ABSTRACT
COVID-19 has upended the daily operations of the U.S. correctional system. Correctional COVID-19
policies have altered how incarcerated people navigate legal proceedings, receive visitors, procure healthcare services, and maintain mental well-being and physical health. Although some of these changes have been positive (e.g., increased access to tablets, de-incarceration policies), other strategies have exposed societal inequities that fail to meet the needs of people who are incarcerated. Lockdown orders have had unintended consequences for incarcerated people, particularly among those with mental health disorders. This commentary examines the impact of U.S. correctional system policies on the well-being of incarcerated people.