The APHA Standards for Health Care in Correctional Institutions has been revised (2000). Much has changed since the First (1976) and Second (1986) Editions: There have been substantial improvements in access to medical care for prisoners, and in the quality of health care services. The APHA standards, as well as leadership by members of the APHA, have contributed significantly to these changes.
At the same time, the extraordinary committment to mass incarceration has swelled the population of U.S. Prisons and Jails to over 2,000,000 men and women, an order of magnitude greater than the number incarcerated when the First Edition of the Standards was published. Consistent with the rush to incarcerate ever greater numbers, the constitutional basis for requiring adequate health care for prisoners has been substantially weakened by Court decisions, and congressional legislation.
We present the Third Edition of the Standards For Health Services in Correctional Institutions fully cognizant of the terrible conditions prevailing in United States prisons, yet hopeful that the American Public Health Association's promulgation of reasonable standards will provide material support to prisoners and health workers.
Toward that end, the Third Edition contains new sections on:
Treatment of prisoners in segregation; Care of adolescent prisoners; Human Rights in prison; Mental Health care; Sexuality in Prison; and Infectious Diseases (AIDS, Hepatitis C)
Learning Objectives: This session will discuss the new Third Edition of the APHA Standards for Health Services in Correctional Institutions. New secionts of the Standards on Adolescents, Human Rights, Segregation, Sexuality, and Infectious Diseases will be highlighted
Keywords: Prisoners Health Care, Human Rights
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.