Setting Precedent, A Federal Court Rules Jail Must Give Inmate Addiction Treatment

[Gregorio888]

NPR Cookie Consent and Choices

Similar to another article pasted a couple weeks ago. But this time this wasn't just an injunction, but an actual decision. This could dramatically improve the health and treatment of prisoners using Bup or Methadone, at leasts in the area controlled by this appeals court.

I'm unclear on if you already need to be on treatment to get your medication. Or if, say as a heroin addict, you could get an appointment and begin treatment while in prison. I hope it's the latter, but I'm unsure.

This is big for the people of the First Circuit jurisdiction. My only concern is it will go to the Supreme Court, which is currently a joke, and that it could be overturned, which would affect the entire country, and could cost decades before that decision is re-overturned, and inmates can receive/and hopefully start treatment, while in prison again. This seems like a big win, I just hope my concerns about the Supreme Court taking the case are unwarranted, or even better they take the case and make it the rule of the land. I just doubt that likelihood with the judges we currently have, though I've been surprised before. Thoughts?

 

[cj]

Good news. I hope this is a final decision. So many lives that could be saved if addicts are allowed to start maintenance in jail. It's the policy change most likely to effect the number of deaths

 

[LucidSDreamr]

It's nice to see more access to opioids for heroin users in jail. Hopefully pain patients on the outside will get increased access instead of reductions they are currently experi3ncimg.

I'm sure most would kill for the methadone given to a criminal in jail


I'm guessing if you went to jail.amd were suffering with MS they would just tell you to fuck yourself and move along because they have methadone to give to people.that like heroin

 

[Effect]

I posted the article about the judge ruling a specific county jail in MA to provide an inmate with his prescribed methadone. Unfortunately this only applies to that one inmate at this time, but seeing more stories like these gives me hope that some people in positions of power are beginning to see the draconic ways inmates in the majority of jails in the US who have legitimate prescription medications are forced to withdraw cold turkey and the potential issues this practice presents.

At the very least, county jails should be mandated to at least offer a humane taper off the medication. I say that with the idea in mind that many Sheriff's Depts will cite financial reasons as to why they wouldn't be able to maintain an inmate on a particular medication. Of course we know that in the world we live in there's a plethora of cheap generics for the medications these jails won't provide.

 

[Gregorio888]

Good news. I hope this is a final decision. So many lives that could be saved if addicts are allowed to start maintenance in jail. It's the policy change most likely to effect the number of deaths

I'm not a lawyer, I could ask my friends tomorrow, though I'll likely forget to, lol. I'm pretty sure this means it IS the final decision, but specifically only in the 1st circuit court of appeals. I believe there's 12 different federal court of appeals, so this ruling doesn't affect those in the 11 other circuit courts. So it basically affects about 1/12th of the country. So it will either stay in that area as law, or if the Supreme Court takes it, it would then be something that would cover the entire US. They could overturn it, leave it as is, or I "think" (emphasis on think) they can send it back to be retried if they see some sort of error that occurred along the way, in which case it would not cover the whole US, and would be retried.

Ideally the Supreme Court would take it and make it the law of the entire US, but as I said in my OP I'm skeptical that would happen since the Supreme Court is almost completely political, even though they were designed not to be, and it currently favors conservatives strongly who would likely overturn this ruling. But sometimes they do make surprise decisions. Most likely it won't make it to the Supreme Court though, for every case they take the refuse a ton more.

I'll try to remember to ask my friend tomorrow, I'd bet some of what I just said above is incorrect in someway or another.