Inmate Health Care

987 Words2 Pages

Inmate Health Care

Taxpayers pay for so many things like law enforcement, construction work, fire fighter services, and etc. Part of what they pay every year goes to the medical department in jails and prisons. Taxpayers should not pay for the health care of inmates. They pay for incurable medical conditions. They should not pay for inmates with mental illness. Lastly, taxpayers should not pay for their oral needs. They have so much to worry about; inmates and their needs should be the last thing they should worry about. They should not pay for incurable medical conditions, mental illnesses, or oral care.

Some inmates have incurable conditions. Troy Reid who had high blood pressure and kidney problems was one (Mendelssohn. p. 295). July of 2007 Reid began to get treated for his kidneys that were shutting down (Mendelssohn. p. 295). Three times a week he would get a kidney dialysis but on April of 2008 he died (Mendelssohn. p. 295). He grown tired of the treatments and decided to die (Mendelssohn. p. 295). From July 2007 to April 2008 taxpayers paid for Reid’s treatments. For some people the treatments that Reid had no point and was just a waste. If inmates that have incurable diseases like Reid’s should not be in prison or jail. They should be released and they them self should pay for the treatment they seek. A lot of money was wasted on Reid; this is a reason they should not pay for inmate health care.

There are some inmates in jails and prisons that have a mental illness. It has been estimated that 10% to 16% of at adults in U.S prisons and jails have some kind of a mental illness (Mackain and Messer. p.89). It was calculated that 10% of male and 18% of females have a serious mental disorder (Mackain and Messer. p.89)...

... middle of paper ...

...are Program For Inmates With A Chronic Mental Illness.” Jour of Forensic Psychology Proctice 4.2. (2004): 87-100. Academic Search Complete. Web 5 May 2014

Manahan, James H., and Vicki Quade. “Don’t Do The Crime If You Can’t Pay For Your

Cell.” Human Rights 17.2. (1990): 6. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 May 2014.

Mondelsohn, Daniel R.H. “The Right To Refuse: Should Prison Inmates Be Allowed To

Discontinue Treatment Fox Incurable, Noncomunicable Medical Conditions?” Maryland Law Review 71.1. (2011): 295-338. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 May 2014.

Ross, Michael W., Alison Liebling, and Sarah Tait. “The Relationships of Prison Climate

To Health Service In Correctional Evironments: Inmates Health Care Measurement, Satisfaction and Access In Prisons.” Howard Journal of Criminal Justice 50.3. (2011): 262-274. Academic Search Complete. Web. 5 May 2014.

Open Document