Prison Populations and Health Flashcards
Describe the distribution of gender, family and culture in prison
- Gender: 85% male, 15% female
- Family: 18% report that 1 or more parents had been in prison
- Culture: 38% indigenous, 88% born in Australia, 10% spoken a language other then English`
Describe health behaviours of those in prison
- Almost 2 in 3 prison entrants reported using illicit drugs
- 3 in 4 prison entrants were current smokers
Describe mental health of those in prison
- 2 in 5 had a mental health condition, with 1 in 4 currently taking mental health-related medication
- 1 in 5 prison entrants reported a history of self-harm
Describe personal history of those in prison
- 3 in 4 prison entrants had previously been in prison
- 3 in 10 younger prison entrants had a family history of incarceration
Describe education of those in prison
- 33% had a high-school education level of Year 9 or lower
- 17% had a high-school education level of Year 8 or lower
- 24% of indigenous prisoners had a high-school education level of Year 8 or lower
Describe physical health of those in prison
- 1 in 3 had a chronic physical health condition
- 1 in 5 had hepatitis C
- 3 in 4 deaths in prison custody were due to natural causes
Describe homelessness of those in prison
- More than 1 in 2 prison dischargees (54%) expected they would be homeless on release
- 33% said they were homeless in the 4 weeks before going to prison
What are factors of family history that influence prisoners?
- Early years of life is a social determinant
- 18% of prisoners had 1 or more of parents/caregivers incarcerated during childhood
- Impact on attachment: grief/trauma from separation
- Poverty: imprisoned parent not able to provide for child financially
- Stigma: having parent in prison
- Higher rates of “risky” or anti-social behaviour
What is the link between prisoners and disability?
- Australian households from the same age group, people entering prison are up to 1.5 times more likely to have disability
- Rates much higher for people with acquired brain injuries and subsequent cognitive disability
- Nature of ABI makes it difficult for them to defend themselves in court or to police
- May not understand questions or be easily led; may present as “drunk
- Lead to being taken advantage of eg through “dodgy” financial schemes
- Resulting in unknowingly breaking the law
What is Fetal Alcohol Disorder (FASD)?
- Caused by prenatal exposure to alcohol
- Result in cognitive impairment
- Difficulties with impulse control; not understanding cause and effect
What is the link between older prisoners and health issues?
-Increasing percentage of prisoners are “older”
-Increase is due to:
-Long prison sentences
Mandatory sentencing
-Sentencing of historical sex offenders
-Reduced options for early release
-Decline in preventable deaths over time
-Increase in health issues due to ageing normally and due to prison
-Mobility issues, difficulty with ADLs
-Common health conditions: arthritis, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, declining cognition
Describe the challenges those face transitioning out of prison
- Relationship breakdown: may no longer be any support
- Difficult to gain work as an ex-prisoner;
- Rates of suicide far higher than general community, especially immediately following release
- Reoffending following release common
- Poor health predictor for return to criminal behaviour
- Successful transition requires support: housing, employment, dealing with psychological issues, dealing with addiction
What is the role of occupational therapy?
- OT has a long history of working in prisons
- Engaging in meaningful occupation influences health,
- Recognises that one can choose “dark” occupations (those that are not socially sanctioned)
- Offending is meaningful it is a “skill”, a way of coping, part of identity
- Analysing roles, habits, occupations, meanings associated with them with developing life skills
