Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs for Inmate Relatives
We can only give you medical information with the
inmate’s permission. You can ask your family member to get a
blank form CN4401 from the medical records unit, complete
and sign it, and give it to the facility medical unit. Once
this is on file, the health services staff at the facility
can share information with you. You can call the facility
and ask for the medical unit.
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Please contact the Health Services Administrator at the
Correctional facility. A list with phone numbers is provided
in the Contact Us section of the website.
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Any medication in an inmate’s possession will be
confiscated, and can be picked up by the family within 30
days of admission, or given to the inmate if he or she
releases before 30 days. Otherwise the medication will be
destroyed after 30 days. Upon admission offenders are given
a medical screening. Appropriate medication will be provided
as soon as medically necessary. Incoming offenders may bring
a letter from their doctor, on letterhead, listing their
current prescriptions. In exceptional circumstances, such as
when a medication taken in the community is extremely
expensive or difficult to obtain, CMHC will arrange to
administer medications that are brought in by the inmate.
Any such medications are subject to close examination to
assure proper labeling.
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Inmates shall be permitted to retain their eyeglasses
unless an imminent security concern arises. Inmates may
request to have a pair of eyeglasses mailed or brought in if
they did not have their glasses upon admission, a new
prescription needs to be filled or an existing pair needs to
be repaired or replaced. The Inmate Unit Counselor shall
review and approve the inmate’s request before the
eyeglasses can be sent into the facility. New admits shall
be permitted to retain their contact lenses if they have no
glasses and may continue to wear their contact lenses until
seen by an optometrist. The optometrist will make a
determination if glasses can be ordered to replace the
contact lenses or if the inmate has a medical condition that
requires contact lenses.
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Aids to impairment are provided to inmates only after
referral, evaluation and recommendation of a CMHC physician,
contractor or dentist.
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Qualified interpreters are provided through the
University of Connecticut Health Center. These interpreters
are bilingual, have knowledge of medical terminology and
confidentiality laws. Qualified language interpreters are
available seven days a week, 24 hours a day. Interpreters
for the deaf and hard of hearing are accessed through the
Connecticut Commission on the Deaf and Hearing Impaired.
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You can review the CMHC website or the DOC website where
any significant information would be posted. Other questions
not answered on the websites can be directed to the DOC
Office of Public Affairs.
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