Published
I/M's have a constitutional right to healthcare. They are they only segment of the populational that have this constitutional guarentee.
http://www.aegis.com/pubs/hepp/2000/HEPP2000-1101.html
http://www.ncchc.org/pubs/CC/legal_refusal.html
http://www.washlaw.org/projects/dcprisoners_rights/medical_care.htm
http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2002/03/11/healthwatch.DTL
Here are a few websites that address this right. Good luck on your paper.
Since they are pretty much on the bottom rung of society and have no income etc. how do you suggest that they pay for healthcare? Or should we just not care for them?
They are not denied healthcare. I/M's have a federally constitutional right to healthcare. Failure to provide healthcare, based on community standards, is a violation of their constitutional rights.
Some inmates have absolutely no access to even a couple of dollars. I work in a small county jail, and the inmates get money from one of two sources: money earned themselves if they are able to get on the work block (this is for minimum security inmates only), or money put into their commissary accounts by family & friends. If you can't get on the work block, and have nobody to put money in your account, you literally have no money.
I/M do pay towards healthcare in Pa state facilities
here is the pa law
http://www.pabulletin.com/secure/data/vol28/28-22/850.html
Here is the policy
http://www.cor.state.pa.us/standards/lib/standards/820_Co-Payment_for_Medical_Services.pdf
Some inmates have absolutely no access to even a couple of dollars. I work in a small county jail, and the inmates get money from one of two sources: money earned themselves if they are able to get on the work block (this is for minimum security inmates only), or money put into their commissary accounts by family & friends. If you can't get on the work block, and have nobody to put money in your account, you literally have no money.
The prison I worked at had jobs available with in the prison. They should be treated like us if we do not have any money we go into debt or get medical assistance. Also people on the outside do not get treated for problems such as dental work, headaches, colds because of not having enough money.
Of course a moral, ethical and compassionate society would make sure ALL its members had access to low cost and/or free health care.
Just because we have not reached that level for taking care of ALL of our citizens, does not negate the fact that our prisoners deserve health care as well. If they can pay something, great, but if not, they still should receive care. We are responsible for them as much as the homeless guy on the street. They are still human beings.
feb06
26 Posts
Hello. I am writing a paper on why inmates should not recieve free medical and dental care, and looking for some ideas. I have already wrote some ways they abuse the system, and how it is unfair we pay for it. Thanks for your help.