Harvard study shows jails could save lives through healthcare accreditation.

A recent study by economists at Harvard University has shown that U.S. county jails could improve medical care access and reduce inmate death rates through healthcare accreditation.

The research, which looked at 44 midsize jails across the country, found that facilities accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC) saw a significant reduction in mortality rates—up to 93 percent lower than those without accreditation.

While the findings suggest a clear benefit to inmate health, the accreditation process is not without its limitations, with some inmates expressing frustration over the quality of care they receive.

The preliminary results of the study, which has not yet undergone peer review, indicate that, over the course of the research, the accreditation process could have saved approximately 15 lives.

The study highlights that accredited jails performed better in key healthcare standards, including personnel training and patient care management. These facilities also exhibited better processes for triaging and managing medical cases, contributing to fewer preventable deaths.

According to Crystal Yang, a professor at Harvard Law School and a co-author of the study, jails that seek a stamp of approval from the NCCHC tend to have better-trained staff who are more diligent about referring inmates for necessary medical treatment.

The accreditation process, which typically involves a facility inspection and costs between $5,000 and $10,000, does not require hiring additional staff or investing in new equipment, yet still appears to result in improved healthcare outcomes.

Despite the promising findings, the study also uncovered concerns. Inmates in accredited facilities reported frustration with what they perceive as low standards of care.

Even though accreditation may improve processes, some critics argue that the quality of healthcare available to incarcerated individuals remains insufficient, particularly when compared to the general population.

The Harvard study also provides a broader context for understanding the impact of accreditation.

The research found that the benefits of improved healthcare extended beyond mortality rates, with accredited jails also showing a 64 percent reduction in the likelihood of inmates returning to the same facility within three months, suggesting a link between better healthcare during incarceration and lower recidivism rates.

For jails seeking to reduce costs and improve health outcomes, the study emphasizes that the accreditation process offers a clear financial return.

The estimated benefits of accreditation, which include reduced legal liabilities and improved operational efficiency, were valued at $41 million, far outweighing the costs of obtaining certification.

Deborah Ross, CEO of the NCCHC, welcomed the findings, calling them a confirmation of the organization’s long-held belief in the power of accreditation to improve jail healthcare.

However, the study also underscores the need for continued efforts to address broader challenges in the U.S. correctional healthcare system, which remains underfunded and often lacks oversight.

As the U.S. continues to grapple with one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, the study suggests that healthcare accreditation could be a critical tool in improving the well-being of incarcerated individuals.

However, it also highlights the ongoing need for more comprehensive reforms to ensure that healthcare in jails is both accessible and effective.

Each year that someone spends in prison cuts their life expectancy by two years.

Mass incarceration multiplies that impact on a societal level: if so many citizens were not subject to imprisonment, the U.S. life expectancy would be five years higher.

The abysmal state of health care behind bars bears much of the blame for those figures. In 2018, a total of 4,513 prisoners died in publicly or privately operated state prisons, or in facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Medical neglect kills hundreds of incarcerated people every year despite the 1976 Supreme Court ruling that deliberate indifference to medical needs amounts to cruel and unusual punishment.