***DISCLAIMER: The following details were told to me by current inmates or information obtained via public information requests. Therefore, these are allegations and can only be proven upon an investigation. This is my goal in reporting on these cases. 

What is NCCHC anyway? . . . (From their website)

"NCCHC’s origins date to the early 1970s, when an American Medical Association study of jails found inadequate, disorganized health services and a lack of national standards. In collaboration with other organizations, the AMA established a program that in 1983 became an independent, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization: the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).

Forty years later, NCCHC remains the only national organization dedicated solely to improving correctional health care quality. We do that by establishing rigorous standards for health services in correctional facilities, operating a voluntary accreditation program for institutions that meet those standards, offering certification for correctional health professionals, conducting educational conferences and webinars, and producing industry-specific publications and other resources.

NCCHC’s accreditation program uses external peer review by a team of correctional health care experts to determine whether the jail, prison, juvenile facility, or OTP being surveyed meets the relevant standards. The survey process is rigorous but collaborative, with a goal of quality improvement. To that end, NCCHC is impartial, unbiased, and dedicated only to recognizing and fostering quality in correctional health care. NCCHC is the only accrediting body authorized by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration that focuses on corrections."

****************************************************************************

With that being said, this agency does not have oversight over all correctional facilities. When I called NCCHC, I was encouraged to submit a complaint to their survey department. I was also encouraged to call the jail in Warren County and ask them if they are NCCHC accredited. I called WCRJ and was told by a "Major Bigsby" that they are NOT NCCHC accredited. He also informed me that they are "accredited" through the Kentucky State Department of Corrections.

I was also told that I could contact the County Board of Commissioners, and I did. I received a call back from "Sue," a city commissioner who admitted she had no oversight over the jail, and encouraged me to reach out to the Warren County Judge that oversees Jailer Steve Harmon's position at the jail. I will be emailing Judge Doug Gorman and NCCHC as well. 

What I find to be interesting is that generally speaking, when incarcerated individuals need proper medical care and write a letter of complaint to the Kentucky Department of Corrections, they typically say that they have no authority over the medical care within the facilities and that only the Jailer has that authority. The problem is that the jail is contracted with a certain medical company and that he has limited ability to effect change and that it's up to the medical company they contracted with to handle their own affairs.

I will say that since the women at WCRJ have been continually advocating for themselves and following up with grievances as necessary, Jailer Steve Harmon has gotten a little more involved!

• Two female inmates reported that the day after they spoke to me over the phone about their serious medical issues, the next day they were called out separately and felt intimidated and encouraged to stop filing medical complaints and grievances. Also, Southern Health Partners is no longer the medical providing company at this jail. There is a new company, Comprehensive Correctional Care, and they too have similar complaints by inmates about poor medical care.

There are current female inmates at WCRJ that have had to put in MULTIPLE medical requests and file grievances, just to gain access to:

1. ASTHMA MEDICATIONS
2. DEPRESSION MEDS
3. COLD & FLU MEDS
4. ANTIBIOTICS
5. CANCER SCREENINGS (warranted)
6. MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS MEDS
7. Necessary REPRODUCTIVE & GYNECOLOGICAL SCREENINGS by QUALIFIED Professionals
8. Proper Wound Care
9. Proper Mental Health Care
10. Proper Detox Care

• There are also men and women that have requested their OWN MEDICAL RECORDS, and are either ignored or told that they can't have them due to HIPPA violations.
• One female has had growths (tumor like growths) popping up in her body, making it difficult to eat and one is near her kidney. She had to keep complaining until they FINALLY did an Ultrasound and made her wait for those results. Conflicting stories came back from two different medical staff employees, "your tests came back just fine" and another "we didn't get your results back yet." She continued to develop new growths and after complaining enough, they did a second ultrasound and a T-Cell test. They have ignored her requests for those records as well, and the last I knew . . . the new Medical Director for the NEW medical company, claimed they are JUST "Lipomas" and nothing to worry about (was reportedly short with her and not compassionate whatsoever.) However, if one does a little reading on Lipomas in the gastrointestinal tract, it is much rarer and not very pleasant. Even if the Med Director is accurate, WHY is she NOT being provided with her test results? Makes no sense. WHY has it taken so LONG to get the tests done? This same person has been denied ASTHMA meds as well and had to keep filing complaints and grievances. 
• Another current female inmate is having complications with her IUD, and is NOT being given proper medical treatment for it. I will not go into detail about that case right now, but I may in the near future. Due to the graphic nature of her condition, I am trying to refrain from sharing the details. What I CAN say is that she is very worried and is suffering with discomfort and pain.
• It has also been reported to me that a woman was actively having seizures and was ignored, for the most part. (That case was several months ago.)
• Another woman who was far along in her pregnancy and was bleeding, was ignored for 3 days. Female inmates complained about her bleeding being ignored, until they were also threatened for speaking out. After 3 days of vaginal bleeding, they FINALLY took the woman out of her jail cell. It is unknown where she was taken, or what the outcome of her condition is.
• Yet another female inmate with a history of depression has been denied proper mental health meds, putting her at risk of self-harm. 

I will be writing detailed accounts of what many of these men and women are forced to endure, during lengthy jail stays. Many of us have NO IDEA, of how INHUMANE they are being treated in this jail! Please remember that even if you don't know anyone in this facility or any facility, you never know what the future holds for you or your loved ones. Therefore, we should all be gravely concerned about this modern day "PAPILLON!"

**************************************************************************

The following are SUGGESTED GUIDELINES for womens reproductive and other medical needs in jails in the United States of America, but are NOT being followed in this particular jail: 

STANDARDS of NCCHC (National Commission on Correctional Health Care)

"NCCHC recognizes the need to view WOMEN as a special population and to provide appropriate treatment. The Standards for Health Services (the basis of NCCHC’s accreditation program for jails, prisons, and juvenile detention and confinement facilities) contain several standards that impact women’s health care, including the following:

1. Receiving Screening (E-02) suggests inquiry into current gynecological problems and pregnancy for women and female adolescents.
2. Initial Health Assessment (E-04) recommends that clinical practice guidelines be followed for pelvic examinations and Pap smears.
3. Intoxication and Withdrawal (G-07) acknowledges the special management of pregnant inmates with opioid use disorders.
4. Contraception (G-08) recommends that women be provided with nondirective contraception counseling, access to emergency contraception, and continuation of current contraceptive method while incarcerated.
5. Counseling and Care of the Pregnant Inmate (G-09) specifies that comprehensive counseling and assistance are given to pregnant inmates in keeping with their express desires in planning for their unborn children, whether they desire abortion, adoptive service, or to keep the child. It also addresses prenatal care and the nonuse of restraints during childbirth.

POSITION STATEMENT

NCCHC recognizes that the number of incarcerated females is large and growing annually, presenting unique issues for health services. Therefore, NCCHC recommends the following:

Correctional institutions must meet recognized community standards for women’s services as promoted by standards set by NCCHC.
2. Correctional health services, community clinicians, and advocacy groups can collaborate to provide leadership for the development of policies and procedures that optimize women’s gender-specific health care needs in corrections, and TO DO SO IN TRAUMA-INFORMED CARE.
3. Correctional institutions should provide comprehensive services for women’s unique health issues:

• 
  a. Follow age-appropriate screening guidelines established by national organizations for STD screening, breast and cervical cancer screening, and HPV vaccination.
• 
  b. Implement intake procedures that include histories on menstrual cycle, prior pregnancies, gynecologic problems, STI risk factors, HPV vaccine history, current and prior contraception use, current breastfeeding, and history of sexual and physical abuse.
• 
  c. Offer a pregnancy test within 48 hours of admission to all females who could be pregnant—i.e., those who are sexually active (until they go through menopause or have a hysterectomy).
• 
  d. ***Screen all women at entry for sexual and physical trauma histories and refer for services as indicated;
• ***do not perform routine pelvic and breast exams on asymptomatic women as this is medically unnecessary and may be traumatizing.
• 
  e. ***Make trauma-informed, gender-appropriate counseling and treatment available for all women, especially those with mental health issues.
• 
  f. ***Make counseling and treatment available for women with alcohol and other substance use disorders.
• 
  g. Recommendations for contraception and pregnancy planning:
• i. ***Allow women to continue contraceptive methods they are already on pre-incarceration, especially if their incarceration is short term or if the method is for noncontraceptive reasons.
• ii. ***Offer contraception counseling and access to initiating reversible methods of contraception methods in a noncoercive manner, especially in preparation for release.
• iii. Screen for eligibility for emergency contraception at intake and make such contraception available in a timely fashion.
• iv. Defer sterilization until release.
• h. Address the unique health care needs of older women, including symptom management and treatment of menopausal hot flashes.
• i. Provide individuals with access to an appropriate, no-cost supply of menstrual hygiene products.
  ***Correctional institutions should provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health education to females that includes education about topics such as STIs, normal and abnormal vaginal discharge, and family planning.

https://www.ncchc.org/position-statements/womens-health-care-in-correctional-settings-2020/