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AirTalk

Prison affliction: medical care inside California’s state prisons

By AirTalk Staff
Published Aug 25, 2010
An inmate patient lies on a gurney in the Triage and Treatment Area (TTA), San Quentin's emergency room. The two bay treatment area in the Neumiller building serves the institution's more than 5,000 inmates.
An inmate patient lies on a gurney in the Triage and Treatment Area (TTA), San Quentin's emergency room. The two bay treatment area in the Neumiller building serves the institution's more than 5,000 inmates.
(
Courtesy Ray Chavez for the Receiver
)
Listen 17:53
Prison affliction: medical care inside California’s state prisons
Ten years ago, medical care at California’s state prisons was worse than bad – it was deadly. A lawsuit by the Prison Law Office compelled the Department of Corrections to implement changes to their policies and procedures, but a few years later, inmates were still dying. This prompted a court investigation, resulting in takeover of the prison medical system by a federal receiver in 2006. Have things improved since then? KPCC reporter Julie Small conducted a year-long investigation into the state of health care within California’s prison system, speaking with corrections officials, prison medical experts, inmates and their families and more. Her findings are revealed in a five-part series airing this week.

Ten years ago, medical care at California’s state prisons was worse than bad – it was deadly. A lawsuit by the Prison Law Office compelled the Department of Corrections to implement changes to their policies and procedures, but a few years later, inmates were still dying. This prompted a court investigation, resulting in takeover of the prison medical system by a federal receiver in 2006. Have things improved since then? KPCC reporter Julie Small conducted a year-long investigation into the state of health care within California’s prison system, speaking with corrections officials, prison medical experts, inmates and their families and more. Her findings are revealed in a five-part series airing this week.

KPCC's full prison medical coverage, including Julie's reports, photos and video is here.

Guests:

Julie Small, KPCC Reporter

Don Specter, Director, Prison Law Office

Bonnie Long, Chair of the Inmate Family Council at California Institute of Women, member of the Statewide Family Council