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March 04, 2008
NY: Commission issues guidelines on reproductive care, including mammography, for county jails
Times Union
Albany, NY
New health rules for female inmates
Commission issues guidelines on reproductive care, including mammography, for county jails
By IRENE JAY LIU, Capitol bureau
First published: Tuesday, March 4, 2008
ALBANY -- Female inmates in New York's county jails may now have better access to reproductive health services because of new state guidelines issued Monday.
The memorandum from the Commission of Correction outlines county jails' legal obligations to provide reproductive health services to incarcerated women, including reproductive health screenings such as breast exams, pelvic exams, pap smear, and baseline mammography.
The memo also outlines an inmate's rights to contraception, abortion, prenatal care and delivery services and recommends county jails review and amend written policies and procedures to reflect their legal obligations and community health care standards.
"We were thrilled and really applaud the state commission for finding that women's health care needs were different from general inmates and that jails need services tailored to the needs of women," said Corinne Carey, director of the Reproductive Rights Project at the New York Civil Liberties Union. NYCLU will release today a report that surveyed the policies regarding reproductive health care access at county jails across the state. It found relatively few counties have written policies, and those that do vary widely.
NYCLU shared the preliminary report of its findings with the commission in December, which used it to shape policy.
NYCLU's survey suggested that while jails generally adhere to legal standards regarding reproductive rights and other health services for women prisoners, many hadn't put the standards in writing, said Daniel L. Stewart, chairman of the Commission of Correction.
While the commission has "no reason to believe" any prisoners were denied services to which they were entitled, Stewart said, written policies that comply with the law are essential.
"I was pleasantly surprised that the state commission was so receptive to these ideas. I think they were so receptive because these recommendations are just common sense," said Carey. "These recommendations show the unique opportunity jails have to address public health issues."
Rates of breast and cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory diseases, and sexually transmitted infections are much higher among women who have been jailed than those who have not, and women who have been incarcerated have higher rates of domestic and sexual violence, NYCLU reported.
The memo was mailed to every county Monday, and Stewart said he was confident there will be full compliance from local sheriffs and their staffs.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=668919&category=STATE&newsdate=3/4/2008
Posted by lois at March 4, 2008 11:22 AM