The Problem
American prisons and jails have a profound adverse impact on the health of everyone who lives and works inside them. Suicide is common, and on the rise, as a leading cause of death for prisoners, and correctional officers have one of the lowest life expectancies of any profession in America — around 59. Living or working in degrading, dehumanizing conditions is devastating for the physical and mental health of all involved — and far too often, that’s the reality.