NCCHC Adopts New Position Statements

NCCHC’s Board of Representatives has approved two new position statements.

Restrictive Housing in Juvenile Correctional Settings addresses the need to reduce or eliminate the use of restrictive housing for youth in detention. Given the widespread use of restrictive housing and the well-understood negative health impacts of these practices, the need for this position statement is urgent.

The statement asserts that “the practice of restrictive housing should not be used in juvenile corrections,” either as a disciplinary or punitive measure, as a response to minor infractions, because of staffing shortages, for administrative convenience, or for retaliation. It outlines measures that should be considered as alternatives to restrictive housing and delineates steps that must be taken to ensure the health and well-being of juveniles in the rare event that restrictive housing is necessary.

The Use of Humanizing Language in Correctional Health Care position statement supports the use of respectful language to describe individuals who experience incarceration. NCCHC recommends that those who work in correctional facilities or interact with people experiencing incarceration use person-centered language, such as “incarcerated people” instead of “inmates” or “offenders.”

Recently revised position statements include:

• Health Services Research in Correctional Settings
• Naloxone in Correctional Facilities for the Prevention of Opioid Overdose Deaths
• Nonuse of Restraints for Pregnant and Postpartum Incarcerated Individuals
• Transgender and Gender Diverse Health Care in Correctional Settings

View all positions statements and download PDF versions >>

Position statements augment the Standards or express NCCHC’s expert opinion on important issues that are not addressed in the Standards.