MPHA Issue Priority
Correctional Health
Incarcerated men and women have disproportionately
high rates of chronic illnesses, infectious diseases, mental health disorders,
and substance abuse. Meeting the health needs of the incarcerated
is both humane and a public health 
necessity. Health problems, if left
untreated, can create risks
to fellow inmates and correctional staff,
as well as to communities, since 97 percent of incarcerated people are
eventually released.
To advance our goal of eliminating health disparities,
MPHA has been at the forefront of advocating for the physical
and
mental health needs of this population. In 2003,
MPHA published a report, Correctional Health:
The Missing Key to Protecting the Public’s Health and Safety. MPHA
has also worked closely with the Hampden County Correction Center and
helped re-write standards for the state’s correctional health contract
with UMass.
Learn about other priority
issues of MPHA.