The article “Inmate Deaths in U.S. Prisons Reach Record High Amid Pandemic” by the Marshall Project discusses the conflict diagnosis based on inmate deaths due to COVID19 and other healthrelated issues. As of December 2020, there have been more than 8,000 prison inmates who have died from either COVID or an underlying condition that was exacerbated by the pandemic such as heart disease or diabetes. This is a significant increase over prior years, which has raised serious concerns about the quality of care these individuals are receiving while incarcerated.

One of the primary causes of this conflict is a lack of resources within correctional facilities, both financially and personnelwise. With limited staff available to manage larger than usual populations behind bars during the pandemic and not enough funds allocated for basic medical care, it can be difficult for those with underlying conditions to receive adequate treatment when needed. This leads to more preventable deaths occurring due to neglect or delayed responses from medical personnel.

This issue is especially concerning due to its impact on marginalized communities; Black and Hispanic prisoners are dying at disproportionately high rates compared to their white counterparts in part because they tend to suffer from higher levels of poverty as well as having greater access barriers when it comes seeking out medical assistance outside prison walls (due factors like language/cultural differences).

Overall this article highlights how conflicts relating socioeconomic disparities can affect even most vulnerable members society—namely those incarcerated—and demonstrates importance understanding underlying social structures order devise meaningful interventions help reduce death tolls amongst inmates amid pandemics similar catastrophes future.