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Review
. 2023 Mar 16;19(1):77-87.
doi: 10.1108/IJPH-09-2021-0095. Epub 2022 Jul 14.

A stepwise guide for healthcare professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated

Alexa Kanbergs  1 , Ilana Garcia-Grossman  2 , Cyrus Ahalt  2 , Michele DiTomas  3 , Rachael Bedard  4 , Brie Williams  2
Affiliations
Review

A stepwise guide for healthcare professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated

Alexa Kanbergs et al. Int J Prison Health. .

Abstract

Purpose: Compassionate release is a process that allows for the early release or parole of some incarcerated people of advanced age, with life-limiting illness, complex medical care needs or significant functional decline. Despite the expansion of State and Federal compassionate release programs, this mechanism for release remains underutilized. Health-care professionals are central to the process of recommending compassionate release, but few resources exist to support these efforts. The purpose of this paper is to provide a guide for health-care professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated.

Design/methodology/approach: This study is stepwise guide for health-care professionals requesting compassionate release for patients who are incarcerated.

Findings: This study describes the role of the health-care professional in requesting compassionate release and offers guidance to help them navigate the process of preparing a medical declaration or request for compassionate release.

Originality/value: No prior publications have created a step-wise guide of this nature to aid health-care professionals through the compassionate release process.

Keywords: Advanced care planning; Aging; COVID-19; Compassionate release; Medical release; Prison.

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Figures

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Figure 1
Summary of recommendations for preparing a medical declaration for compassionate release
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Further reading

    1. Essie Justice Group (2022), available at: https://essiejusticegroup.org (accessed 15 September 2021).
    1. Crclearinghouse (2022), available at: https://crclearinghouse.org
    1. FAMM (2020a), “Compassionate release and the first step act: then and now”, available at: https://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/Compassionate-Release-in-the-First-S... (accessed 14 August 2021).
    1. FAMM (2020b), “Understanding the federal compassionate release process”, available at: https://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/Federal-Compassionate-Release-Proces...
    1. FAMM Website (2022), available at: https://famm.org