Chronic Illness & Disability
American prisons undertreat chronic illnesses and disabilities. 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 illnesses and disabilities in prison, incarcerated people lack access to adequate medical attention. They often have to fight for a diagnosis and advocate for their own care, prolonging 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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