Legal Definitions - Transcarceration

Definition: Transcarceration is the process of moving prisoners or mentally ill individuals from one facility to another of the same type. This means that prisoners are transferred to another prison, and those who are institutionalized for mental illness are moved to another psychiatric hospital.

Example: A prisoner who is deemed to be a high risk for violence may be transferred from one prison to another that has more security measures in place. Similarly, a person who is institutionalized for mental illness may be moved to another psychiatric hospital that has better resources to treat their specific condition.

These examples illustrate how transcarceration is used to manage the population of prisoners and mentally ill individuals within the correctional system. It allows for the movement of individuals to facilities that are better equipped to handle their specific needs, whether that be for security or medical reasons.