The case for improving the health of ex-prisoners

Abstract

The global prison population exceeds 10 million and continues to grow; more than 30 million people are releasedfromcustody annually. These individuals are disproportionatelypoor,disenfranchised, and chronically ill. There are compelling, evidence-based arguments for improving health outcomes for ex-prisoners on human rights, public health, criminal justice, and economic grounds. These arguments stand in stark contrast to current policy and practice inmost settings. There is also a dearth of evidence to guide clinicians and policymakers on how best to care for this large andgrowingpopulationduring and after their transition fromcustody to community. Well-designed longitudinal studies, clinical trials, and burden of disease studies are pivotal to closing this evidence gap.