Epidemiological Seminar & Drinks: Marcella Alsan
Accreditation as Coordination: Evidence from a Randomized Trial Across US Jails
Marcella Alsan, MD MPH PhD, Angelopoulos Professor of Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard University, Cambridge, US
Abstract: The U.S. has one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, with approximately 7 million individuals admitted to jails each year (Zeng, 2023). Incarcerated individuals are also the only group in the U.S. that has a constitutional right to receiving "reasonably adequate" health care (Estelle v. Gamble, 1976). Yet, health care in jails has little oversight or funding, and mortality is high. In this study, we randomize the offer of health care accreditation to 44 jails across the U.S. We find that accreditation improves quality standards and reduces mortality among the incarcerated. Part of the mechanism appears to be better coordination between health and custody staff.
Everyone is invited to join us for a glass of wine and epidemiological networking after the seminar.
Participation is free and open to everyone. The seminar is arranged by the Section of Epidemiology and the Graduate Program in Public Health and Epidemiology.