The Correctional Association's Prison Visiting Project has released a new report on prison healthcare.

Undertaken at the request of the New York State Assembly's Health and Correction Committees, Healthcare in New York Prisons represents the most comprehensive analysis of medical services in a single state's prison system ever prepared.

Based on observations and information gathered at 19 prisons visited by the CA over the course of three years, the report concludes that despite some recent progress in the delivery of healthcare in New York's prisons, significant problems persist. Among these are: (1) staff shortages; (2) inadequate routine healthcare; (3) gaps in chronic diseases care; (4) inconsistencies with specialty care services; and (5) inadequate access to medications.

The study makes concrete recommendations on how Governor Paterson, the Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) and the Legislature could improve the quality of healthcare in the state's prisons, including requiring Department of Health oversight of care, promptly filling medical staff vacancies, and enhancing salaries for positions that are not currently competitive with community rates.

The CA has released the report to DOCS, DOH, and key legislators in the New York State Assembly and Senate.