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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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State
Rep. Ronald G. Waters |
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Waters to testify on merits of bill to mandate testing for inmates
HARRISBURG, Dec. 1 – State Rep. Ronald G Waters, D-Phila/Delaware, plans to testify before the House Judiciary Committee at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9 in the Ryan Office Building at the state Capitol on his bill (H.B. 1075) that would require medical checkups of Pennsylvania inmates prior to their release.
Waters said that such a measure would help inmates and their families acquire the necessary medical care needed for their health and well-being once they return home.
Waters said that prisoners are currently tested for diseases prior to entering prison for the protection of both themselves, other inmates and staff, and to make prison officials aware of any medical care inmates may need while serving their time. However, 90 percent of Pennsylvania’s inmates are released back into society without being tested for diseases prior to their release.
"In addition to being a public safety issue, this is also a health issue. We are literally putting people’s lives and health at risk," said Waters. His concern is not only that inmates who are untested before leaving prison are likely to go untreated, risking their own health and well-being, but also that communicable diseases that are common in institutional settings might be transferred to the community at large if gone undetected and untreated.
Outbreaks of such contagions as tuberculosis, hepatitis, MRSA, HIV/AIDS and others diseases are serious concerns which could threaten the welfare of both prisoners and the public at large if unaddressed, he said.
"Providing such medical tests would help inmates and their families make intelligent and informed decisions about their health-care needs," Waters said. "We all know the sayings ‘knowledge is power’ and ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.' If we have the knowledge of any disease or sickness inmates might have contracted while in prison, then we have a greater chance of having the power to treat it before the inmate is released."
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