Having a “to-do” list prior to serving a sentence in jail or prison can seem daunting. If you or a loved one are awaiting a sentencing date, you probably have a long list of what you think you need to do to prepare. Many people focus on finances, moving/living arrangements, or other logistics, but they tend to overlook an important part of their preparation — medical and dental services. If you are fortunate enough to be out on bond and awaiting sentencing, there are some basic things to do. Regardless if you are being incarcerated for a few months or a year or more, preparation here is the key. A little bit of work before you are incarcerated may save some frustration and aggravation later on.
BEFORE SENTENCING
Dental – Being proactive is far better than being retroactive, and so prior to incarceration, you should attempt to take care of any needed dental work (fillings, crowns, etc.). Even routine, regular scheduled cleanings should be taken care of. It may be worth it to pay out-of-pocket for a cleaning (a dental cleaning can run $80-125) just prior to incarceration in the event your insurance isn’t scheduled to cover a cleaning for you. Remember, there is no preventative dental care in prison or jail.
Medical – It’s a good idea to visit your primary care physician for a routine check-up/physical, but in addition, make sure to visit any specialists. Make certain that you have a letter from your doctor(s) documenting all medical conditions to provide to the medical staff at the incarceration facility during intake. Some of these can be obtained through your insurance account in an online portal and simply be downloaded and printed (instead of asking your doctor for a custom letter). Whatever documents you use (Explanation of benefits, summary of visit, etc.) should document all condition(s) and all current prescription medications being taken. If you have copies of paper prescriptions, you may want to bring those along to sentencing as well. Don’t bother bringing actual medications (pills, etc.) as the facility won’t allow you to bring them in and they will be stored until you are released. Better to just bring paper documentation of your conditions and prescriptions.
Eye care – Same thing here. Make certain you have had an eye exam in the last year and any prescriptions are up-to-date. Many jails and prisons will allow you to enter with your own glasses provided they conform to the rules and regulations. If you wear prescription glasses, it’s worth checking with the facility ahead of time to determine the specifics of what they will allow you to bring in and then go and purchase a pair. If you just need reading glasses, you can pick up a cheap pair of black, plastic frames for $5-10 and bring them to your sentencing hearing.
Keep in mind that it can take weeks or months after you enter a facility until you are able to secure a set of prescription glasses. And while some facilities may allow you to purchase reading glasses via commissary, it still could take a few weeks. It may take some extra work to get glasses prior to sentencing, but it will save you time in the long run and could avoid you going weeks or months without glasses once you are incarcerated. Some facilities may allow for glasses to be sent in through a property process, but there are regulations and rules to follow and it’s not the easiest thing in many cases.
In summary, whatever you can do prior to sentencing to take care of medical, dental, and eye needs – whether it’s preventative care, to address an acute issue, or just to be prepared – is time and money well spent.
If you or a loved one are facing potential incarceration – even if in county jail for a short period of time, it’s important that you make a plan and understand all of the issues you will have to deal with. Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation.