A correctional nurse is working to develop programs for inmates and reviews the demographics of this population to determine potential issues. When comparing this population to the general population, which finding would the nurse expect?

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Demographically, inmates differ from the general population. First, inmates have all committed some type of crime, and 97% of those in state and federal prisons are serving more than 1 year and over half (53.2%) are serving time for violent crimes. Thirteen percent of males and 11% of females in state prisons have been convicted of murder. Half of federal prison inmates are serving time for drug offenses. National statistics indicate a larger portion of Black (37%) and White (32%) than Hispanic (22%) male inmates in state and federal prisons. For female prisoners, Whites more than double the total number of Black prisoners and almost triple the number of Hispanic prisoners. The imprisonment rate for males is 890 per 100,000 U.S. residents, but for females, it is only 65. In addition, the inmate population is drawn disproportionately from lower socioeconomic backgrounds when compared with the general public. This increases their chances of having a long trajectory of poorer access to health care and treatment. Statistics show a greater disproportion of inmates who are chronically ill and have infectious diseases than the nonincarcerated population (Carson, 2015).

A Correctional Nurse Is Working to Develop Programs for Inmates