People in Jail Need Health Care. Removing This Federal Policy Can Help Them

Only two days after booking into the new Marion County jail, a person who was incarcerated died by suicide. This state-of-the-art facility has technology for tracking movement of inmates, tablets for making medical requests and building design elements that omit sharp corners in the housing area.

This design is what the future of incarceration can be. But, federal law bars resources for health service in these facilities. Smart buildings can reduce risks of harm to inmates and staff. It is clinical care that’s needed to address the root causes of these deaths.