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The case fatality rate (CFR) is an important metric in the correctional setting because it permits assessment of the lethality of an infectious agent independent of its underlying variations in transmissibility and incidence. Several studies have reported that incarceration is associated with both increased COVID-19 incidence and mortality. CFR, sometimes referred to as infection fatality rate for COVID-19, was used to compare mortality in a population at two points in time. A retrospective cohort study design was used to assess age-adjusted mortality among people diagnosed with COVID-19 in the Texas prison system and the Texas nonincarcerated population from January 1, 2020, through December 31, 2021. For each 6-month period under study, the Texas prison population had a substantially lower age-adjusted CFR compared with the Texas nonincarcerated population. However, in the absence of information on underlying COVID-19 severity, comorbidities, and other potential confounding factors in these two populations, it is difficult to make strong inferences based on a comparison of their CFRs. Future research, with careful attention to bias and confounding, should examine the specific health system factors that may be used to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with infectious disease outbreaks in prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article aims to frame the state violence and socio-ecological injustice perpetrated against prisoners through the lens of both critical environmental justice studies and the concept of the Wasteocene. We seek to uncover the socio-ecological relationships that have historically shaped the enforcement of the prison and waste systems through a focus on the Italian context during the Covid-19 pandemic. We explore the case of a jail in Campania, a region in the South of Italy infamous for its troubled waste management that has caused uncountable and entangled health, social, and economic harms. The jail is adjacent to an area with a long history of waste disposal practices and numerous legal conflicts and corruption scandals: all characteristics that make this case emblematic of the broader problem of carceral environmental injustice. We argue that carceral institutions are generative sites for examining the dynamics of violence, expendability, and wasting relationships that are built into their structures and core functions We also maintain that the Covid-19 pandemic has both uncovered and exacerbated such dynamics and therefore stands as a framing device that further corroborates our argument. We conclude with lessons and observations for scholars studying environmental concerns and carceral systems through a multidisciplinary lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detecting and monitoring prisoners who present a risk of committing terrorism is an important objective of prison authorities. A key practice in many prison services is for prison staff to observe prisoner behaviours that may indicate such risk. However, there is a dearth of research that systematically examines which behaviours signify, or prison staff consider to signify, terrorism risk. This study addresses this issue by systematically examining the nature and prevalence of different behaviours indicated across a large and unique international data set of both open and closed sources, which primarily focusses on Islamist groups and ideologies. Reflexive thematic analysis identifies 29 distinct behaviours (subthemes), brigaded under 6 domains of functioning (main themes). Tentative findings suggest that many behaviours are consistently identified across open and closed data sources, indicating these are similar in different jurisdictions – although how they manifest locally may not be – and in both the fields of research and practice. Whilst some behaviours may (also) signify general non-compliance in prisons, others appear more distinct in potentially signifying terrorism risk. Finally, this practice appears over-focussed on prisoner behaviours that signify risk, rather than protection or resilience. Findings are discussed in relation to theoretical, methodological, and operational issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the particularity of the work of the prison police, the prevalence of depression is increasing. To explore the influence mechanism of prison police depression, this study used questionnaire to measure burnout, work–family conflict, and depression of prison police in two follow-ups with 6-month intervals, and the number of valid subjects was 118. Cross-lagged analysis and longitudinal mediation analysis were used for data processing. The results showed that job burnout and depression among prison police can influence and predict each other. Work–family conflict significantly positively predicted depression. Burnout and work–family conflict are important predictors of changes in depression among prison police. The policy and practice implications of the findings are discussed at the end of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Design Methods Results Conclusions Impact Reporting Method Patient or Public Contribution to the Development of this Study To explore nursing students' lived experience of a clinical placement within healthcare in a prison, to gain an insight into the support provided prior to and during this unique clinical placement.An inductive phenomenological study.Participants included 14 nursing students from three undergraduate nursing programmes in England, Adult (n = 4), Learning Disability (n = 3) and Mental Health (n = 7). Following a clinical placement in a prison, each participant completed a semistructured audio‐recorded interview on MS Teams between October and December 2021. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis was completed.Two overarching themes were identified, ‘shock’ due to the (a) reality of prison; (b) overwhelming emotional impact and (c) frequency and severity of self‐harm and ‘surprise’ due to (a) the need to work with prison officers; (b) recognizing and addressing preconceptions of people in prison and (c) the development of clinical knowledge, skills and becoming a nurse.The need remains for a comprehensive strategy of preparation and orientation for nursing students before commencing a clinical placement in prison, which includes the development of knowledge and clinical skills to support the complex health and social care needs of people in prison.Our research identified the support provided to nursing students prior to clinical placement in prison varies considerably. The development of a preparation and orientation programme has the potential to reduce pre‐placement anxiety, emotional burden and support nursing students in addressing their preconceptions of people in prison. This approach is essential to support future nursing students to embrace the unique opportunity of a clinical placement within a prison, enhance their clinical knowledge and skills, and develop as a nurse.Our paper adheres to the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).None. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PRACTICE IMPACT STATEMENTResearch suggests that autistic individuals have qualitatively unique experiences of prison social environments, and that these experiences may have implications for autistic prisoners’ mental wellbeing and engagement with offending behaviour interventions. However, this has yet to be quantitatively tested. Using a sample of 177 adult prisoners from two UK prisons that exclusively house individuals with sexual convictions, this study tested a hypothesised double-mediation model, to investigate associations between autistic traits and prisoners’ readiness to engage with treatment, and whether this was mediated by experiences of the prison social climate and mental wellbeing. Results indicated that prisoners with higher levels of autistic traits had poorer experiences of prison social climates, which, in turn, predicted higher levels of anxiety and depression, which subsequently predicted reduced level readiness to engage with offending behaviour interventions. Implications for research and practice are discussed, emphasising the need for increased autism-related awareness and support provisions in prisons.The present study is a novel quantitative study, which is the first to statistically demonstrate that neurodivergence can significantly influence prisoners’ perceptions of prison social climates, mental wellbeing, and ultimately readiness to engage with rehabilitate interventions. As such, these findings emphasise the importance of embedding understanding neurodiversity in prison staff training, as well as considering and accommodating neurodiversity as a key dimension in the development of a prison’s rehabilitative culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess and compare the probability of tuberculosis (TB) transmission based on five dynamic models: the Wells–Riley equation, two Rudnick & Milton-proposed models based on air changes per hour (ACH) and liters per second per person (L/s/p), the model proposed by Issarow et al, and the Applied Susceptible-Exposed-Infected-Recovered (SEIR) TB transmission model. This study also aimed to determine the impact of model parameters on such probabilities in three Thai prisons. A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from 985 prison cells. The TB transmission probability for each cell was calculated using parameters relevant to the specific model formula, and the magnitude of the model agreement was examined by Spearman's rank correlation and Bland–Altman plot. Subsequently, a multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to investigate the influence of each model parameter on the estimated probability. Results revealed that the median (Quartiles 1 and 3) of TB transmission probability among these cells was 0.052 (0.017, 0.180). Compared with the pioneered Wells–Riley's model, the remaining models projected discrepant TB transmission probability from less to more commensurate to the degree of model modification from the pioneered model as follows: Rudnick & Milton (ACH), Issarow et al., and Rudnick & Milton (L/s/p), and the applied SEIR models. The ventilation rate and number of infectious TB patients in each cell or zone had the greatest impact on the estimated TB transmission probability in most models. Additionally, the number of inmates in each cell, the area per person in square meters, and the inmate turnover rate were identified as high-impact parameters in the applied SEIR model. All stakeholders must urgently address these influential parameters to reduce TB transmission in prisons. Moreover, further studies are required to determine their relative validity in accurately predicting TB incidence in prison settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the gender-specific needs and human rights of incarcerated individuals, focusing on the experiences of women and gender minorities in prison systems. Historically, prisons have been designed primarily for male populations, resulting in systemic inadequacies in addressing the unique physical, psychological, and social needs of female and gender-diverse inmates. Through a mixed-methods approach, including qualitative interviews and quantitative surveys, this research aims to highlight the disparities in health care access, mental health support, and safety provisions within correctional facilities. Findings reveal that women in prison face distinct challenges, including higher rates of trauma, increased vulnerability to abuse, and inadequate reproductive health services. Furthermore, gender minorities experience compounded discrimination, often leading to isolation, harassment, and inadequate access to gender-affirming care. The study emphasizes the importance of recognizing these gender-specific needs as fundamental human rights issues, advocating for policy reforms that prioritize the dignity, safety, and rehabilitation of all incarcerated individuals. This study explores the intersectionality of race, socio-economic status, and sexual orientation, demonstrating how these factors further complicate the experiences of marginalized populations within the prison system. Ultimately, the study calls for the implementation of gender-responsive strategies that incorporate human rights principles, ensuring that prisons are not only places of confinement but also environments that promote rehabilitation and respect for individual rights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social reintegration relies on the support given to prisoners not only during their reentry into society but also throughout their imprisonment. Our goal was to analyze the expectations reported by cisgender and transgender women returning to society and of the justice and social welfare professionals from the Brazilian prison system. Methods: A qualitative analysis using saturation sampling was conducted. The participants were selected through a non-probabilistic sampling technique. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with professionals involved in the management of the prison system and female former inmates. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using an open and focused coding process. Textual data was stored, organized, and coded using Atlas software according to emerging themes. Results: The study involved 15 professionals and 13 female former inmates, five of them identified as transgender women. Among the professionals, the age range went from 38 to 65 years old; they reported a work history in their respective fields, from 10 to 35 years, with an equal distribution across genders. As for the female former inmates, their ages ranged from 24 to 42 years old, and the most reported crime was drug trafficking. Their incarceration time varied from 1 to 8 years. Female inmates were vulnerable to abuse and violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional violence. Women in situations of prior vulnerability faced additional challenges during their sentences. Transgender women were even more neglected and discriminated against by the system. Despite the professionals being aware and concerned about vulnerabilities and the need to improve the reintegration process, in general, they were not sensitive to the gender perspective. There were no specific policies able to support social integration for this public. Conclusions: Data showed multifaceted challenges faced by female former inmates within the Brazilian prison system, highlighting the insufficient policies for both cisgender and transgender women. Additionally, the results revealed a lack of sensitivity among professionals regarding gender issues and their particularities in the prison system and social reintegration. These findings emphasize the need for a more comprehensive and intersectional approach that addresses the diverse socio-economic backgrounds of these individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study was designed to explore the reintegration process of individuals with recurring criminal behavior through institutional support in Central Jails of Peshawar and Dera Ismail Khan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The study adopted qualitative approach with a sample size of 30 interviewees from the target population in analogy with Creswell sampling technique. Data was collected through In-depth interviews (IDIs) under the purposive sampling technique, followed by thematic analysis. The primary objective of the study was to examine the current state of institutional support in the form of rehabilitation services available to recidivists in selected lock-ups. The study reveals that the sampled prisons didn't offer enough rehabilitation programs to help the inmates reintegrate into society upon their release. Though the prisons had facilities of religious education, vocational training and counselling for jobs-gaining in the case of post-release, but being insufficient these couldn't prove helpful in blocking the way of recidivism. The study suggests that the government should provide effective support in the form of maximum programs to help the prisoners become normal and useful citizens through engaging the services of sociologists as permanent employees at jails. By this way, they would be able to go out of the vicious circle of criminality forever and stand as productive members of society in different spheres of life. Apart from it, the concerned families and communities need to have friendly and positive attitude with member individuals committing crimes time and again. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the impact of the panoptic system on the reduction of violence and the rehabilitation of inmates. Conceived by Jeremy Bentham, the system promotes constant surveillance to instill discipline. The research aims to understand the control mechanisms in the prison system and their relationship with recidivism. The objectives include evaluating the system's effects on reducing violence, analyzing crime prevention strategies, investigating the psychological effects of surveillance, and improving professional training programs for inmates. The aim is to understand the interconnection between four key elements: the panoptic system, inmate monitoring, the sense of constant surveillance, and professional training. The system, based on constant surveillance, is effective in controlling and disciplining prisoners. Electronic monitoring helps prevent crimes and reduce overcrowding. Organizational culture affects inmate rehabilitation and prison efficiency. Training is crucial for inmate reintegration and prison management improvement. These elements highlight the need for innovative approaches to address prison system challenges. Society will benefit from a deeper understanding of the use of the panoptic system in reducing prison violence and rehabilitating inmates. The adopted methodology is systematic literature review, using various sources for in-depth analysis and pattern identification. This qualitative approach aims to comprehensively understand social phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following a chronic context of political crisis and violence (Antillano & Ávila, 2017; Antillano, 2023; Zubillaga & Llorens, 2023), Venezuela migration crisis of last years impacted on receptors countries such as Colombia and Perú (R4V, 2023). In particular, an exponential increase of foreign inmates in Peruvian prisons has triggered a renewed criminological discussion about migration and crime (Park et al., 1967; Brion, 1997). This article tackles an understudied aspect of this highly complex migration process: Venezuelans citizens facing pre-trial detention (74,5 %) or conviction sentences (25,5 %) in Peruvian prisons (INPE, 2024). Using a mixed methods approach we gathered statistics and conducted interviews of inmates and penitentiary agents to describe this new 'coexistence' in prisons. Furthermore, we discussed Venezuelan inmates' adaptation vis á vis Peruvian prison culture and whether criminal groups could expand or transplant their activities (Varese, 2011; Garzón & Olson, 2013) to receptors country such as Panamá, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and Chile. Thus, we argue that cultural importation dynamics take place at Peruvian prisons and, moreover, conflict emerged between two prison cultures and convict codes (one of them involving an inmate self-government background and the other familiarized with dialogued 'prison governance' schemes); these two different visions of 'what life in prison should be' struggle to impose their own ways to recreate conviviality and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the interactions between correctional officers and prisoners during transport between prisons, from the staff's perspective, based on a thematic analysis of 14 interviews with transport officers in Sweden. The three central themes in their stories regarding their work – namely, disciplinary discretion, interaction and compassion – were analysed by following the process of picking up the prisoner, interacting during the ride, and reflecting on the core components of the work. Correctional officers aim to work stepwise in building alliances, understand the prisoners' perspective and use discretionary discipline in verbal interactions to avoid physical violence. This facilitates a calm environment and smooth execution of the task, while also ensuring the officers' well-being. The results are in line with what is known from prison work and also reflect differences due to the limited space and time spent in transport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is based on 50 interviews and six written testimonies of 24 individuals convicted, incarcerated, and then released from penitentiaries in Switzerland. Focusing on emotional mechanisms inside and outside prison in a longitudinal perspective, this study explores their influence on desistance pathways. The incarceration experience shapes affective mechanisms, which are identified as delimited, dissimulated, and discredited. Upon release, it turns out that shifting from dynamics of emotional closure to dynamics of emotional (re)opening is critical in light of structural, relational, and emotional barriers to change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Penitentiary systems serve as breeding grounds for all kinds of diseases. Drawing upon new archival materials, this article examines the history of the management and reporting of epidemics in the Russian prison system from the late Imperial period to the present day. We use the case studies of cholera (1892-1893), typhus (1932-1933), and pulmonary tuberculosis (the 1990s) to examine how the general political and social conjuncture at different times affected the response of prison authorities to epidemics to show that, notwithstanding major shifts in society and polity, there was continuity in the management of epidemics by prison authorities in the long twentieth century. However, there were fundamental discrepancies in the way late Imperial, Soviet, and post-Soviet Russia reported epidemiological emergencies in prisons. We argue that Russia's tumultuous past has reinforced the tendency among the Russian penal administration towards a lack of transparency that has persisted to the present day, in relation to the latest, COVID-19, epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Peru, the excessive increase in the prison population turns out to be one of the most complex problems faced by the State in the framework of its prison policies. The purpose of this research is to determine the factors that have influenced the increase in the prison population in Peru between 2007 and 2022. The methodology used is explanatory with a mixed approach, divided into two stages: first, literature review with qualitative analysis and a second stage of empirical analysis with a quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional approach. The main result was the trend of increase in the prison population in Peru in the last fifteen years. At the conclusion level, it has been possible to determine that the most influential factors in the increase in the penitentiary population in Peru between the years 2007 and 2022 are the high rate difference between the admissions and discharges of inmates to penal establishments, the disproportionate increase in sentences that generate a longer stay in penitentiary establishments, the prohibition of extramural penitentiary benefits and the excessive use of preventive detention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the prosecutor breaches a plea bargain--e.g., by recommending prison instead of the agreed-upon probation--the defendant is entitled to a remedy: either sentencing in front of a different judge or plea withdrawal. However, if defense counsel objects to the breach, the prosecutor may halfheartedly change the recommendation to probation. Most courts have held that to be an effective "cure"--even when the judge then sentences the defendant to prison, as the prosecutor originally recommended. The right to cure, which was intended for commercial sates contracts, fails miserably in the plea-bargain context. In the above example, the attempted cure is too late, it fails to unring the bell of the earlier prison recommendation, and it violates the defendant's reasonable expectations under the plea deal. Further, when the judge dutifully sends the defendant to prison as the prosecutor originally recommended, it reeks of collusion and destroys the appearance of fairness. Most significantly, the cure doctrine creates a dilemma for the defense lawyer. If defense counsel does not object to the breach, the prosecutor will not be able to cure; therefore, if the judge sentences the defendant to prison, the defendant will receive a remedy on appeal--thanks to defense counsel's "ineffectiveness" in not objecting. Conversely, if defense counsel objects and the prosecutor "cures," the judge may still sentence the defendant to prison; however, the defendant will not receive a remedy--paradoxically, thanks to defense counsel's effectiveness" in objecting. This raises the question: Is ineffective the new effective? Perhaps, but intentional ineffectiveness carries risks for both defense counsel and the client. Therefore, this article develops an alternative response to prosecutorial breach that protects both the defense lawyer and the defendant, is highly efficient, and is undeniably fair--even to the breaching party that created the problem in the first place. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Eighth Amendment is meant to protect incarcerated individuals against harm from the state, including state inaction in the face of a known risk of harm. While the Eighth Amendment's protection prohibits certain prison disciplinary measures and conditions of confinement, the constitutional ambit should arguably encompass protection from the serious risk of harm of sexual assault, as well as a corollary to sexual violence: the likelihood of contracting a deadly sexually transmitted infection like HIV. Yet Eighth Amendment scholars frequently question the degree to which the constitutional provision actually protects incarcerated individuals. This Note draws on previous scholarship on cruel and unusual punishment and proposes a novel method for bringing an Eighth Amendment claim. This claim centers on advocating for access to preventative HIV medication in the form of a daily pill known as PrEP, utilizing a model litigant to ground the constitutional analysis and anticipate potential pitfalls. Through this novel claim, the Note joins the global movement to end the spread of HIV by protecting incarcerated communities from contracting the virus during their sentences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prison's culinary sphere is a vibrant social arena where the institution's power structure and dynamics are exposed, enforced, negotiated, and restructured. In Israel, the practice of cooking inside the prison cells is not officially permitted (or forbidden) but is generally tolerated by the prison staff. People in Israeli prisons form ethnic-based in-cell cooking groups, allot resources, and invest skills, time, and effort in cooking their own meals. In this article, we explore the meanings attributed to in-cell group cooking by people incarcerated in Israeli prisons. We applied interpretive phenomenological analysis to interviews with 18 people in prison. Three themes emerged from the participants' narratives: (1) in-cell group cooking as an ambiguous practice, (2) the cooking group as a hub for conflict resolution and maintenance of community life, and (3) the cooking group as an opportunity to preserve some aspects of out-of-prison identity and freedom. In the discussion, we introduce the term "culinary redemption" and argue that prison food is a powerful marker of "being inside," while the substantial efforts invested by people in prison to improve their diet and create alternatives aim at changing their self-perception from inmates to free persons, at least to a certain extent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As scholars apply the concept of "the carceral" to more and increasingly diffuse spaces of containment, displacement, and cordoning across free society, I call for a means by which "carcerality" is measured and understood as a productive force in the denial of constitutional rights and protections. I therefore provide a legal reading of carcerality, which establishes prisons as the sine qua non of the carceral landscape, preceded by an analysis of how the reliance on civil law, nuisance ordinances, and other methods of constitutional circumvention in the absence of criminal procedure works within the public sphere to punish residents residing within what Foucault called the carceral archipelago. Along the way I provide vignettes about my own experience with the legal and insidious forms of criminalisation and non‐criminal punishment that comprise the carceral continuum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, modelling studies suggest a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in incarcerated populations. However, limited HCV testing has been conducted in prisons. Through the Louisiana Hepatitis C Elimination Plan, persons incarcerated in the eight state prisons were offered HCV testing from 20 September 2019 to 14 July 2022, and facility entry/exit HCV testing was introduced. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate associations with HCV antibody (anti‐HCV) positivity and viremia. Of 17,231 persons in the eight state prisons screened for anti‐HCV, 95.1% were male, 66.7% were 30–57 years old, 3% were living with HIV, 68.2% were Black and 2904 (16.9%) were anti‐HCV positive. HCV RNA was detected in 69.3% of anti‐HCV positive individuals tested. In the multivariable model, anti‐HCV positivity was associated with older age including those 30–57 (odds ratio [OR] 3.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.96–4.20) and those ≥58 (OR 10.43, 95% CI 8.66–12.55) as compared to those ≤29 years of age, living with HIV (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.36–2.07), hepatitis B (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.25–2.69) and syphilis (OR 1.51, 95% CI 1.23–1.86). HCV viremia was associated with male sex (OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.36–2.63) and Black race (OR 1.42, 95% CI 1.20–1.68). HCV prevalence was high in the state prisons in Louisiana compared to community estimates. To the extent that Louisiana is representative, to eliminate HCV in the United States, it will be important for incarcerated persons to have access to HCV testing and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Bourdieusian study interrogates the practices of an Australian-based "user-manufacturer" of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs). Extending the concept of illicit drug "user-dealers", we draw upon a case study of an IPED user-manufacturer, "Meiko", to interrogate steroid-user habitus, the importance of reputation and community trust, and the minimization of risk through referral-only interactions and low-profile branding. Findings reveal a user-manufacturer community engaged in domestic production of IPEDs, aided by Chinese suppliers of raw powders who have set up facilities in Australia. This research highlights the complex dynamics underlying the underground market for IPEDs, emphasizing the interplay between cultural, economic, and bodily capital, and the strategic responses of user-manufacturers to their social context while challenging traditional notions of rational choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correctional officers (COs) work under stressful conditions and experience high rates of potentially psychologically traumatic critical incidents, and yet understanding of their mental health is limited. Therefore, the current study aimed to explore how correctional work impacts CO mental health. Twenty-two Australian COs (12 men, 10 women) working predominantly in high security prisons (91%) with male prison residents (50%) were interviewed about their mental health and workplace experiences. Reflexive thematic analysis of these interviews generated three key themes: the job changes you, it's a stressful job, and coping strategies. Officers showed both positive and negative changes to their sense of self, daily functioning, and mental health which were generally consistent with experiences of psychological wellbeing, posttraumatic growth, and burnout. These changes were impacted by a variety of operational and organizational stressors and were managed through adaptive and maladaptive coping strategies like social support, humor, and alcohol consumption. The findings support existing theories of the non-dichotomous nature of mental health and mental illness. Along with deepening understandings of CO mental health, this study provides guidance on how COs can be supported to be healthy and productive in the workplace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restorative justice encourages communication and restoration between individuals or groups where harm has been caused. This article reviews participant and facilitator experiences of restorative justice interventions in the forensic secure estate. During a systematic review we searched six databases acquiring 628 articles. We identified nine studies as suitable for inclusion with a total of 426 participants of restorative interventions. We identified three themes: Underlying Processes, Clinical Applications, and Internal Mechanisms of Change. We conclude that restorative justice can provide benefits to those who are involved in the process but are most effective when certain wider systemic conditions are met. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aims of this research were to explore custodial prison staff and male prisoners' perceptions toward self-harm, prison system responses and environmental impacts on self-harm. Four staff focus groups (thematic analysis) and 12 semi-structured interviews with male prisoners (interpretative phenomenological analysis) took place in three prisons in England. Prison staff attributed manipulative intention to self-harm; self-harming prisoners felt misunderstood. The prison environment and formal response processes were barriers for care access and provision. Recommendations include staff training in understanding and management of self-harm, supported by a care-focused culture, and fostering safety, security, empowerment and value for both prisoners and staff. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article presents insights from small-scale qualitative research exploring the intertwining nature of drug addiction and mental ill-health among men in Scottish prisons. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 men in two Scottish prisons. The men's narratives suggested that increased tension in prison halls had stimulated a huge surge in the use of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS), in turn increasing and deepening existing mental ill-health and violence. They believed health care in the prisons to be of low quality, and that methadone was prescribed as a mechanism for social control. Implications for future policy, practice and research are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reflects on the process of undertaking qualitative research with incarcerated individuals and prison staff in selected Ghana prisons. The challenges encountered during the planning, approval, and fieldwork stages, as well as measures adopted to address these challenges, have been discussed. The paper aims to serve as a guide to novel prison researchers in the sub-Saharan African context, given that the majority of studies on challenges and approaches to conducting prison research have come from jurisdictions outside the region. To this end, given the unique nature of the prison governance system in Ghana and other sub-Saharan African countries, this paper contributes to filling a knowledge gap in qualitative prison research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the court case Rokita v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, wherein the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of the inmate's claim of relief for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). It provides a background of MAT, filing claims and alleged violations of rights under the Eighth Amendment and the Americans With Disabilities Act. It reviews the dissenting opinion regarding the use of MAT in the prison system.

The article is dedicated to the study of an effective model formation of staff training in the penitentiary system. The role and importance of an effective model of professional training for the activities in the penitentiary system of Ukraine are determined. A comparative analysis is carried out according to the scientists' opinions on the definition of the concept of "professional competence". The place of professional training of penitentiary staff in the reform of the State Criminal and Executive Service of Ukraine is investigated. For a long period of time in the territory of modern Ukraine there has been a problem of uneducated penitentiary staff. In order to ensure the penitentiary staff acquiring the necessary knowledge and skills in modern Ukraine, an effective model of professional training of penitentiary staff has been constantly searched. The article pays special attention to the study of historical stages of formation of the training model of the penitentiary system staff in modern Ukraine. The author analyzes the current state of legal support for the staff training of the penitentiary system of Ukraine. The specialized educational institutions that provided training for the penitentiary staff of Ukraine during the XXth century and provide training, retraining and advanced training for the penitentiary staff of Ukraine in the XXIst century. The author characterizes the training model of the penitentiary system staff in the territory of modern Ukraine at each stage of its development. The importance of the selection of penitentiary staff for the formation of an effective model of professional training of penitentiary staff in Ukraine is revealed. The article examines the process of reforming the penitentiary system of Ukraine, in particular, the change in the structure of the penitentiary system of Ukraine and its impact on the formation of an effective model of staff training of the penitentiary system of Ukraine. The article considers the normative and legal acts that accompanied the process of reforming the penitentiary system of Ukraine, as well as their provisions on the professional training of penitentiary staff in Ukraine. The significance of the Strategy for Reforming the Penitentiary System for the period up to 2026 in the field of formation of an effective model for staff training of penitentiary bodies, institutions, pre-trial detention centers and prisoner of war camps of the penitentiary system of Ukraine. The main directions for improving the system of penitentiary staff training in Ukraine are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the increasing proportion of elderly individuals in the prison population and the unique challenges they face upon reentry into society. It also discusses the impact of physical and mental health issues, the lack of family support, and the challenges in securing housing and employment for older individuals post-incarceration.

This is an autoethnographic exploration of some of my experiences in prisons in both Mexico City and England. My writing is a way for me to try to understand my journey in the light of my research as a feminist criminologist, a tool for me to begin to comprehend my journey, deconstruct my trauma, and outline how I overcame my incarceration-based trauma (IBT). The essay shines a light on how women who have been imprisoned, long after their release, continue to carry the echoes of prison as trauma responses. Autoethnography is a means to explore and contextualize my experiences in a manner that makes them relevant and meaningful to the wider social fabric, as above, so below. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Criminal justice agencies increasingly recruit new personnel online using social media. This paper analyzes correctional officer recruitment videos appearing on YouTube. Engaging with literature on social media representations and authenticity, we examine the content and the themes appearing in these videos. We use a grounded theory approach to data analysis accompanied by a semiotic reading of these video texts. We argue that these video representations convey a sense of fantastical authenticity, meaning there is a mythical or embellished dimension to these depictions and accounts. We also find that these videos communicate establishment narratives about prisons and prison work. We also situate our analysis in broader literature on social media use and communications by criminal justice agencies. We conclude with reflections on what this means for understanding representations of criminal justice as well as social media use by prison authorities in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to their close proximity to those serving time, correctional officers may not only be agents of control but also agents of change. Although state departments of correction often target for recruitment those individuals who can fulfill the custodial role of the job, little attention is given to hiring a human service-oriented workforce. To fill that void, we surveyed 673 newly hired correctional officer trainees from three states to determine the extent and sources of their embracement of a rehabilitative orientation. Our findings provide insight for departments of correction concerning the potential facilitators and inhibitors of achieving their rehabilitative mission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been a "graying" of the prison population during the last several decades. Little research has been done on the psychological distress symptoms and treatment access of the growing older incarcerated population. This study considers how age affects rates of psychological distress symptoms and mental health treatment for incarcerated persons. Data included state respondents from the Survey of Prison Inmates, 2016. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between psychological distress symptoms and aging in prison. Binary logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between accessing mental health treatment and aging in prison. Older incarcerated individuals were more likely than younger incarcerated individuals to report feeling symptoms of psychological distress if they were not currently accessing treatment. Older individuals who had accessed treatment in prison were more likely to be currently accessing treatment than younger incarcerated individuals, and the longer one was incarcerated the less likely one was to access treatment. How do we ensure that those who need treatment are getting it? Especially those who have been incarcerated for a long time. Overall, this study shows that older incarcerated persons need continued access to treatment tailored to their unique needs as a group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Ethnotheatre is an art-based methodology and a critical and world-making practice through reflexive affect endeavour. It joins a group of people to participate in a theatre production about their symbolic and material world. We will debate the effects of this methodology on making ethnography the punctum of socially engaged performance projects. How can we research combining ethnography's gesture with artistic methodologies to learn common sociocultural riddles or quandaries of marginal and hopefully transitory people? Ethnotheatre effectively elicits the vernacular metacommunicative repertoire veiled in inmates' hidden transcripts. We explore the framing and potentials of the performative interview in a case study of immobile confinement. Combining ethnographic gesture with artistic world-making practice, we better apprehend and understand the symbolic sites where people may speak out. The world emerges when you make someone heard. We will discuss this methodological tool with a case study about confinement immobility, applying ethnotheatre to understand better how inmates live and resist in their prison's "invisible" ruled world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research aims to develop evidence-based recommendations for the prevention of human trafficking. Policies for combating such crime, including international, criminological, criminal-legal, penitentiary, criminological, and operative-investigative policies, are analysed. A comprehensive system of scientific and special legal methods, including methods of synthesis and analysis, formal-logical and formal-legal methods, as well as comparative-legal methods, were used to conduct the research. The research results are aimed at improving the effectiveness of measures to combat human trafficking. The experience of the leading countries, such as the USA, Portugal, and Qatar in the context of interaction of law enforcement bodies of different countries in the sphere of combating human trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the work is to optimise the training of prison staff in Ukraine according to international standards. The aim was achieved through the use of analysis, comparison, consistency coefficient, coefficient of efficiency, Spearman coefficient. The authors found that orientation to the system of training prison staff in Sweden can be used to transform the Ukrainian training system (0.93). This contributed to the development of learning mechanisms that included a combination of organisational, social, and psychological principles; ensured the relationship between theoretical and practical training. The development of practical skills and digital competence was also taken into account. It was revealed that the respondents achieved professional competence (7.2) and acquired skills in learning theoretical material (6.8) while solving situational problems. Solving real situations primarily affected the development of professional competence (7.3) and psychological skills (7.0). The practical significance of the work is transforming the prison staff training system based on innovative approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper examines the problematic issues of countering the criminal subculture in the conditions of the penitentiary system of Kazakhstan. Currently, the administration of these institutions, various state bodies, and numerous public organisations are engaged in the rehabilitation of prisoners. Through joint efforts, it was possible to stop the wide spread of criminal ideology in places of detention. At the same time, a detailed study of the current situation shows that the criminal subculture, primarily the phenomenon of "code-bound thieves", still plays a certain role there, since it was formed over many decades of Soviet and post-Soviet history. In modern conditions, this phenomenon has been significantly transformed, but nevertheless, it seeks to strengthen its influence in the penitentiary system of Kazakhstan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During their time in prison, inmates experience various types of provocation, abuse and degradation. The prison environment often causes them to become more aggressive, lazy, and lonely and some even develop mental illness. These feelings are so strong that it is very difficult for prisoners to escape from the traumas of imprisonment once their sentence is over. This is where choral activity comes in, an activity designed not only to relieve prisoners' feelings during their incarceration, but also to prepare them for social reintegration by helping them develop a wide range of practical and social skills. The present research studies the changes that occurred following a choral activity in Jilava Prison (Bucharest, Romania) over a two-month period in terms of aggression, antisocial behaviour and self-injury, using a self-report questionnaire. The experiences of the prisoners were also studied using an interview guide at the end of the choral activity. The concluding part of the article lists the benefits revealed by the research, followed by a series of recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment or the resocialization is the most important part of the prison sentence which methods can be individual and group. Motivated inmates and less resistance for the treatment are the main precondition for effective treatment. Appropriate behavior of personnel is the main factor for that result. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) as the most effective evidence based psychotherapy approach for offender population is a type for inmate treatment. CBT is a result of Aaron Beck pioneering work in the 1960s. CBT model is based on the triangle relationships between cognition, emotions and behavior. The cognition is defined as a product of the three levels: cognitive schemas, negative automatic thoughts and dysfunctional thinking or thinking errors. The inventory of risk, need and strengths (IORNS), an risk assessment instrument, based on Risk, need and responsivity (RNR) model, was used for selection of (N=27) inmates and CBT treatment pilot program final evaluation, in Macedonian prison Bitola. The evaluation was done by comparing pre and post test measures in (N=12) male inmates, as optimal number for group psychotherapy treatment. According to the RNR model the treatment program needs to be oriented to the inmates needs. Implementing CBT treatment program for group psychotherapy and IORNS as short screening tool in Macedonian prisons was the aim of the project supported by the Council of Europe in this work. The results showed significant lower Procriminal attitudes but higher Aggression because of higher Aggressive behavior in the post measures. Results and instrument can be used in next CBT programs evaluations for better rehabilitation of prison inmates and reducing recidivism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence shows that well-being for mental health in prison is an important component of prison rehabilitation efforts—including notably lowering recidivism rates after release. While support for well-being initiatives in U.K. prisons has grown, few prison programs offer a health-promoting focus or invest in well-being interventions. Therefore, this study seeks to replicate and extend emerging data on an innate health intervention. Volunteers from HMP Nottingham (N =127) participated in normal prison programming. The intervention group (n =66) received an additional 3-day intensive. This study found higher levels of innate health, self-control, well-being, and prosocial behavior and lower levels of aggression within the intervention group and as compared with the control group. Next, we conducted a mediation analysis to test if innate health, self-control, and/or social desirability bias could explain these positive changes. Importantly, innate health did play a mediating role equivalent to and/or partnering with self-control, whereas social desirability bias did not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Kriminologisches Journal is the property of Julius Beltz GmbH & Co. KG Beltz Juventa and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Foro Revista de Derecho is the property of Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar, Sede Ecuador and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Foro Revista de Derecho is the property of Universidad Andina Simon Bolivar, Sede Ecuador and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The practices of prefabricated buildings illustrate the incentives in prefabricated markets as well as the decision-making behavior of stakeholders, which can influence the transformation, upgrading, and sustainability of the buildings sector. The game between the stakeholders in the prefabricated buildings market becomes complicated by the fact that they dynamically adjust their strategies in response to changing market conditions. With the aim of quantitatively studying the implications of the dynamic decision behavior of prefabricated construction stakeholders on the prefabricated construction market, this study introduces component suppliers as participating agents and government subsidies and penalties as the main measures. And a three-way model of the evolutionary game involving government subsidies and punitive schemes is constructed by this study. The essay examines the evolutionary equilibrium strategies of each game subject as well as the effect of original strategies and different parameter choices on the decision-making of each subject using MATLAB. The findings reveal that (1) decision-making behaviors among the government, component suppliers, and developers are both interrelated and constrained, but governments are the dominant agents in the evolution of prefabricated buildings. (2) Parameters such as subsidies, penalties, costs, and benefits affect the stability of the tripartite evolutionary model, which remains consistent with the previous research. (3) Component suppliers have an equally important position in the development of prefabricated buildings as recognized entities such as developers and contractors. (4) When subsidies are kept at 40% of the incremental cost and penalties at 80% of the incremental cost, the model combines a fast evolutionary rate with stable model evolution. In conclusion, the article's research findings not only validate the rationality and feasibility of component suppliers as research subjects and confirm the importance of component suppliers but also propose a more reasonable boundary value for penalties and subsidies, which provides a reference for the government to improve the incentive and punishment measures as well as the dynamic adjustment strategy of stakeholders and also provides a new perspective to achieve the goal of sustainable development of construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is high time we took stock of the field of carceral history—something particularly true for the French-speaking world. In the last twenty years, the Francosphere has seen a frenzy of research activity centred on the prison, and more broadly around multiple forms of confinement. The field is being radically transformed under the watchful eye of a whole new generation of researchers who have produced numerous monographs, articles and colloquia on the subject. The research and thinking about the prison model that the current generation is developing diverges so completely from the classical revisionist historiography as to be unrecognisable, transfigured from previous iterations. The purpose of this article is to explore those recent transformations of the field following three parameters. The first is linguistic (reviewing only the work emerging from the Francosphere); the second is one of academic discipline (History); and the third is temporal (the emphasis is on research touching on the long pre-Revolution period). These three parameters provide a focused view, while remaining sufficiently widely relevant to identify the dominant trends in French-language research. This is set in the context of past research, of work that has been done elsewhere, and of what sets Francophone research apart from corresponding English-language scholarship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crime rates in Australia have declined or been steady over the past decade yet prison populations are at all-time highs. Similarly, unemployment rates have been low but unemployment for those ex-prisoners seeking work is very high. In this paper, we draw on the findings of an Australia-wide survey of government-funded employment service providers who support working-aged Australians including ex-prisoners in their search for work. We find that the heterogeneity of the needs of ex-prisoners coupled with the frugality and inflexibility of government policies and practices frustrates the abilities of these agencies to provide services to this target group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 50,000 older male veterans incarcerated in prisons are expected to return to their communities and utilize the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and community healthcare systems. To support the continuity of healthcare and overall successful community reentry of older incarcerated veterans, an understanding of their health profiles and treatment utilization while in correctional care is needed. Objective: To assess the health status of older male veterans incarcerated in state prisons and explore demographic, military, and VHA-related factors associated with medical conditions, disabilities, behavioral conditions, and medical and behavioral treatment utilization. Design/Participants: Cross-sectional observational study of 880 male veterans aged 50 + incarcerated in state prisons using data from the 2016 Bureau of Justice Statistics Survey of Prison Inmates. Main Measures: Veteran status, self-report health status, and treatment utilization since prison admission. Prevalence rates for conditions and treatment utilization were calculated. Logistic regression models were used to examine the association of characteristics with conditions and treatment utilization. Key Results: Among the 880 older male veterans in state prisons, the majority reported having a current medical condition (79.3%) or disability (61.6%), almost half had history of a mental health condition (44.5%), and more than a quarter (29%) had a substance use disorder. Compared to White veterans, Black veterans were less likely to report a disability or mental health condition. Few demographic, military, and VA-related characteristics were associated with medical or behavioral conditions or treatment utilization. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the VHA and community healthcare systems need to be prepared to address medical and disability conditions among the majority of older male veterans who will be leaving prison and returning to their communities. Integrated medical and behavioral healthcare delivery models may be especially important for these veterans as many did not receive behavioral health treatment while in prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]