public safety, and criminal justice. Addressing incarcerated population health needs in correctional setting, it provides an accessible and panoramic overview of the policy impact of laws on the health of incarcerated individuals. In doing so, the book investigates a variety of topics, including preincarceration and prison-generated trauma, chronic health issues, contagious infectious diseases, and aging in the system. The focus is on four “special-needs populations”: (1) women’s health; (2) mental illness among inmates; (3) elderly and geriatric inmates; and (4) substance abusing inmates. Giving an organizational perspective to the topic of health and corrections, the book also considers violence, public health in the community, access to health services by marginalized individuals, and why it matters to discuss health in prisons, the living conditions in prison, health management, and the health and well-being of those engaged with incarcerated individuals. Health and Corrections aims to generate an important discussion on the nexus of health and justice and will be a valuable resource for students, researchers, and instructors, as well as for professionals in the field of corrections, criminal justice, and public health and safety.