Health Care Lapses at Immigrant Prisons

Dozens of immigrant men have died under questionable circumstances at privatized federal prisons across the country, according to a new investigation in The Nation. There are 11 privately run federal prisons that only house non-citizens. The very first of these prisons, which are run by a for-profit company, opened in 1997 near Bakersfield. Unlike normal federal prisons, these private prisons contract out medical care for inmate patients. Much of that care is handled not by doctors or registered nurses, but by licensed vocational nurses with one year of training. What are the consequences for prisoners’ health?