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Abstract: 

This article takes a comprehensive look at the subject of sleep deprivation in correctional facilities. Most jails and prisons are difficult places to get healthy sleep—sometimes by virtue of the chaotic nature of these facilities, and sometimes by deliberate design. Although sleep deficits are strongly linked with a wide variety of physical and mental illnesses, lawsuits charging sleep deprivation are a fairly recent development; recent cases like Walker v. Schult, however, are finding acceptance in federal courts. In addition to cataloging the common conditions in jails and prisons known to cause sleep deficits, and their impact on inmate and staff well-being, the article summarizes new research on sleep in correctional facilities, health impacts, and mitigation.

Keywords: Walker v. Schult; Sleep and Instability; PLRA; Mitigating Conditions to Improve Sleep Health

Affiliations:  1: Contributing Editor.