Policing Inside the Hospital: Security, Stigma, and Care
Security presence and policing practices inside hospitals shape patient trust, stigma, and access to care, particularly for marginalized groups. This mixed‑methods study analyzes hospital security incident logs, patient experience surveys, and interviews with patients and staff to examine how carceral logics within clinical spaces affect therapeutic relationships and care seeking. Quantitative analyses link higher security activity to lower patient‑reported trust and increased reports of feeling criminalized, while qualitative narratives describe how visible security and police involvement deter patients from seeking care or disclosing sensitive information. The paper proposes non‑carceral safety models, de‑escalation training, and policy limits on police involvement in routine clinical matters to reduce stigma and improve care outcomes.
Introduction
Hospitals increasingly rely on security personnel and police for safety, but the presence of law enforcement in clinical spaces can undermine trust and deter care. This study examines how policing inside hospitals affects patient experiences and care outcomes, with attention to marginalized populations who are more likely to be criminalized.
Methods
We analyzed security incident logs and patient experience surveys across three hospitals and conducted 40 interviews with patients and 30 with staff. Quantitative models assessed associations between security activity and patient trust metrics; qualitative analysis explored experiences of criminalization and care avoidance.
Results
Higher security activity correlated with lower patient trust and increased reports of feeling criminalized. Interviews revealed that patients avoided care or withheld information when police were present, and staff described tensions between clinical priorities and security protocols.
Discussion
Non‑carceral safety models, de‑escalation training, and limits on police involvement in routine clinical matters can reduce stigma and improve care. Hospitals should adopt policies that prioritize therapeutic relationships and minimize criminalization of patients.
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