Prison Health Care

The health care system for California's inmate population has been troubled for years, and a court-appointed receiver currently oversees prison health care. Now the Schwarzenegger administration wants the University of California to run the system instead. Join Health Dialogues as we take a look at prison health care today, and what it might become in the future.

A Tour of San Quentin's Medical Facility

Join host Scott Shafer as he tours the new medical facility inside San Quentin State Prison. The new clinic provides primary care, mental health and dental care to nearly 5,000 inmates housed inside the prison, including those on death row. Scott speaks with Lt. Sam Robinson, the prison's public information officer; nurse Jackie Clarke, the CEO of the new facility; and some inmates.

• Touring San Quentin: See photos from a Health Dialogues trip inside San Quentin State Prison.

Check-In with the Receiver

In 2005, California state prison health care was put under the care of a federal Receivership. Health Dialogues checks in on conditions with the current Receiver, along with a representative of the organization that brought the original lawsuit against California to improve health conditions. Guest: Donald Specter, director of the Prison Law Office. Guest: J. Clark Kelso, receiver in charge of California prison health care.

• More: California Prison Health Care Services : Public information about the federal court-mandated effort to bring medical care in California prisons up to constitutional standards.

Moving Prison Health Care Beyond the Receivership

Host Scott Shafer explores the progress made in dental and mental health care by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), as well as efforts made to upgrade the entire system and bring the Receivership to a close. Guest: Sharon Aungst, chief deputy secretary of Correctional Health Care Services, at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

• More: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation

Medical Parole

Health Dialogues looks into the idea of paroling prison inmates who are incapacitated or in a vegetative state, as a bill that would do this makes its way through the State Legislature. Reporter: Sarah Varney

University-Correctional Health Partnerships as a Solution for Prison Health Care

Health Dialogues hears how university partnerships with correctional health care have worked in Texas, and discusses the pros and cons of the Schwarzenegger administration's idea to have the University of California run prison health care. Guest: Ron Shansky, independent prison health care consultant. Reporter: Nathan Bernier (KUT Austin)