Prison as a Space to Heal: Women Federal Prisoners in Canada and the Role of the Healthcare Professional
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Abstract
Women incarcerated in federal prisons are a small but growing proportion of Canada’s penal institutions and have needs, challenges, and health issues vastly different from those of incarcerated men. Women that come into conflict with the law often have experienced sexual abuse, utilize drugs and alcohol, and have poor health. Healthcare professionals in prison should be aware of these health markers and the associated difficulties of treating patients in prison. This article aims to catalyze conversation and further inquiry into the potential role of the carceral reality as a healing space, and the health professionals within it as healers.
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References
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2. Correctional Service Canada. Health Services [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Correctional Service Canada; 2017 March 23 [cited 2017 October 7]. Available from http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/health/index-eng.shtml
3. Vaughn MS. Penal harm medicine: State tort remedies for delaying and denying health care to prisoners. Crime Law Soc Change. 1999;31(4):273-302.
4. Sapers H. Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator 2015- 2016. Ottawa (ON): The Correctional Investigator Canada; 2016 June. 92 p. Report No.: 43
5. Robert D, Frigon S, Belzile R. Women, the embodiment of health and carceral space. Int J Prison Health. 2007;3(3):176-88.
6. Correctional Service Canada. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Age, Gender and Indigenous Ancestry. 2016.
7. Ahmed R, Angel C, Martel R, Pyne D, Keenan L. Access to healthcare services during incarceration among female inmates. Int J Prison Health. 2016;12(4):204-15.
8. Public Safety Canada Portfolio Corrections Statistics Committee. 2015 Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview. Ottawa (ON): Public Safety Canada; 2016. 149 p. Cat. No.: PS1-3E-PDF
9. Laishes J. The 2002 Mental Health Strategy for Women Offenders [Internet]. Ottawa (ON): Correctional Service Canada; 2002 [updated 2013 Dec 6; cited 2017 Oct 6]. Available from: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/publications/fsw/ mhealth/toc-eng.shtml
10. Pollack S, Kerry B. Negotiating contradictions: Sexual abuse counseling with imprisoned women. Women Ther. 2007; 29(3-4): 117-33.
11. Nolan A, Stewart L. Self-Reported Physical Health Status of Incoming Feder - ally-Sentenced Women Offenders: Comparison to Men Offenders. Ottawa (ON): Correctional Service Canada; 2014. 1 p. Report No.: ERR-14-5
12. Sheps SB, Schechter MT, Prefontaine RG. Prison health services: a utilization study. J Community Health. 1987;12(1)4-22.
13. Kouyoumdjian F, Schuler A, Matheson FI, Hwang SW. Health status of prisoners in Canada. Can Fam Physician. 2016;62(March):215-22.
14. Mellor PA. The inside story on prison health care. British Medical J. 2003;324(7379):59.
15. Larocque C. Doctors behind bars. Medical Post (Chicago Ed.). 2004 Oct 12:Sect. Features. 40:38
16. Birmingham L, Gray J, Mason D, Grubin D. Mental illness at reception into prison. Crim Behav Ment Health. 2000;10(2):77-87.