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Women transitioning from incarceration often reenter society with multiple barriers to affordable health care. Many resort to costly emergency department visits, and others turn to online health information to compensate for gaps in their health care. Interviews with 74 previously incarcerated women were conducted in 2019–2020 in three midwestern cities. Qualitative and quantitative analysis revealed that, while most participants used the internet for health information, their perceptions of the reliability varied. Many participants expressed a need for additional reliable sources of health information and ways to verify it. These findings support the importance of high-quality digital health literacy interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Literature reveals that forgiveness can bring advantages to those who experience it, increasing quality of life. This study explores the relevance of forgiveness in a prison context and aims to understand how incarcerated individuals perceive forgiveness, focusing on their rehabilitation processes. The sample comprised N = 11 participants (males) who were serving a prison sentence in the Porto Prison Establishment. Qualitative data were collected through a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview and analyzed based on thematic analysis. The findings offer further evidence on the importance of all types of rehabilitation programs and, specifically the ones focused on forgiveness. These findings show that forgiveness can be a facilitator for behavioral changes in incarcerated individuals and highlights the importance of psychological interventions during rehabilitation. We discuss the implications of these results, suggesting the need to increase knowledge with future studies about forgiveness and rehabilitation processes with this public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incarceration is a major systemic issue in the United States. Many couples undergo multifaceted, complex changes in their relationship due to incarceration. The purpose of this paper is to explore the usage of the Tadros theory of change, an integrative approach to couple and family therapy, to treat incarcerated lesbian couples. A case application is provided utilizing this integrated family therapy model with a lesbian couple experiencing sexual and relational issues as well as offering clinical implications for future usage. This case emphasized how client's narratives change over time, how the systems in their lives change simultaneously, and the impact of LGBTQ + stigma on couple functioning as they navigate the criminal justice system aids in the exploration of a client's story. Thus, gaining an in-depth understanding of the intersection between complex issues. This paper advocates for the usage of this theory with lesbian couples within the incarcerated context to better treat this underserved population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incarcerated women with alcohol use disorders (AUDs) have unique treatment needs. Behavior change models emphasize self-efficacy in making changes to alcohol use, but have not been tested in samples of incarcerated women. Personal agency in several domains was examined as a correlate of alcohol abstinence self-efficacy in a sample of 173 incarcerated women with AUDs. Lower alcohol cravings (β = −0.19, p =.029), greater self-care (β = 0.17, p =.012), and less engagement in transactional sex (β = −0.48, p =.007) were associated with greater self-efficacy. Intrapersonal and interpersonal agency influence incarcerated women's self-efficacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the concept of autogenous cultural practices as a political form that is neither a subject of state practices, nor a means of resistive anti-state force. Through a study of three participatory art projects carried out by the author, this paper examines how and if autogenous culture can be presented and more importantly effect societal change. These projects were carried out in a governmental disciplinary facility, a local non-governmental organization supporting sex workers and an independent art project with three young women who were graduates of the Normal Technical stream in Singapore respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mindfulness is a technique and sense of being present in the moment that incorporates aspects of acceptance, openness and meditation with the ultimate intention of improving well-being. Research indicates that mindfulness can significantly improve negative personality traits, reduce stress, increase attention, alleviate chronic pain and enhance mental health. Mindfulness-based interventions in correctional facilities have resulted in reduced hostility and improved self-esteem for adults, but less is known about its applicability amongst youth. This article reviews the research-based literature on the use of mindfulness-based interventions for youths (aged 13 to 24 years) involved in the justice system. A total of ten studies were located and synthesised into four themes of stress reduction, self-regulation, anger management and acceptance. The article concludes by considering the methodological rigour of the reviewed studies, providing recommendations for future research and contemplating the positive impact that mindfulness interventions might have on youth in the criminal justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Syphilis is an important sexually transmitted infection (STI). Despite inexpensive and effective treatment, few key populations receive syphilis testing. Innovative strategies are needed to increase syphilis testing among key populations. Areas covered: This scoping review focused on strategies to increase syphilis testing in key populations (men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, people who use drugs, transgender people, and incarcerated individuals). Expert commentary: We identified many promising syphilis testing strategies, particularly among MSM. These innovations are separated into diagnostic, clinic-based, and non-clinic based strategies. In terms of diagnostics, self-testing, dried blood spots, and point-of-care testing can decentralize syphilis testing. Effective syphilis self-testing pilots suggest the need for further attention and research. In terms of clinic-based strategies, modifying default clinical procedures can nudge physicians to more frequently recommend syphilis testing. In terms of non-clinic based strategies, venue-based screening (e.g. in correctional facilities, drug rehabilitation centres) and mobile testing units have been successfully implemented in a variety of settings. Integration of syphilis with HIV testing may facilitate implementation in settings where individuals have increased sexual risk. There is a strong need for further syphilis testing research and programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress response system is highly plastic, and hormone rhythms may “adaptively calibrate” in response to treatment. This investigation assessed whether stress and sex hormone diurnal rhythms changed over the course of behavioral treatment, and whether callous-unemotional (CU) traits and history of early adversity affected treatment results on diurnal hormone functioning in a sample of 28 incarcerated adolescent males. It was hypothesized that the treatment would have beneficial effects, such that healthier diurnal rhythms would emerge post-treatment. Diurnal cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) were sampled two weeks after admission to the correctional/treatment facility, and again approximately four months later. Positive treatment effects were detected for the whole sample, such that testosterone dampened across treatment. CU traits predicted a non-optimal hormone response to treatment, potentially indicating biological preparedness to respond to acts of social dominance and aggression. The interaction between CU traits and adversity predicted a promising and sensitized response to treatment including increased cortisol and a steeper testosterone drop across treatment. Results suggest that stress and sex hormones are highly receptive to treatment during this window of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social determinants contribute to health disparities. Previous research has indicated that community trauma is associated with negative health outcomes. This study examined the impact of community trauma on sexual risk, marijuana use and mental health among African-American female adolescents in a juvenile detention center. One hundred and eighty-eight African-American female adolescents, aged 13–17 years, were recruited from a short-term detention facility and completed assessments on community trauma, sexual risk behavior, marijuana use, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and psychosocial HIV/STD risk factors. Findings indicate that community trauma was associated with unprotected sex, having a sex partner with a correctional/juvenile justice history, sexual sensation seeking, marijuana use, affiliation with deviant peers and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms at baseline and longitudinally. Findings reinforce the impact of community-level factors and co-occurring health issues, particularly in high-risk environments and among vulnerable populations. Structural and community-level interventions and policy-level changes may help improve access to resources and improve adolescents’ overall health and standard of living in at-risk communities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Incarcerated women frequently report initiation of substance use and sexual encounters at an early age, and often engage in high-risk drug use and sexual behaviors as adults. This study examined the timing of first sex, drug use, and arrest, as well as their unique influences on specific risky behaviors in adulthood, among a high-risk population of rural women recruited from jails. Ages of initiation were all positively and significantly correlated, and each independently increased the likelihood of several risky behaviors in adulthood. Implications are discussed for screening, intervention, and treatment targeting high-risk women and girls in rural areas, particularly within criminal justice settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The current study evaluated effects of an adapted version of Mindfulness-Based Relapse Prevention (MBRP) on several psychosocial indices in a sample of incarcerated adult males with substance use disorders. Method: This study used a 2 (baseline vs post-session) × 2 (MBRP vs. treatment-as-usual (TAU) mixed design. Twenty-four incarcerated individuals with a history of substance abuse were randomly assigned to either MBRP or TAU. At pre- and post-session assessment points, participants completed the Drug Use Identification Disorders Test- Extended (DUDIT-E), the Drug Avoidance Self-Efficacy Scale (DASE) and positive//negative outcome expectancies (Ep//En). The Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) was completed in each weekly session of MBRP. MANOVA and repeated measures ANOVA examined changes between and within subjects, with the significant level set at 0.05. Results: No between-group differences were found on positive outcome expectancies or self-efficacy. Differences BDI-II scores among MBRP participants showed a downward trend over time. A Group × Time effect emerged for negative outcome expectancies, with significant differences between groups at post-course assessment. Conclusions: Results from this randomized trial suggest pre- to post-intervention trend-level effects of MBRP on depression, and significant group differences over time and at post-course on negative outcome expectancies, with the MBRP group reporting increases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to evaluate a brief version of the Marijuana Effect Expectancy Questionnaire (MEEQ; Schafer & Brown, 1991). The original MEEQ was reduced to 6 items (MEEQ-B). Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed and two factors were identified (positive effects and negative effects) accounting for 52.3% of the variance. Internal consistencies (0.42 to 0.60) were slightly lower than those of the original MEEQ. The negative effect expectancy scale correlated with criterion variables that assess marijuana use (p≤05). This measure is a helpful tool for clinicians to use when assessing youth expectancies. Replication across different samples of adjudicated youth is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research has established that both exposure to community violence and family functioning are predictive of various forms of psychological distress in adolescents. This study examined whether predictors in this area interact in such a way that the relation of community violence exposure to psychological distress in serious male juvenile offenders is moderated by caregiver-adult support and caregiver control. A heterogeneous sample of 116 male incarcerated adolescents (aged 12-18) was administered measures evaluating exposure to community violence, caregiver-adult support and control, and different forms of psychological distress. As expected, a significant caregiver-adult support by violence exposure interaction was found for alcohol/drug use and depression/anxiety. The implications of the findings for understanding and treating serious male juvenile offenders are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incarcerated mothers (n = 357) at a maximum-security prison participated in a study of the relationship between contact and parenting stress, using the parenting stress index for incarcerated women (PSI-IW; Houck & Loper, 2002). The study examined contact before incarceration and the frequency of telephone, letter, and visitation contact during incarceration, as well as stress related to attachment, parental competence, and visitation. Mothers who were responsible for their child's care before incarceration were more likely to write letters at least several times a week, speak with their child on the telephone at least once a week, and receive visits from their child at least four times a year. Results indicated that higher levels of contact between mothers and their children were associated with reduced levels of parenting stress. In particular, letter writing during incarceration was associated with increased attachment and improved sense of parental competence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides information on a study that compares the risky sexual and drug use behaviors among a sample of 138 African American and Cuban American adolescent juvenile offenders. Subsequent to informed assent and parental consent, assessment measures were administered orally to facilitate accurate reporting, full completion, and to compensate for any difficulties in reading comprehension. Racial and ethnic disparities exist in HIV seroconversion rates, with African American and Hispanic youth in the 13-19-year-old age group representing 61 % and 21 % of new AIDS cases, respectively. Cuban American adolescents showed higher levels of unprotected sex, higher levels of sex while using drugs, and higher levels of drug/alcohol use in the three and six months prior to confinement. These differences may be explained by multiple factors, including differences in acculturation levels among the Cuban American adolescents, differences in health messages targeted at the two groups, and family mores and norms. This study was part of a larger U.S. NIH-funded HIV risk reduction intervention among an ethnically diverse sample of detained/confined adolescents in south Florida.

An anger therapy intervention was developed for incarcerated adult males. The therapy was an extension of cognitive-behavioral approaches, incorporating principles and practices drawn from Buddhist psychology. Adult males from a Midwestern low-security prison were randomly assigned to either a treatment group (n = 16) or a waiting list control group (n = 15). Following a 10-session intervention, treated participants exhibited significant reduction in anger relative to those in the control group. Greater reductions in anger for the therapy group was mediated (p = .07), by greater reduction in egotism relative to the control group. Contrary to predictions, anger reduction was not mediated by increases in empathy. Implications for designing and delivering interventions in prison settings are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary bladder catheter encrustations are known complications of long-term urinary catheterisation, which is commonly seen in clinical practice. These encrustations can impede deflation of the balloon and therefore cause problems in the removal of the catheter. The options in managing an encrusted and incarcerated urinary bladder catheter include extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and lithoclast. We describe here another technique of dealing with a stuck and encrustated catheter, via direct crushing of the encrustations with a rigid cystoscope inserted through a suprapubic cystostomy tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]