Health in Prisons
Author: Penal Reform International
Date: 2002
Size:
36 pages
(61KB)
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Prisons are among the unhealthiest places in societies. Here, not only are people deprived of their freedoms, but they are subjected to violence, addiction and infectious disease. Why are prison conditions a threat to prisoners’ health? What exacerbates this and what are the structural problems? Which principles should rule prison life? This article, and series of connected papers, from Penal Reform International, addresses the wide issue of health in prisons and focuses on the African case in particular.
Proper healthcare is a basic human right; prisoners have the right to the highest standards of care. Prisons do not have to be unhealthy per se, indeed some are not. Many heads of prisons are recognising that there has to be good access to health care and health promotion as well as links between their institution and society.
TB is up to 100 times and HIV 75 times more prevalent in prisons than in the general population. In general, the prison conditions by themselves are a threat to prisoners’ health, in particular promiscuity and overcrowding. The report also highlights the need to take account of the following:
Africa is paying the heaviest price in terms of HIV/AIDS and women have a particular experience of this. However, good prison policy can provide a unique moment in women’s lives where they have access to counselling, testing, healthcare and education that they may not have when they leave. Other policy recommendations include:
Access full text: available online
Source:
Penal Reform International, 2002, 18-20 September, Health in Prisons, Paper presented at Pan-African Conference on Penal and Prison Reform in Africa
Author:
Penal Reform International (PRI), http://www.penalreform.org