U.S. Department of Corrections Compassionate Release Policies: A Content Analysis and Call to Action.
Autor: Holland, Margaret M.; Prost, Stephanie Grace; Hoffmann, Heath C.; Dickinson, George E.
Publication year: 2020
Omega
issn:1541-3764 0030-2228
doi: 10.1177/0030222818791708
Abstract:
Large and increasing numbers of inmates with chronic and terminal illnesses are serving time, and dying, in U.S. prisons. The restriction of men and women to die in prisons has many ethical and fiscal concerns, as it deprives incarcerated persons of their autonomy and requires comprehensive and costly health-care services. To ameliorate these concerns, compassionate release policies, which allow inmates the ability to die in their own communities, have been adopted in federal and state prison systems. However, little is known about the content of compassionate release policies within U.S. states’ department of corrections, despite recent calls to release incarcerated persons who meet eligibility criteria into the community. The current study provides an overview of compassionate release policies in the United States, which vary widely across the compassionate release process. Specific policy recommendations are made to assure the timely access and utilization of compassionate release among eligible incarcerated individuals.
Language: eng
Rights:
Pmid: 30080113
Tags: Humans; Aged; Female; Male; Middle Aged; *Terminal Care; United States; *Prisoners; content analysis; *Organizational Policy; compassionate release; correctional health care; geriatric release; medical parole
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30080113/
