Do you think that prisoners in state correctional facilities should get free medication?

Question

I work in a pharmacy and find myself sending daily vitamins and other unnessary meds to prisons. Don't you think they should pay? And if they are serving a life sentence how could they pay? I know it shouldn't be my tax dollars.. I have to buy my own meds.. I can't believe that they get DAW meds. Expecially when it cost more. How can we fix this? What I don't understand is if someone is convicted and gets a death sentence why should they be on meds.. They are only there temporaily.

I am talking about prisoners who are convicted without a doubt, like murders rapist, etc. not the petti crimes, such as public intoxacation, urinating in public, bar fights etc...

Answer 1

There could be a definite argument against keeping a prisoner from their needed medication as a form of cruel or unusual punishment. While I feel my tax dollars could be better spent on non-criminals, the U.S. Constitution's 8th amendment could be used to uphold a person's right to medication. Many prison systems within the U.S. have the prisoners working for the community. Here is a good site which discusses the many jobs held by prisoners: http://www.postcarbon.org/node/2244. These jobs should go towards the cost of any medication they need, instead of leaving the bill for the tax payers.

Answer 2

how can you ask suck a question when if you are involved in the prison system you already know that prisoners who are serving time have jobs and work every day, mostly for the uni core industries for app 35 cents per hour, they also pay for their own meds from this slave labor, and the ones who are not able to work ,the cost of the meds come out of any money sent to them from home or ? you should try it some time, sleep on a concrete slab, with just a thin pad one blanket, one pillow, do I need to tell yo more about the enjoyable amenities these people have? and so many are in prison for B,S, such as peeing on the interstate hwy, not indecent exposure,having alcohol in a gov,park, the bible says those without sin cast the first stone , do you have a stone ready? shame on you,

josh M, had you worked at a prison you would have known this,

Answer 3

They should be provided with necessary medication. I think that the state takes on a obligation with regards to the prisoners health.
However I do not believe that products such as vitamins should be included. There are plenty of people who would like to take vitamins but just can not afford them.
I would prefer to see the money go to victims of crime.

Answer 4

Here is a example. There is no difference. but it happens daily.
I work in a pharmacy and find myself handing out vitamins and other unnessary meds to mexican illegals. Do you think they should pay? they are here illegally and are criminals by doing this. I know it shouldn't be my tax dollars..I have to buy my own meds..I can't believe that they get so much welfare benefits,food stamps, wic, free hospital and doctor and meds, especially when it cost more. How can we fix this? what I don't understand is if someone is here illegally, why should they be getting it.
We support criminals, ones in prison and illegals from Mexico.

Answer 5

how else they gonna pay for them when their prison wages average to less than $10 a month? You can't deprve them of vital medications, and doctors prescribe them, if the doctors over prescribe thats not the inmates fault some preventative medicine does just that which in the lng run saces money, unless they were sentenced to death you have to take care of them whcih is why rrok release programs are much better thanwhare housing them, also with out the prsion contract your job may be in jeopardy as your company depends upon it to make a profit, which in turn pays your salary

Answer 6

Since they collect pay for working, no. In Canada the prisoners will soon be earning minimum wage -tax free.Thus they can buy their own meds. If prisoner is too poor and meds are a necessity of life then let him/her earn the money to purchase them through hard work which will simultaneously teach them a useable skill.

Answer 7

They do not always receive even NECESSARY medications. I've been in. I am bi-polar with panic disorder and have a chronic pain condition that at times leaves me physically unable to walk. The 2 weeks I was in before ROR, I was given no medication even after receipt from my outside doctors that they were absolutely necessary. Two of the three medications I was forced to go without could have killed me in stopping them suddenly. I even had a brand new bottle of them at home no one was allowed to bring me. Current prescription as well that could have been newly refilled if the concern was that MY bottles didn't have what was supposed to be in them. Perhaps I should sue DOC :P

Answer 8

I have to say that I'm mixed on that. I think that if you are serving time, you're paying your to society and we should do what we can to rehabilitate them. That would include medicines.

However, those who are on death row should be another issue all together. If we made the lawyers pay for the medications while they were appealing the sentences, the wait for the sentence to be carried out would be much shorter.

The other thing I don't understand is why they clean the arm with alcohol before they give a lethal injection. Is it because they don't want to set up infection?

LOL

Answer 9

I know for a fact that a majority of inmates buy their own vitamins. (either in canteen or their family send it to them) Also you do not know if these inmates pay for it or not it is better that you dont judge. The DOC makes plenty of money from inmate's family (through the commission they get from phone companies and such).

Answer 10

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