Correctional Health Information Sharing Policies and Practices Project

This program is funded under both the Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) and the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Authorized by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2009 (Pub. L. 111-8), the Byrne Competitive Program helps local communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provides for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. The JAG Program (42 U.S.C. 3751(a)) is the primary provider of federal criminal justice funding to state and local jurisdictions, and JAG funds support all components of the criminal justice system. The JAG Program authorization also states that 'the Attorney General may reserve not more than 5 percent, to be granted to 1 or more States or units of local government, for 1 or more of the purposes specified in section 3751 of this title, pursuant to his determination that the same is necessary'(1) to combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime' (42 U.S.C. 3756).

The Enhancing Institutional and Community Corrections Grant Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), helps improve criminal justice systems and provides national programs and efforts, such as training and technical assistance, to address the specific needs of state and local justice systems and communities.

The George Mason University will address the provision of healthcare services in correctional settings which can be both problematic and expensive. They will help correctional administrators who are seeking ways to reduce healthcare costs through a more efficient delivery and coordination of services. The sharing of pertinent healthcare information among various providers and custodians is vital in achieving this increased efficiency. The George Mason University will conduct a gap analysis and implement and assess a prototype correctional physical and mental health information sharing network to enhance the continuity of health for elderly, chronically ill, and/or mentally ill offenders, and offenders experiencing ongoing health-related issues. The project will address the use of information sharing technologies assuring continuity of care and effective coordination of Medicaid benefits for released offenders through information sharing with community-based providers and anticipating healthcare needs of incoming and transferred offenders.

CA/NCF