Prisoners as a Vulnerable Population Term Paper by scribbler

Prisoners as a Vulnerable Population
A review of the health risks and barriers to culturally competent care in the prison population.
# 153108 | 1,450 words | 6 sources | APA | 2013 | US
Published on May 03, 2013 in Medical and Health (Nursing) , Medical and Health (Public Health Issues) , Criminology (Criminal Justice and Corrections)


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Description:

The paper provides the demographic data on the incarcerated population in the United States and explores the health risks facing this population. The paper then discusses Jean Watson's caring and healing theory but points out the barriers encountered by nurses in actual jail and prison settings which hamper or negate their caring practice, such as the custodian officers' attitude and the inexperience of prison health staff. The paper argues that effective treatment of medical conditions and alternatives to incarceration programs can ensure culturally competent care.

Outline:
Demographic Data
Health, Environmental and Community Risks
Model of Cultural Competencies
Strategies/Programs
Barriers
Nursing Role
Summary

From the Paper:

"The Bureau of Justice of the Department of Justice reported in 2002 that there were 2 million inmates in US prisons and jails (Longley, 2010). The total is equivalent to 1,355.748 prisoners in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government and 665,475 in local municipal and country jails. As of that year, one out of every 142 US residents was placed behind bars. One male was imprisoned for every 100,000 men in the US and 113 females per 100,000 women residents. Out of more than 1,200,203 state prisoners, 3,055 were less than 18 years old. There were also 7,248 inmates aged 18 and younger in adult jails. The local jail population increased by 5.4% or added 34,235 inmates, the largest on record, from 1997 to 2002. There were 12,440 more inmates in state prisons at 1% increase and 8,042 at 5.7% in federal prisons in the same year. More than 40% of the total growth was due to that of the federal prison population. The responsibility to house inmates was moved to the federal system, making it the largest prison jurisdiction in the world (Longley).
"The report also said that 20 of the States had 5% or higher increase in the 12 months in review (Longley, 2010). Rhode Island and New Mexico, with 17.4% and 11.1% increases respectively, topped the list. Prison populations in 9 States and many large States, however, decreased. These States were Illinois with 5.5% decrease, Texas with 3.9%, New York with 2.9%, Delaware with 2.3%, and California with 2.2% (Longley)."

Sample of Sources Used:

  • Bingswanger, I. A. (2010). Chronic medical diseases among jail and prison inmates. CorrDocs: Society of Correctional Physicians. Retrieved on December 28, 2010 from http://www.corrections.com/articles/26014
  • Humprey, F. A. (2010). Alternative programs to prison incarceration eHow: eHow, Inc. Retrieved on December 28, 2010 from http://www.ehow.com/about_5453367_alternative-programs-prison-incarceration.htm;
  • Longley, R. (2010). Prison population tops 2 million. About.com: the New York Times Company. Retrieved on December 28, 2010 fromhttp://usgovinfo.about.com/cs/censusstatistic/a/aaprisonpop.htm
  • New York Academy of Medicine (2010). Treatment. Retrieved on December 29, 2010 from http://www.drugpolicy.org/docUploads/ndny_treat.pdf
  • Vance, T. (2010). Caring and the professional practice of nursing. RN Journal: Journal of Nursing. Retrieved on December 28, 2010 from http://www.rnjournal.com/journal_of_nursing/caring.htm

Cite this Term Paper:

APA Format

Prisoners as a Vulnerable Population (2013, May 03) Retrieved September 23, 2023, from https://www.academon.com/term-paper/prisoners-as-a-vulnerable-population-153108/

MLA Format

"Prisoners as a Vulnerable Population" 03 May 2013. Web. 23 September. 2023. <https://www.academon.com/term-paper/prisoners-as-a-vulnerable-population-153108/>

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