Applying a Health Justice Framework to Examine Visitation Policies in Canadian Federal Penitentiaries and Psychiatric Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated inequities in policy development and implementation of emergency intervention strategies. This study addresses the equitable access to visitation in COVID-19 emergency intervention strategies between comparable total institutional settings. This multiple-case design encompassed two selected custodial environments and was compared using the implemented emergency policies surrounding visitation. In comparing the institutionalized settings of psychiatric hospitals and federal penitentiaries in Ontario, it draws appraisals for equity and health justice-based analysis. These emergency intervention policies focused on visitation vary based on institutional influence, interests, and ideas that are consequently highlighted within this study. The findings of this study reflect a lack of consistency in emergency responsesurrounding visitation policies across psychiatric facilities and federal penitentiaries located within Ontario and uncover discrepancies in policies within the various Ontario psychiatric facilities. These findings lead to an analysis rooted in the framework of human rights and social justice that propel a unique discussion surrounding health justice in the context of Canadian institutionalized settings. The study concluded by considering health justice as a framework in practical and theoretical policy development and implementation to promote health equity and the approach to social justice from a health and equity perspective.