Correctional Health Care

The Anoka County Community Health and Environmental Services Department provides on-site registered nurses to manage the health care needs of all adult inmates and juveniles. Health services at the correctional facilities operate on the same principle as an outpatient clinic. Adult inmates and juveniles must tell the staff if they need medical, dental, or mental health attention at intake or through the established sick call system. Nurses triage all requests, i.e. allocate treatment to patients, and either provide care directly or arrange for care. Nurses will schedule care of on-site services and coordinate all outside appointments. Adult inmates are expected to self-treat minor health care conditions by purchasing non-prescription medications through the canteen. Prescription medications are administered by nursing or detention staff 3-4 times daily depending upon the facility. On-site physician and mental health clinics are conducted twice weekly.

In addition to caring for the inmates, the nurses also train correctional deputies in medication delivery, infection control practices, and in health protocols to follow in caring for inmates with special health conditions such as diabetes, asthma, pregnancy, tuberculosis, drug and alcohol withdrawal, and blood-borne pathogens.
 

Nurses provide health care services as follows:

Jail in Anoka: 6:30 am - 11:00 pm, 7 days a week

Medium Security Jail in Lino Lakes: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday except holidays

Workhouse in Anoka: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday except holidays

Juvenile Facilities: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday except holidays