Participants who were previously incarcerated and family members of current inmates spoke of an inability to navigate the health system in the community because of the lack of insurance or inexperience accessing care. Many former inmates, families of inmates, and law enforcement staff said that better health services for those incarcerated could reduce the risk of diseases to communities. Correctional officials and law enforcement officers participating in the focus groups perceived public safety as a key benefit to providing medical services in correctional systems. Responses in regard to improving the health of corrections and community populations were similar from most participants. Formerly incarcerated inmates indicated that strategies are needed to promote health and mental health services in correctional systems. Perceptions and opinions about the comparability of health care in the community versus that in correctional facilities vary, often changing by one’s experience with the issue. This article presents results of a 2004 focus-group research project by the Centers for Disease Control on the perceptions of the barriers to providing health and mental health services in the community and correctional facilities. Five focus groups, each with nine participants were held in Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, and San Rafael, California. Participants included those formerly incarcerated, the families and friends of incarcerated individuals, law enforcement officials, and employees of correctional facilities.