Ashley Krider’s Post

With so much attention directed at policing and pre-trial reform, we're missing a critical opportunity to improve reentry. Improving access to Medicaid not only saves lives, it improves public safety and reduces the likelihood of persistent cycling through the criminal justice system. https://lnkd.in/exiy5Kw5 #reentry

Get Prepared.... Learn about our organizations....Advocated for system impacted citizens. Join us for our MEET & GREET The Sunset Commission, responsible for reviewing state agencies to determine their efficiency and effectiveness, is now assessing the TDCJ. This is a unique opportunity for the public to: Address Inhumane Conditions: Speak out on extreme temperatures, healthcare shortcomings, and rehabilitation services. Highlight Inequities: Raise concerns regarding racial disparities, family support, and access to essential services for incarcerated individuals. Demand Transparency and Accountability: Advocate for clearer oversight and improved standards that ensure humane treatment and safety in Texas prisons.https://https://lnkd.in/g9-cmFns

Sen. Dan Stec's recent comments about incarcerated individuals as "animals" are misguided and counterproductive. Labeling people as "animals" ignores the fundamental principle that every individual is entitled to basic human rights and dignity. The majority of incarcerated individuals are in prison due to socio-economic factors, not inherent "animalistic" tendencies. Dehumanization and derogatory language exacerbate violence and make prisons more dangerous for incarcerated people and staff. Studies show that dehumanization leads to increased frustration, hopelessness, and aggression, which can spiral into violence. Instead, prisons that focus on rehabilitation, humane treatment, and respect for incarcerated peoples' rights tend to see lower levels of violence and better outcomes for reintegration into society. Research consistently demonstrates that rehabilitation and education programs within prisons significantly reduce recidivism rates. So alternatively, instead of being likened to "animals", we ALL should focus on creating a prison system that upholds the dignity of every individual, improves working conditions for staff, and prioritizes rehabilitation over retribution. ----- Link to original article: https://lnkd.in/gbPTYcxP

Addressing healthcare disparities for First Nations people in Australian prisons is a pressing issue. Despite constituting only 3.2% of the general population, First Nations people account for 32% of the incarcerated population. Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, QAIHC's Public Health Medical Director, highlights the importance of culturally safe healthcare and community involvement in her recommendations. These measures are critical for reducing incarceration rates and promoting better health outcomes. Read more: Full story at Croakey: https://buff.ly/3V1Io8m #QAIHC #Aboriginal #AboriginalHealth #TorresStraitIslander #TorresStraitIslanderHealth #Health #HealthEquity #IndigenousHealth #CloseTheGap

Addressing healthcare disparities for First Nations people in Australian prisons is a pressing issue. Despite constituting only 3.2% of the general population, First Nations people account for 32% of the incarcerated population. Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, QAIHC's Public Health Medical Director, highlights the importance of culturally safe healthcare and community involvement in her recommendations. These measures are critical for reducing incarceration rates and promoting better health outcomes. Read more: Full story at Croakey: https://buff.ly/3V1Io8m #QAIHC #Aboriginal #AboriginalHealth #TorresStraitIslander #TorresStraitIslanderHealth #Health #HealthEquity #IndigenousHealth #CloseTheGap

Youth in correctional settings experience poor health outcomes both during their time in institutions and upon leaving. Unfortunately, due to the longstanding inmate exclusion policy, Medicaid dollars cannot be used to cover health care services for youth in juvenile justice facilities. Beginning in 2025, new federal legislation will partially waive the policy, expanding Medicaid options to cover services for youth who are incarcerated. All youth-serving systems and providers, including state Medicaid/CHIP agencies, need to be aware of this provision to ensure youth have access to the supports and services they need as they transition back to their communities. A new Center for Health Care Strategies Medicaid policy cheat sheet, created in partnership with the Annie E. Casey Foundation, breaks down the new requirements, as well as important next steps for Medicaid agencies before the provisions take effect. https://bit.ly/3UjriDN Ruby Goyal-Carkeek, Elizabeth Buck

‘’No matter how well prisons work, they cannot compensate for what happens upstream and downstream. Just investing in prisons in order to improve public safety is like investing only in accident and emergency services to improve public health. What is needed is redirecting resources to the services that can prevent people getting into crime or help them desist from it.’’ I’ve worked across prisons for a decade. The predictable return after release for those with #drug problems is one that my patients understand is due to what is NOT OFFERED on the OUTSIDE. We can optimise treatment for substances #dependence, #mentalhealth & physical conditions but these roots of restoration evaporate when the hurdles to continue engaging with services in the community are so great. Combined with uncertain, often last minute housing & an absence of opportunity to engage in education, employment & support to reconnect with family (to have a life with meaning) leaves a revolving door that many I work with simply accept as ‘the system’. I apologise to my patients often & acknowledge the limitations of what we can do. I try to keep a window of opportunity for change open. I hope things will align to give that person a chance. The aging faces I see tell me this happens far too rarely.

🌟 California is setting a new standard for health equity and reentry care! Through the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, Medi-Cal services are now available in state prisons, county jails, and youth correctional facilities 90 days before release. The goal? To connect individuals with essential care—addressing chronic and behavioral health needs—and provide them with smoother transitions back into their communities. With this initiative, California becomes the first state to secure federal Medicaid funding for pre-release services in correctional facilities, helping reduce emergency visits, hospitalizations, and recidivism. Every California county will adopt this program by 2026! At TASC, we see firsthand how access to health care can transform lives. Visit the TASC blog for insights from Maureen McDonnell, our Senior Director for Health and Justice, on how expanding Medicaid access for people in jail makes a difference. Read more at tasc.org 📖 Explore the full press release for more details about this critical initiative: https://lnkd.in/ge9vRR-k Kudos to California Department of Health Care Services for this amazing development! #HealthEquity #MediCal #Reentry #JusticeReform #MedicaidExpansion

A new report highlights increasing dementia in the aging US prison population, posing challenges for unprepared facilities. FAMM's General Counsel, Mary Price, stresses the importance of policies for humane care. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eubdWc4s #PrisonReform #DementiaCare

The early release of offenders to address overcrowding in UK prisons is a decision that weighs the balance of justice against the urgent need for reform. While reducing prison populations can alleviate pressure on an overstretched system, it raises critical questions about public safety, the fairness of sentences, and the long-term impact on communities. Overcrowding is a symptom of deeper systemic issues: over-reliance on incarceration, inadequate rehabilitation, and social inequalities that fuel criminality. Early release, without substantial support and reintegration programs, risks perpetuating cycles of reoffending. The focus must shift toward effective rehabilitation, addressing the root causes of crime, and creating a justice system that prioritizes both public safety and genuine opportunities for change. We must demand a solution that upholds justice, respects victims, and provides offenders with the tools to transform their lives, rather than treating early release as a short-term fix for a deeply flawed system. #ShabanaMahmood #KeirStarmer #Labour what is going to happen when those offenders offend again? The choice was made to offend which lead them to where they are, well where and what have they got to loose? Will just be back out on the streets. BBC News Evening Standard Keir Starmer