- Prison Survival Guide
- How to Prepare for Prison | Going to Prison
- First Day In Prison | First Day in Federal Prison
- Federal Prison Intake: Admission Orientation
- Life In A Jail Cell: How To Greet Cellmates
- What Is Federal Prison Really Like: How to Talk To Prison Guards
- What Do You Eat In Prison
- Showers and Toilets in Prison
- Laundry, Clothing, and Bedding in Prison
- The Prison Commissary: What Can You Buy In Prison?
- Day In The Life Of A Prisoner: Practicing Religion
- Searches, Shakedowns, and Contraband in Prison
- Inside A Prison Cell: Inmate Counts
- Can You Smoke In Prison?
- Communication Inside A Federal Prison
- Things To Do In Prison
- Health & Wellness
- How To Survive Prison: Special Tactics
Prison Health Care & Wellness
Many inmates arrive in prison with issues of addiction, mental health problems, and physical complaints ranging from dental pain to diagnosed (and undiagnosed) diseases. Prison health care is available, but the system can entail long waits and substandard levels of care.
The best advice for anyone facing a prison term is to get any required dentistry and other medical concerns taken care of prior to admission to the prison system. It is almost inevitable you will need to access medical and dental care in prison, and possibly psychological services during your sentence. Here is where you can gain an understanding of what is available to you while you are incarcerated.
Contact us for more information on health and wellness in prison.
Prisoner Health Issues
America’s prison population is, like the general public, aging rapidly.
The wide net cast by the incarceration explosion of the 1980s and 1990s means that the percentage of prisoners needing increased health care has also risen dramatically. Prisoner health is becoming another hot-button issue as public awareness builds about overcrowding, funding shortfalls, privatization, and other issues affecting incarcerated Americans.
This is particularly true in the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which has always had an older population than the national average due to the profile of the offenders it prosecutes.
Here are some facts about prisoners and their health:
- Every inmate entering the Federal Bureau of Prisons is given a general health screening, including basic blood tests and a consultation (a psychology screening and a dental exam are also provided).
- If the inmate is found to be in a generally healthy state, then further medical care is provided only upon request, with the exception of annual tuberculosis testing, which is mandatory. An inmate may randomly be called in for random HIV and other disease testing programs.
- Some inmates enter the Federal Bureau of Prisons with chronic health conditions or develop them during incarceration. These inmates are assigned a “care level” commensurate with the care required. They will be seen regularly and monitored accordingly.
- Inmates diagnosed with high blood pressure may be given medication and seen for monitoring every three to six months for blood tests and other testing.
- Prisoners with Type 1 Diabetes may be given insulin injections daily and seen on a more frequent basis. Other serious conditions are likewise treated.
- Inmates with less urgent but chronic needs, such as those suffering from skin conditions or back pain, may be seen only twice a year.
- The Federal Bureau of Prisons utilizes a “managed care” model of treatment that sees most inmates visiting a Mid-Level Practitioner (MLP) for basic diagnostic care, provision of common treatments, and referrals for more specialized care
- A prisoner may be referred to a Medical Doctor (MD) for further services. Very often, though, even chronic care inmates rarely see an actual doctor, and communications with such a provider go through the MLP.
- Inmates who are injured, ill, or otherwise need medical attention can access health care via filling out a sick call/triage form (in the case of a true medical emergency, inmates can ask any staff member to contact medical staff for immediate assistance).
How to Prepare for Prison
First Day in Federal Prison
- First Day in Federal Prison
- Admissions and Orientation
- How to Greet Cellmates
- How to Talk to Prison Guards
Prison Life
- What Do You Eat in Prison
- Prison Showers and Toilets
- Laundry, Clothing, and Bedding
- Prison Commissary
- Religion in Prison
- Searches and Shakedowns for Contraband
- Inmate Counts
- Smoking in Prison
- Inmate Work Assignments
- Education in Prison
- Recreation in Prison
- Radios and MP3 Players in Prison
- Electronic Law Library
- The Black Market in Prison
- Alcohol and Drugs in Prison
- Violence and Sexual Assault in Prison
Communicating with the Outside World
- Communicating with the Outside World
- Postal Mail
- Legal Correspondence
- Inmate Telephones
- Corrlinks.com Inmate Email
- Inmate Visitation
- How to Send Money to Inmates
Health and Wellness
Special Prison Survival Tactics
- Special Prison Survival Tactics
- LGBT Inmates Survival Tactics
- Female Prisoners
- Sex Offender Survival Tactics
For more information about prison life and how to prepare for prison, please email [email protected] or call 843-620-1100. Our team of experienced prison consultants stands ready to assist you in your time of need.
Published Apr 7, 2016 by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA | Last Updated by Christopher Zoukis, JD, MBA on Jun 9, 2023 at 4:11 pm