Private providers, the jail medical care option with fewer custodial deaths, are not without their challenges. For instance, research shows there have been patterns in which standards of care are compromised, whether in the area of meeting requirements for staffing, meeting protocols for health evaluations of inmates, or hospitalizations. Though these problems occurred in systems run by the public, they didn’t involve being locked into contracts that rely on profits, which can create a conflict of interest.

Large jurisdictions are apparently in better positions to avoid relying on third-party medical care, as compared to small and mid-sized counties, which tend to operate on strict budgets. Some counties, however, make decisions about medical care for the specific purpose of cutting costs for the county.

One of the five major inmate care contractors was in charge of medical and mental health care from 2009 through 2018 in various U.S. jails, and there were 54 inmate deaths during that period resulting from addiction, suicide, or health conditions.

A representative with that company wrote that many people don’t realize that upon arriving at the jail, many inmates receive their first-time medical care, essential medications, and professional attention for behavioral problems.

Learn more about this story in Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and this ongoing series.

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–Guest Contributor