In Depth: Reducing the health harms of incarceration
APRIL 08, 2022 • ASPEN HEALTH STRATEGY GROUP
In June 2021, the Aspen Health Strategy Group met virtually to explore the health harms of incarceration. We are pleased to present the final report from our work, based on the group’s rich discussion. In the tradition of the thought-provoking conversations and dialogue on how to address critical societal issues — the hallmark of the Aspen Institute — the report includes five big ideas to tackle systemic issues at the intersection of incarceration and health. This compilation opens with a consensus report based on the group’s in-depth learning process, followed by a set of background papers. These papers explore the disconnect between correctional health and community-based structures of care, the intertwined relationship between incarceration and behavioural health, the influence of structural racism, and the community health impacts of incarceration.
“Incarceration is a primary source of poor health for individuals,
families, communities, and our nation as a whole.”
— THE ASPEN HEALTH STRATEGY GROUP
INTRODUCTION
Despite having the highest incarceration rate in the world, the United States pays little attention to the health of the millions of people directly touched by the criminal justice system. People enter jail and prison with significant unmet health needs, often experience harm and deteriorating health while incarcerated, and face elevated mortality and morbidity rates when they return to the community. The poor health of this population harms their families and communities and saps the strength of the nation as a whole.
The Aspen Health Strategy Group selected incarceration and health as its topic for 2021, its sixth year. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the multisectoral group of leaders met virtually, discussing the topic with the assistance of subject matter experts who prepared background papers to inform the discussion. The group emerged with five big ideas to tackle systemic issues at the intersection of incarceration and health. The Aspen Health Strategy Group’s goal is to promote improvements in health policy and practice by providing leadership, ideas, and direction on important and complex health issues. Cochaired by Kathleen Sebelius, former governor of Kansas and former U.S. secretary of health and human services and William Frist, a physician and former U.S. Senate majority leader, the group comprises 24 senior leaders across sectors including health, business, media, and technology. More information about the Aspen Health Strategy Group can be found on the Aspen Institute website. This report captures the conversations of the group, but no specific section or statement in the report should be considered to represent the opinion of any individual group member.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE
