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| Sheriff pushes inmate health care agenda |
| By Burlington Union |
| Published: 11/03/2003 |
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A Mass. county sheriff joined health care advocates Monday to urge lawmakers to make health care and substance abuse services immediately available to inmates being released from county jails and houses of correction. Hampden County Sheriff Michael Ashe told members of the Health Care Committee that it takes weeks or months for most inmates to access government-funded substance abuse, health care, and housing programs after they are released from jail. Ashe and health care activists say the hours and days immediately following an inmate's release are critical to their establishing habits that will lead to healthy and productive lives, and prevent them from turning back to criminal behavior. The Massachusetts Public Health Association reported Monday that inmates of Massachusetts' prisons and jails have far higher rates of infectious diseases, substance abuse and mental health disorders than the general population. Ashe and officials from Health Care For All said their legislation won't cost the Commonwealth any more than it already spends, but will enable inmates to access services sooner than they can presently. "I know how crucial the first few days of reentry are," Ashe told members of the Legislature's Health Care Committee. "We should try to make this as seamless as possible." |
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