A Quick and Easy Solution for Second Mattress Requests

By: Jeff Keller

I have a quick ‘n easy solution for those pesky requests for a second mattress that plague all correctional facilities.  But before I get to that, though, there are two important points to consider in any discussion about second mattresses in correctional facilities. First, providing inmates with mattresses, like inmate clothes and toiletries, is the purview and duty of the correctional officers, not the medical staff.  What this means is that when an inmate asks for a second mattress, the question ...

An Unusual Case of Cheeking

By: Jeff Keller

Like everyone in corrections, I have seen my share of cheeking.  For those who may not know what this is, “cheeking” is the slang term for when inmates pretend to swallow their medications but really secrete the pills in their cheek (hence the name) or elsewhere in their mouth.  Some cheekers are really good at sleight of hand, and palm the pills as they pretend to pop them in their mouth.  Some spit the pills into the cup that holds ...

Inappropriate Medications in Jails and Prisons

By: Jeff Keller

All medications have side effects and potential complications. Of course we all know this. Whether to prescribe and what to prescribe should involve a careful weighing of the expected benefits vs. the potential harm for each individual patient.  This math—risks vs. benefits—can change for many reasons.  For example, drug X may be great for this patient but that patient has kidney disease and should not take it.  This patient can take drug Y but that patient has no health insurance and cannot afford drug Y. Being incarcerated changes the risk-benefit equation for many drugs.  This is especially true for drugs that ...