Making the Case: Community Impact of the Criminal Justice System and How Planning and Policy Promote Health

Issues: This session will describe the community health impact of mass incarceration and criminal justice policies in the US, and demonstrate the disproportionate impact on communities of greatest socio-economic need with the highest rates of communicable and chronic diseases.

Description:The US alone incarcerates 25% of all people incarcerated worldwide. One in every 31 American adults, or 7.3 million Americans, are in prison, on parole or probation. Approximately one in every 18 men in the US is behind bars or being monitored by the criminal justice system. The criminal justice population has higher rates of disease than the general population including communicable disease (i.e. TB, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis A, B and C, and other STIs), aging-related chronic health conditions (i.e. Hypertension and Diabetes), and behavioral health conditions (i.e. mental health and substance use).

Lessons Learned: Over 90% of those in correctional facilities will return to their communities. Community and jail collaborations resulting in linkages to care and services are best practices designed to address the fragmentation of health care for impacted communities. The Affordable Care Act has createdincreased opportunity for such collaborations that connect incarcerated individuals with community services inclusive of medical and behavioral health needs, who were previously without access. Transitional services that address the complex array of needs faced by the criminal justice population promote healthy community integration after incarceration.

Recommendations: Collaborations between jails and community should serve as a guide for planning and policy development to improve the health of communities with the greatest health disparities.