Hidden Costs

[jdobbin]

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070110/.../prison_tattoos

Corrections Canada told the CMAJ that more than 3,300 male and female inmates in Canada's 54 prisons had hepatitis C in 2004, for a prevalence rate of 25 per cent, and almost 2,500 were released into the community that year. As well, almost 200 prisoners were infected with HIV.

The annual cost of treatment is $29,000 per inmate for HIV and $26,000 each for hepatitis C.

Seems that tattoos will continue and the costs to treat Hep C and HIV will rise.

[geoffrey]

All immates should be tested upon entry to prision and segregated from the non-infected prision population.

[jdobbin]

All immates should be tested upon entry to prision and segregated from the non-infected prision population.

I don't know what the additional costs are of segregation units but I suspect it would be a lot.

[White Doors]

All immates should be tested upon entry to prision and segregated from the non-infected prision population.

I don't know what the additional costs are of segregation units but I suspect it would be a lot.

you suspect? oh. that's VERY convincing. thanks for that.

[blueblood]

All immates should be tested upon entry to prision and segregated from the non-infected prision population.

I don't know what the additional costs are of segregation units but I suspect it would be a lot.

you suspect? oh. that's VERY convincing. thanks for that.

Time to bring sweatshops to the Canadian prison system, the jails can make money and pay for it.

[jdobbin]

you suspect? oh. that's VERY convincing. thanks for that.

Why don't you tell me what the costs of a segregation unit is. Last time I read anything on it, the prisons reported it was twice the cost to keep someone in segregation.

[jdobbin]

Time to bring sweatshops to the Canadian prison system, the jails can make money and pay for it.

Or we can institute the death penalty for all crimes and save money.

[White Doors]

Thanks for coming out but they already HAVE segregated units.

run along now.

[White Doors]

Time to bring sweatshops to the Canadian prison system, the jails can make money and pay for it.

Or we can institute the death penalty for all crimes and save money.

Simplistic arguments are for simplistic people. you made your choice.

[jdobbin]

Simplistic arguments are for simplistic people. you made your choice.

I thought the sweat shop was out there as a choice. Has Canada ever had chain gangs?

[jdobbin]

Thanks for coming out but they already HAVE segregated units.

run along now.

Not for 25% of prison populations.

Run along now.

[geoffrey]

All immates should be tested upon entry to prision and segregated from the non-infected prision population.

I don't know what the additional costs are of segregation units but I suspect it would be a lot.

Have clean prisons and infected ones. What's the problem then? It's just a matter of prisoner transfer. It's even easier if it's as big a number as 25%. 25% of prisons would be designated for the diseased and the rest for the clean prison population.

[jdobbin]

Have clean prisons and infected ones. What's the problem then? It's just a matter of prisoner transfer. It's even easier if it's as big a number as 25%. 25% of prisons would be designated for the diseased and the rest for the clean prison population.

People with Hep C don't always have HIV. Separate prisons for both? And HIV doesn't always turn up right away.

It might have been cheaper working on prevention at the infection level.

[jdobbin]

One of the problems of not releasing reports in a timely manner is that they often come back to bite you.

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/070116/.../prison_tattoos

The report, now available from the prison service, says the safe-tattooing project resulted in increased knowledge and awareness amongst staff and prisoners about preventing blood-borne infectious diseases.

"The initiative has demonstrated the potential to reduce harm, reduce exposure to health risk, and enhance the health and safety of staff members, inmates and the general public."

It also found that while the price-tag of the project was low respective to the potential benefits, a more cost-effective model could be put in place with similar or better results.

[geoffrey]

Teach one of the inmates how to do them then and supply them with clean needles. I have no desire to fund professional artistry on immates and beyond that I personally care little about them getting diseases beyond that additional cost to me.

[Borg]

No sympathy - do the crime do the time.

Hard time.

No perks - basic - very basic minimum health care if you put yourself at risk.

I do not believe I am responsible for their well being - other than to feed them and keep them locked up.

Worried aboutdisease? Ban and truly enforce the ban against so called body art.

Truly enforce smuggling of various drugs and "stuff" as well. It can be done - the will is not there.

Not even interested in arguing the point - society would be better off with most crims permanently locked up - or better - placed in a self governing prison near Alert - very high Arctic.

Borg

[jdobbin]

Teach one of the inmates how to do them then and supply them with clean needles. I have no desire to fund professional artistry on immates and beyond that I personally care little about them getting diseases beyond that additional cost to me.

The additional cost is considerable.

[jdobbin]

No sympathy - do the crime do the time.

Hard time.

No perks - basic - very basic minimum health care if you put yourself at risk.

I do not believe I am responsible for their well being - other than to feed them and keep them locked up.

Worried aboutdisease? Ban and truly enforce the ban against so called body art.

Truly enforce smuggling of various drugs and "stuff" as well. It can be done - the will is not there.

Not even interested in arguing the point - society would be better off with most crims permanently locked up - or better - placed in a self governing prison near Alert - very high Arctic.

I know that your solution is probably even more liberal than some here. I still think the costs are lower with the program that was in place. Dealing with the disease even with minimal health care provided is expensive.

[geoffrey]

Teach one of the inmates how to do them then and supply them with clean needles. I have no desire to fund professional artistry on immates and beyond that I personally care little about them getting diseases beyond that additional cost to me.

The additional cost is considerable.

So give them clean needles and have themselves do them. A needle can't cost much.

[jdobbin]

So give them clean needles and have themselves do them. A needle can't cost much.

No, it doesn't. Just by doing that, you can save tens of thousands of long term healthcare costs.

I don't think anyone wants convicted criminals coddled but the cost of incarceration is high even when bare minimum standards are kept. A few thousand to save hundreds of thousands has to be considered as both a good cost savings and a healthcare benefit to everyone.

Part of what Canada's healthcare system's responsibility is to ensure infectious diseases are kept in check.

[geoffrey]

So give them clean needles and have themselves do them. A needle can't cost much.

No, it doesn't. Just by doing that, you can save tens of thousands of long term healthcare costs.

I don't think anyone wants convicted criminals coddled but the cost of incarceration is high even when bare minimum standards are kept. A few thousand to save hundreds of thousands has to be considered as both a good cost savings and a healthcare benefit to everyone.

Part of what Canada's healthcare system's responsibility is to ensure infectious diseases are kept in check.

So there you go, give them all a set of needles and let them tattoo each other all day long.