Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Health and Health Care in the Nation's Prisons: Issues, Challenges, and Policies

The United States correctional system is facing an urgent crisis in how to meet the health care needs of its prisoners. As the number of inmates in correctional facilities increases, prisons struggle to adequately address health care needs in a financially feasible way. Many prisoners enter the system with medical problems that have gone unmet, and the toxic environments inside the prisons further compromise their health, causing serious problems both within the prisons themselves and in society as a whole when the prisoners are released. Health and Health Care in the Nation's Prisons presents a comprehensive and up-to-date assessment of the health care challenges facing today's prisons along with concrete recommendations for change. In addition to an overview of the most common prison health care problems, this book provides a unique assessment of the needs of largely-overlooked prison populations, including women, people of color, and older adults. Authors Melvin Delgado and Denise Humm-Delgado cover high profile health care needs, such as substance abuse and mental illness, as well as lower profile needs like hepatitis and STDs. They also provide essential background information on the development of today's crisis by tracing the history of the U.S. health care system and how it has changed over time to meet social needs. Review The book presents a thorough discussion regarding the concerns among health care professionals within the correctional setting about the equality of health care given to the incarcerated population. . . . Health and Health Care in the Nation's Prisons is a well-rounded book that provides those who are currently in the correctional health care setting, as well as those who are interested in the field, a glimpse of what is going on and what the future holds. . . . I recommend that anyone interested in correctional health care take the time to read this book.--Corrections Compendium, Fall 2009 Well-documented book. Recommended.--CHOICE, September 2009 About the Author Dr. Melvin Delgado, M.S.W, Ph.D., is Professor of Social Work at Boston University School of Social Work. He is the former Chair of Macro Practice. He brings over 40 years of practice, research, and scholarship focused on urban population groups, with the Latinx community being a specific focus. Dr. Delgado is bilingual and bicultural, born and raised in New York City (South Bronx) and has focused his professional and academic career on developing urban-based outreach, research, and service delivery models stressing participatory democratic principles, and tapping cultural strengths and community assets. Dr. Delgado's has addressed a variety of social issues and needs, and published numerous articles and over 30 books on urban community practice topics. He is currently the Series Editor on Social Justice and Youth Community Practice, Oxford University Press.