Correctional health beyond the bars: Integrative review of public health nursing with women under community supervision

Background: A growing body of research focuses on health needs of incarcerated women. While critical, this attention has neglected the approximately 80% of women supervised in the community. They share the disparities experienced by incarcerated women—which put them at greater health risk than incarcerated men and other community-residing women—while also experiencing threats unique to community residence. Criminal justice (CJ) procedures and competing demands limit health care access and hinder engagement. The aims of this integrative review are to synthesize available information on the role of PHN in community CJ settings and illustrate innovative models using two case studies. Description: Using Whittemore and Knafl's framework, academic literature databases, correctional nursing texts, and policy documents were searched for descriptions of nursing with women in community CJ settings. Case studies included qualitative data from existing projects in reentry and diversion to explore specific health needs and intervention feasibility. Lessons Learned: Nursing in community CJ settings has been limited and poorly explored. Urgency exists for the strong PHN skills of prioritizing needs and implementing appropriate interventions, and the primary care, care management, and transitional care highlighted in the IOM Future of Nursing report. The case studies illustrate the importance of viewing community corrections as distinct from incarceration, and the desire of women to partner with PHN. Recommendations: We recommend integration of comprehensive health services into all community corrections through close linkages with existing health care institutions. PHN are well prepared to lead care provision and coordination, and support engagement in this population.