For far too long, Missouri's incarcerated populations have faced deplorable medical conditions under Centurion Health, a company entrusted with providing healthcare in state correctional facilities. Our personal experiences with the system have been anything but reassuring, answering concerns regarding medical neglect at an alarming rate of over 90% the reasons people reach out for help to Beyond the Walls, Inc. and Collectively Changing Corrections. Our prisons are filled with individuals who deserve adequate medical attention, yet the neglect is rampant, jeopardizing lives daily.

The prison healthcare system should be a beacon of hope for rehabilitation, not a sentence of suffering. Understaffing in Missouri's prisons has not only exacerbated the medical neglect faced by inmates but has also led to the mistreatment of overworked nursing professionals. How can they provide compassionate care when they themselves are barely holding on?

Centurion Health, contracted by the Missouri Department of Corrections, has consistently fallen short of its responsibilities. There have been numerous reports and testimonies highlighting the dire conditions, from inmates being denied critical medications to delayed treatments that have resulted in severe complications. The oversight is glaring, and the repercussions are dire.

What we need is a full retraction of Centurion Health's contract and a thorough re-evaluation of how healthcare services are administered within Missouri prisons. This calls for hiring more qualified healthcare professionals and ensuring that there are enough staff members to provide humane and timely care. Implementing stricter standards and accountability measures can turn the tide, reducing fatalities and improving the quality of life for those serving time.

Let's stand together and demand systemic changes that uphold the dignity and health of all Missouri inmates. We need the Missouri Department of Corrections to prioritize the welfare of both its inmates and staff by finding alternative healthcare providers that commit to these values.

Sign this petition to voice your concern for urgent reform and accountability in Missouri's correctional healthcare system. Your support can help bring about a change that saves lives.