Prison Medical Healthcare:
Tricks and Traps

Information on medical services for inmates housed within State Departments of Correction and/or jail systems rarely is provided by either-be it in print or over the phone. If done via the latter, it's provided after much difficulty, and oftentimes not accurately. Straight answers for the most part, are not provided. That's not by accident.

For those websites of State Departments of Correction that do mention medical services, no detailed information is provided.

When calling prison or jail facilities directly in order to obtain medical information, one may be met with questions from staff as to the "why" you are concerned. In other words, what prompted your call. While the question(s) may seem genuine, in most cases this is not the case. Your conversation serves as a fact-finding mission on behalf of the Department of Corrections staff and the healthcare provider to determine a potential problem; obtain as much information from you as possible, and zero-in on possible problems that you draw attention to that could very well point to violations within their respective departments. Supervisors will 'run interference' and attempt to appease you over the phone, in an attempt to assure you that your concerns will be dealt with "in a timely fashion."

If you do know the name of the organization, entity or corporation contracted with the State or city, to provide healthcare for inmates, and directly contact the staff of that organization or corporation, within the prison itself, you will be met with rudeness, arrogance, vague and sweeping statements, and for the most part inaccurate information.

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