S02 EP. 4-1 | Why U.S. Prisons Fail: Stigma, Health, and Reintegration with Dr. Heather Mooney
In this powerful episode of the Open Notes Podcast, criminologist, researcher, and applied sociologist Dr. Heather Mooney breaks down the realities of stigma inside the criminal justice system and how it shapes everything from incarceration to healthcare access.
Dr. Mooney explains how stigma affects people with mental health struggles, substance use histories, past convictions, and even correctional officers navigating a system built on punishment rather than rehabilitation.
We explore how other countries like Norway, the UK, and Portugal approach incarceration with human-centered, evidence-based practices and why the United States lags behind.
This conversation highlights:
✔️ How stigma forms & why it’s socially constructed
✔️ The impact of being labeled an “addict,” “felon,” or “criminal”
✔️ Health stigmas affecting incarcerated people and correctional officers
✔️ Global prison models that prioritize reintegration
✔️ Why harm reduction works (Portugal’s model)
Dr. Mooney also shares practical advice on staying updated with criminology research, finding credible sources, and recognizing the gap between the ideal and the real in our social systems.
👉 Watch now for an eye-opening look into stigma, incarceration, health inequities, and the future of criminal justice.
Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share this episode to support accessible education through UITAC.
Timestamps:
00:00 | Heather Mooney Episode Snippet
00:30 | Open Notes Introduction
00:53 | How do you define stigma?
01:52 | Why is it important to study stigma in a criminology context?
05:11 | Insights in other countries approach to crime
11:14 | How do you keep up to date with developments in criminology?
14:08 | What are some of the solutions for the various problems and issues have you come across recently in criminology?
28:32 | Correctional Officers and Stigma in Prisons
31:14 | Part 2 Episode Sneak Peek
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Music
The Intro We Have Been Waiting For | Produced & Written by Kevin Shrout | 756E6D69-6E757300
Guest | Heather Mooney
Hosts | Angela Thompson, Nora Mortimer, & Kiana Gerhart
Video Editor | Kiana Gerhart @its_kianaaaa
Content Revisers | Nora Mortimer, & Angela Thompson