Prisons and Health in the Age of Mass Incarceration

Prisons and Health in the Age of Mass Incarceration explores the connection between prisons and health, based on empirical research. The book demonstrates that the relationship is sustained by social, cultural, and legal forces and a failure to recognize that prisons are now in the business of providing care. It offers an evenhanded and comprehensive analysis that shows how prisons undermine health and well-being and points the way for a fairer and more effective justice system.

Format: Hardback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 14 November 2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In a society where over two million individuals find themselves behind bars in the United States alone, the undeniable impact of prisons on our society cannot be denied, and the paradoxical relationship between prisons and health has reached a heightened level of controversy. Prisons are tasked with the dual responsibilities of punishing and healing, of restricting freedom and providing treatment, of confining and rehabilitating. However, it is evident that they are failing to fulfill these expectations.

Prisons and Health in the Age of Mass Incarceration delves into the intricate connection between prisons and health, drawing upon a decade of empirical research. This comprehensive book explores the far-reaching consequences of incarceration on inmates themselves, their families, the broader communities they return to, and ultimately, the entire healthcare systems at the state and national levels. Jason Schnittker, Michael Massoglia, and Christopher Uggen, the authors, compellingly demonstrate that the relationship between incarceration and health is perpetuated by a complex interplay of social, cultural, and legal factors, as well as a failure to acknowledge that prisons have transitioned into the realm of healthcare provision.

By examining the historical roots that have brought us to this juncture, the book investigates these connections and uncovers how prisons undermine health and well-being. An even-handed and comprehensive analysis, this groundbreaking volume provides a clear-eyed view of the unintended and far-reaching consequences of the prison system on the health of our nation. It serves as a powerful testament to the need for a fairer and more effective justice system that prioritizes the health and well-being of all individuals.

Weight: 332g
Dimension: 218 x 150 x 19 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780190603823