Abstract
Dear Colleagues,
This issue has eight articles covering very diverse topics. I think you will find them both timely and of interest. I especially call your attention to “Geriatric Inmates: Policy and Practice,” which deals with the question of how correctional systems are meeting the increasing challenge of older inmates. In my work with correctional facilities in Georgia, I have seen firsthand the numerous challenges presented by older inmates not only in addressing their medical needs but also in providing appropriate accessible housing, security, and programs.
The current epidemic of opioid and other drug use, the resulting public health crisis, and its impact on incarcerated pregnant women is chronicled in “Initial Management of Incarcerated Pregnant Women With Opioid Use Disorder.” The impact of opioid abuse is increasingly evident in today’s incarcerated populations. Systems are struggling to deal with the medical and mental health needs of these individuals. Jay Rosalim’s article, “A Senior Management Perspective on the Policy Debate of Needle and Syringe Exchange Program Provision in Irish Prisons,” presents a very different perspective from those espoused here in the United States. Access to needles is a major violation of corrections policy in both jail and prison settings throughout the United States. I would be interested in feedback on how such a program might work here. Please consider submitting a “Viewpoint” for publication.
As always, I welcome your opinions and insights.