Peer Sessions

Studies with non-incarcerated populations have found a relationship between some psychotropic medications and metabolic side effects, such as weight gain. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between psychotropic medications associated with weight gain and offenders, despite the Bureau of Justice Statistics 2006 report that 73% of female and 55% of male offenders have a mental health problem and 15% of all state offenders are prescribed medications.

The physiological age of inmates is reported to be 10 - 15 years beyond their chronological age. While national surveys report inmates having a higher rate of several chronic illnesses, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reports the mortality rates of State inmates to be 19% lower than the general population. Using existing quality improvement data on the morbidity and mortality of NJ State inmates, we compared these rates with State and other national sources on mortality and morbidity.

Little is known about the unique transitional and social support needs of formerly incarcerated persons (FIPs) in Louisiana, the state with the highest incarceration rate in the USA. We partnered with community organizations to identify FIPs in Greater New Orleans and conducted semi-structured, in-person, audio-recorded interviews to assess FIPs’ experiences with health care in and out of prison. Interviewees reported negative experiences with health care during incarceration and limited health guidance during the prerelease process.

The number of incarcerated women in the U.S. continues to rise. Most are of reproductive age, and at least 5% are pregnant while in custody. Understanding pregnancy outcomes is critical for improving services for women and their families. The only systematic assessments of pregnancy prevalence and births in prisons were done in the 1990s, and did not include miscarriages, abortions, and other vital statistics.

This Performance Improvement project ascertained characteristics of inmates in the NJDOC who engaged in hunger strikes from 2005-2015. 

It is important for juvenile justice systems to incorporate wellness policies to ensure healthy living to support the lifelong health of youth. In order to incorporate dietary changes that improve the health of youth, it is important to understand the factors that influence meal satisfaction among youth to allow for improved quality of dietary intake. In addition, it is important to understand how youths’ knowledge of nutrition contributes to their perceived benefits of healthier meals served.

Studies show that as many as 90% of women have experienced interpersonal or sexual violence in their lives (WPA, 2006), with the rate of sexual assault in US prisons being 4.3% (Beck & Harrison, 2010). Trauma, as an extreme form of stress bought on by shocking or unexpected events, whether experienced or witnessed, is exacerbated for incarcerated women. Both the physical environment and the punitive culture can “re-traumatize” women in prison, thereby rendering therapeutic attempts toward health and recovery less effective.

Engagement in HIV care remains a central focus of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. Incarcerated individuals face multiple challenges after leaving corrections, and often miss medical visits and discontinue treatment after release. In order to target those at highest risk for becoming lost to care, additional data are needed to identify predictors of poor linkage to care. As part of the validation for a monitoring strategy for linkage to care, we evaluated data from 802 HIV-infected releasees from the Dallas County Jail.

Each year, an estimated 1 in 7 persons living with HIV pass through a correctional facility. The correctional setting is often the first place persons are diagnosed with HIV and provided care and treatment. New York City (NYC), home to the second largest US jail, has a large transgender population who are often substance users, sex workers, and justice involved. Of new diagnoses of HIV among transgender people in NYC, 95% are among transwomen.

HIV infection among people in U.S. prisons was five times greater than among people not incarcerated. Youth and young adults accounted for 26% of new infections, with most being among gay and bisexual men (72%) and young Black men (57%). Correctional Health Services at Rikers Island is implementing a group intervention for young minority men (YMM) at to improve HIV knowledge and address risks. Among 59 justice-involved men, pre- intervention HIV knowledge (measured using the HIV-KQ-18 questionnaire) score was 12.8/18 and post-intervention 16.3/18.