Regular panelists Johnnie Lambert and Gayle Burrow join Lorry to talk about the latest correctional healthcare news stories. Even amidst some busy summer plans, they pause to share their thoughts on unfolding events.

Ohio Stops Putting Kids in Isolation

Mental health management is a key issue in corrections in this era. We have seen many a story about the need for more mental health services and also the need to curtail solitary confinement in managing mentally ill inmates. Ohio’s Department of Youth Services has reached an agreement with the Justice Department to stop using solitary confinement in their youth prisons. Placing kids in solitary confinement just doesn’t seem like a good idea. There are some startling revelations about youth treatment in this article and accompanying audio interview from Ohio Public Radio.

Ammonia Capsules for Seizure Evaluation? 

Our next story comes from Dr. Jeff Keller’s Jail Medicine Blog. A recent post recommends using ammonia capsules for assessing seizures (particularly determining true unconsciousness). Many acute care, emergency, and correctional settings have actually banned the use of ammonia capsules as dangerous. Could the use of ammonia capsules also be considered unethical? Panelists weigh in on what they are seeing in other correctional settings.

Causes of Stress for Correctional Officers (and Correctional Nurses) 

This third story shares results of dissertation research on the causes of correctional officer stress. Correctional nurses can experience similar stresses working with the same population and many of the same work environment conditions. This was a survey of 197 officers working in minimum, medium, and maximum security settings. The two most common causes of stress were insufficient salaries and overtime demands. Other stressors included lack of input into decision making, prison security level, and lack of support from administration. The most popular methods for coping with this stress were exercising, seeking religion, support from family, and participating in social activities.

Farm to Table Program

This last story has so many good things to offer us. A Farm-to-Table program was recently started at San Diego’s Richard. J. Donovan Correctional Facility. They have 20 inmate farmers working 3 acres of farmland with the goals of teaching them community gardening, composting, and water-wise gardening using raised bed gardens. A nice addition to this story is that the idea was conceived and initiated by a California Correctional Health Care Services Executive. Many advantages accrue from such a program. Recidivism is only 5-10% with farm prison reentry vs the average of 61% in California.