Day 20... Dear Mr. President... Sex changes for prisoners?

Day 20

Dear Mr. President,

Today I have some questions about the health services provided to Federal Prisoners.

In 2009 we had approximately 211,000 Federal Inmates nationwide, and we spent $736 million dollars on their medical care. That comes out to $3,412,146.50 per inmate. Currently we have 215,700 prisoners, but I don’t have the 2010 medical costs yet.

Now I realize that each inmate didn’t require the same medical attention… some required more, and some less, but that’s an exorbitant amount to spend on people that have been convicted of crimes that necessitate their incarceration. In short, they are in prison to protect society from whatever criminal activity they chose.

The Federal Prison system has a recidivism rate of approximately 40%, which clearly shows we are not rehabilitating them in a meaningful way, but while they are in prison they are treated for whatever ailment they came in with, or may have contracted while incarcerated. I can fully understand inmates receiving thorough examinations to detect diseases that can spread to others including prison staff, and officers, so this cost is a necessity and a real health issue.

What I cannot understand is the report from the Federal Bureau of Prisons Health Services – National Formulary, issued in 2010. The BOP formulary is a list of medications that are considered by the organization’s professional staff to ensure high quality cost-effective drug therapy for the population served.

There are millions of Americans that cannot afford, nor are the ensured, high quality low cost drug therapy… quite the opposite. And yet the drugs recommended for inmates include many ‘designer’ drugs advertized heavily on TV. Some of those include Restasis, Celebrex, Plavix, Catapres, used for opiate detox, and insomnia medications, Ambien, Lunesta, and Sonata. 

But I have to tell you, the real mind blower was on Page 26, and this is directly out of the report.

Hormones to maintain secondary sexual characteristics

1.Institution Clinical Director concurrence that hormonal therapy is medically

    indicated and safe.

2.Confirmation of legitimate prescribing prior to incarceration.

3.Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation and treatment plan.

That’s right Mr. President, injections for prisoners who want to change their sex. That would be fine with me if they were paying for it, but they’re not… We Are!  I said it yesterday, and I’ll say it again… We need to overhaul our Federal Prison System…NOW!

Most Respectfully,

Marcia Reimers

The Gadfly Granny