How Accreditation Can Improve Health of People in Jail

Disease and death rates for people who are incarcerated in our nation’s jails are underreported and not transparent. In correctional facilities, there are often few resources for physical and mental health care, despite the constitutional right of incarcerated people to receive such services.

One potential solution is to institute a health care accreditation process in jails. However, not many facilities have tried it, and both advocates and correctional experts are divided on whether it would help.