While only a small proportion of general practitioners (GPs) will provide medical care in prison, the majority will encounter individuals in the community who have been involved in the justice system. People in prison, and those previously involved with criminal justice or youth justice systems, often have high and ongoing medical and social support needs.1-3 GPs have an opportunity to make a real difference to the health and wellbeing of justice-involved people, who are amongst the most marginalised members of our society. Justice-involved people have higher rates of mental health conditions, substance use disorders, chronic disease and its risk factors (like tobacco smoking), communicable disease and disability, including intellectual and developmental impairment.1-4 Yet, they are more likely to have unmet health needs and suboptimal access to and use of medical care.3,5
Incarceration is strongly linked to social determinants of health, being both a result of disadvantage and a driver of future health disparities. Intergenerational incarceration and experiences of disadvantage and trauma are common in adults in prison, and even more so in young people in custody. Most justice-involved young people have experienced childhood abuse and neglect, and many have experienced out-of-home care, unstable accommodation and disrupted education.1,5
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are overrepresented within the justice system, and even more so in the youth justice system.1,6 They may have poorer health and have experienced more trauma and socioeconomic disadvantage during their lives than other people in prison, related to systemic racism and marginalisation.7,8
During incarceration, people may seek care for health problems that they previously neglected in the community because of substance use, poor mental health and disadvantage.3,9 Incarceration can therefore provide a window of opportunity for GPs and the broader healthcare team to improve patients’ health and provide preventive care. This includes the vital role of healthcare providers in prison in linking patients to community services on release.10,11
The post-release period is a pivotal time of health vulnerability. People leaving prison face high risks of hospitalisation, death, homelessness, unemployment and re-incarceration.12-17 Poor health and wellbeing on re-entry to the community may be exacerbated when people are released to new communities or previous support structures break down or are disrupted, including interruption of previous relationships with health and social care providers.9,10 In an Australian study of people leaving prison, nearly half saw a GP within a month of release.18 GPs therefore need to be prepared to meet the complex health and social support needs of these patients. GPs should anticipate the high risk of relapse to substance use and be ready to provide timely support and treatment. Linkage to health and social care services in the community will support patients’ health and social inclusion. GPs could facilitate continuity of care by contacting the prison health service for health information if patients do not bring their discharge paperwork to the GP. Some patients may have had substantial healthcare in prison and be released with pending investigations or follow-up which needs to be re-arranged, for example, pending hospital outpatient appointments may need to be rebooked.19 Others may be released with unmet health needs and be overdue for the care they need. GPs should consider Medicare-funded supports such as mental healthcare plans and psychologist referrals, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander annual health checks and follow-up items and chronic care plans (including for substance use disorders).
Taking a non-judgemental, patient-centred, holistic and trauma-informed approach is vital to establishing a therapeutic relationship with this population.9 GPs need to provide culturally safe and respectful care that meets the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, families and communities.8,10 Stigma related to incarceration and related conditions like substance use disorders may lead to patients experiencing or anticipating discrimination in healthcare and a lack of welcome in general practice.20,21 Fear of stigmatised reactions from healthcare providers may lead to patients not disclosing a history of incarceration.21 The history of trauma that is so often linked to incarceration may impact on therapeutic relationships and time may be needed to build trust.