Chronic Illness & Disability
Chronic illnesses and disabilities are undertreated in American prisons. A 2022 Prison Policy Initiative report found that incarcerated people have higher rates of chronic conditions than the general American population. Nearly 38% of state and federal prisoners reported having at least one disability, compared to 15% for the general population, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. Despite these high rates of chronic conditions, incarcerated people are undermedicated and lack access to adequate medical attention. In many cases, incarcerated people are forced to advocate for their own care and fight for a diagnosis, which can prolong suffering from treatable symptoms. Poor prison conditions, such as low nutrition, compound these factors and further worsen chronic conditions. These are stories about how people inside are living with disabilities and chronic illnesses.
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