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Objectives: To examine whether the likelihood of guilty dispositions and the manner of sanctioning prison misconduct differs across racial/ethnic groups, with emphasis on sanctions other than solitary confinement. Methods: A random sample of men incarcerated in a large Northeastern state prison system is analyzed. Propensity weights are estimated by Black–White and Hispanic/Latino-White prehearing characteristics. Weighted logistic regression is used to examine guilty verdict, weighted multinomial logistic regression is used to examine type of sanction, and weighted ordinary least squares regression is used to examine length of sanction. Results: Findings reveal disproportionality in the likelihood of receiving a misconduct write-up, though reduced likelihood of guilty verdict among Black charges. Minor non-restrictive sanctions are used less among Black individuals and loss of privileges is used more often among Hispanic/Latino individuals, while disciplinary confinement is used more often among White individuals. Black and Hispanic/Latino individuals receive longer sentences for certain sanction types. Some effects are conditional on offense severity. Conclusions: Differential imposition and length of seemingly lenient sanctions may disadvantage Black and Hispanic/Latino groups for rehabilitative resources, while imposition of solitary confinement may disadvantage White groups in terms of restrictive damages. Parity should be sought in the implementation of sanctions for similarly severe misconduct. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This article examines the reception of Cesare Lombroso in the British popular press from the late 1880s to the mid-1890s, the period of greatest resonance for the Italian criminologist in the British context. My contention is that, following the introduction of Lombroso’s concept of the criminal man in 1887, British newspapers actively disseminated his controversial and sensational theories in their crime news coverage, while also linking his work to discussions about rising recidivism and the failings of the British prison system, all aimed at enhancing circulation. The effect, I argue, was to shape a cultural climate that was ultimately conducive to the creation of the Departmental Committee on Prisons, that is the Gladstone Committee, in 1894. Finally, I suggest that it was precisely the awareness of Lombroso’s increasingly pervasive presence in the press, perceived as potentially damaging to Britain’s medico-legal establishment, that prompted many specialists to invest considerable time and effort in challenging his theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The number of older adults in prison is increasing. Both dementia and mild cognitive impairment are becoming more prominent issues within the prison system. This paper explores the opinions and accounts of staff working alongside older prisoners with dementia to highlight current care, complexities of care provision, and areas for necessary development. Eight professionals were recruited to a nominal group discussion. Five themes were identified: 1) staffing; 2) security versus care; 3) distorted pathway to specialised services; 4) bespoke specialised facilities; and 5) compassionate release. The group highlighted the discrepancy between the needs of those with dementia and a lack of care and understanding within the prison system. Proposed areas for improvement included more thorough training, improved dementia care pathways, and the need to adapt the prison environment to be more appropriate for those with dementia. There is a lack of empirical evidence to understand how best to provide care for this vulnerable group. The gap between the standard of community and prison health and social care for this population should be addressed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Latin America is the most violent region in the world. Recent research on the causes of crime have concluded that institutional effectiveness and corruption appear to be relevant variables explaining variations in crime trends. However, there is scarce research that focuses on understanding how these variables impact the criminal justice system and how they may affect crime. This paper aims to add to the literature by providing a theoretical framework on how effectiveness and corruption affects crime. Further, it reviews the current state of the criminal justice system in Latin America (i.e., the police, the judiciary, and the prison system) and offers a summary of how effective and corrupt these institutions are. Based on a high-level overview of primary research it is found that the criminal justice system is ineffective and suffers from high levels of corruption and, consequently, its capacity of capturing, judging and rehabilitating criminals is limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Copyright of Forensische Psychiatrie, Psychologie, Kriminologie is the property of Springer Nature 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.) more...

Copyright of Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung is the property of Springer Nature 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.) more...

Over the years, there has been an increase in the number of people sent to prison for a sexual offence, yet there is a lack of research exploring the experiences of those with sexual convictions within the prison system, and the factors that help or hinder their progression towards release. This research aimed to explore the experiences of individuals with sexual convictions who have progressed to an open prison but have been recalled back to a closed prison. The research took a qualitative approach, undertaking semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals who had moved back to a closed prison. Thematic analysis was used, eliciting two main themes. First, failure was the only option, relays how participants felt they were bound to fail at open conditions, largely due to a lack of information which meant they did not know what to expect, and a lack of support upon arrival. They also felt stigmatised because of their convictions. A different world centres around participants reporting entering into an unfamiliar environment in open conditions, leaving them unsettled. It also describes the difficulties participants had adjusting to the freedom of open conditions but also the delays they experienced. Implications for practice and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Men over 50 years of age are the fastest-growing population group in the prison system, leading to the prison service of England and Wales now becoming recognised as the largest provider of residential care for older men. Roughly one in five prisoners (18%) is over 50 years of age. This paper focuses on the impact on both staff and prisoners of developing an understanding of the needs and concerns of older prisoners during prison officer training. The authors approach the study of the older prison population from their respective disciplines—criminology and health. Both authors are aware of the necessity for custodial staff to be prepared and equipped to respond and manage a growing number of individuals who are vulnerable and appreciate the need for prison staff to be supported in this process, with an understanding of the complexities that come with housing large numbers of ageing men within a custodial setting. This article explores the provision of training for newly recruited prison officers and considers what good practice might look like. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In recent years, research on older prisoners in England and Wales has expanded significantly, and the term "older prisoner" is now well entrenched in the prison-based literature. Those prisoners who are over the age of 50 are now the fastest growing demographic in the prison system and they present with a wide range of specific health and social care needs. This paper provides an overview of the main challenges facing older prisoners in the context of their health and social care needs, including the development of mental health problems such as Alzheimer's and dementia, as well as challenges related to mobility and engaging in structured activities in prison. This paper also considers the issue of dying in prison for older prisoners as well as the challenges of resettlement and reintegration post-release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The existing literature has devoted relatively little attention to the responsivity principle and, in particular, religiosity as a type of specific responsivity. Using a sample of nearly 2,000 people incarcerated in Minnesota's prison system, this study examined the relationship between religiosity and measures of risk, needs, and responsivity. The results showed that religiosity was positively associated with childhood trauma, pro-social identities, and perceived social support, while it was negatively associated with criminal thinking and employment needs. Findings further revealed that religiosity was associated with less prison misconduct and reduced recidivism risk, but only for people with positive self-identities, according to Paternoster and Bushway's Fear of Self scale, and lower levels of perceived social support. We discuss the implications of these results for theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Building on the growing literature on the varying degrees and dimensions of prisoner governance across prison systems, this paper aims to understand how such governance, and reforms to reduce its informal influences, shape prisoner experiences in Estonia and Lithuania. Estonia has limited the influence of prisoner governance through the creation of a cell-based prison system, while Lithuania has maintained penal colonies in which prisoners largely self-govern. Utilizing a metaphor approach to the pains of imprisonment, we offer the concept of an imposition gradient to capture variation in the experience of the weight and tightness produced by both prison authorities and prisoners themselves across our cases. The paper makes three contributions: first, it aims to explicitly assess the relationship between varieties of prisoner governance and penal subjectivities. Second, it rethinks the relatively static metaphors of weight and tightness as fluid and dynamic experiences shaped by the degrees of prisoner governance present within prison systems and particular spaces of particular prisons. Third, the paper speaks to recent appeals to develop comparative research into varieties of imprisonment regimes, deepening comparative theories of prison order across the Global North and South. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study aimed to characterize pharmaceutical services (PS) in the prison system of Rio Grande do Sul in terms of organization and infrastructure in the context of primary health care. This is a descriptive study, with a cross-sectional design carried out between August and September 2022. Data collection was carried out remotely, using a questionnaire prepared and adapted based on the Pesquisa Nacional sobre Acesso, Utilização e Promoção do Uso Racional de Medicamentos no Brasil (PNAUM - Brazilian National Survey on Access, Use and Promotion of Rational Use of Medications in Brazil). A total of 51 prison units participated in the survey. There is no specific area for the pharmacy in most prison units, with only one place for storing medications. There are no standard operating procedures for PS activities in 78.4% of prison units. In 9.8% of prison units, the presence of a pharmacist was mentioned. No medication storage conditions are monitored in 31.4% of sites. Medication fractionation was reported by 78.4% of prison units. Medications are dispensed in 3.9% of prison units. The PS overview in the prison context reveals important weaknesses and the need to adapt to current regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This Article considers whether and how theories of abolition developed by criminal law scholars are transferrable to the realm of immigration enforcement. A key question is how abolitionist principles might be employed in support of critiques of the United States' immigration regulatory regime in the same way that these principles have been deployed in denouncing racialized policing and an injurious, industrialized prison system. This Article makes two contributions: First, it identifies and illuminates a methodology adopted by critical and decarceral criminal law scholars: (i) denouncing the harms of a structural system, (ii) identifying the normative justification(s) for this system, and (iii) proposing alternatives that might adequately, or in a superior way, satisfy those principles, ideally in a more humane, equitable, and cost-efficient manner. Second, this Article demonstrates the exigent necessity of mapping this methodology onto the logic of immigration enforcement. To do so, this Article highlights the challenges that confront abolitionists in the complementary arenas of immigration scholarship and activism. Importantly, scholars have omitted the key step of unearthing possible normative justifications for immigration enforcement. Many have begun proposing alternative systems without first considering whether immigration restrictions have any normative foundation upon which to stand. This Article elucidates some possible operating principle(s) of the immigration regulatory system and critiques each in turn. Finally, this Article concludes with a clarion call urging clarification by scholars and activists about which aspect of immigration enforcement merits abolition--detention, deportation, or exclusion--if not all three. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

By some estimates, tens of thousands of individuals are currently wrongfully convicted and serving time in the United States' prison system for crimes they did not commit. Further concerning is that one of the most common reasons for these unjust outcomes rests with the use of jailhouse informants who often lie in exchange for time off their own sentences. While many other reasons exist for this epidemic, curtailing corrupt jailhouse snitches in order to reduce the harm they commit against innocent citizens is within our grasp. This Article purports to offer several solutions to reduce and in some cases eliminate the danger posed by these liars. It begins with the history of jailhouse informants and their role in the American Justice System. In then explains the devastating repercussions of wrongful convictions on the individual, their families, and society as a whole. Next the author lays out the current legal landscape at both the federal and state level as it pertains to the use of these informants by prosecutors as well as proposed solutions for reducing the possibility of wrongful convictions from occurring. Finally, the Article sets out its own proposals for ways jurisdictions can protect the integrity of our justice system through ensuring the accuracy of the testimony jailhouse witnesses provide. "Ultimately, from both an emotional and financial viewpoint, limiting snitches' testimony from the onset addresses the harm they cause more effectively than forcing the wrongfully convicted to prove their innocence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Using a sample of nearly 2,100 people incarcerated in Minnesota's prison system, this study examined the concurrent and predictive validity of a needs and responsivity assessment system. For concurrent validity, we evaluated the relationship between the 13 needs and responsivity domains with assessed recidivism risk levels. For predictive validity, we analyzed the association between the domains and recidivism for a sub-sample that had been released from prison prior to 2023. The hypothesized needs domains – anti-social thinking, anti-social peers, education, employment, substance use disorder, housing/homelessness, and family/domestic – were significantly associated with assessed and observed recidivism, while most of the hypothesized responsivity domains – mental health, religiosity, motivation and learning style – were not. The results suggest self-identity is a distinct criminogenic need. Gender and racial/ethnic differences for concurrent and predictive validity were relatively minimal across the 13 domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Copyright of Journal of College of Sharia & Islamic Studies is the property of Qatar University 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.) more...

This article analyzes, from the perspective of interdisciplinary approach, the status of the educator – a public servant with special status in the Romanian prison system, as well as the opportunity for career development through the professionalization of the occupation of prison educator. The research employs a systemic method for the structured approach to the topic, as well as for the analysis of principles of administrative law and criminal execution law. The logical method serves as the foundation for identifying reasoning and legal benchmarks both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the analysis highlighted in this article aims to raise awareness of the need for career development for educators within the Romanian prison system and to build a legal and social framework conducive to adopting the professional status of the educator – a public servant with special status in the Romanian prison system. more...

The well-being of older adults is influenced by their physical and mental health, their opportunities to complete activities of daily living effectively and autonomously, as well as their social connectedness, meaningfulness and positive outlook to the future. Older adults with a prison sentence face numerous challenges that affect their well-being and influence their opportunities to age well. This paper aims to synthesize and analyse factors that determine what opportunities older adults have during and after their prison sentences in Germany. Data from several studies by the authors are used to identify factors affecting ageing processes. Older adults with a prison sentence are a heterogeneous population in Germany where health conditions, social relations and impairments vary on entry in the prison system. Regional differences in sentencing as well as support structures within the prison system further affect older adults' health and opportunities to lead self-determined lives after their release. While factors influencing older adults with a prison sentence and their ageing are identified, more research is needed to evaluate the impact of each of them to assess older adults' well-being after their release from prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Objective: This article examines whether incarceration influences a change in political beliefs for those incarcerated and the extent to which it affects more vulnerable groups, including women and people of color. Method: I use a series of logit models to analyze responses to the Marshall Project's 2020 prison survey. Results: My analysis reveals a significant change in political beliefs since being incarcerated. There is an increased effect of changing political beliefs for women and people of color incarcerated. The effect reveals that people of color are becoming, either for the first time or further aligned, with the Republican Party since being incarcerated. Conclusion: The experience of violence and abuse while incarcerated extends the tools of white supremacy in the prison system by influencing feelings of shame, hopelessness, and cultural inferiority, further aligning vulnerable groups to conservatism and whiteness. My Incapacitation theory begins to explain the change in political beliefs due to the carceral system's use of incapacitation and its long‐term effect on political behavior of incarcerated groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Hyde Park Barracks in Sydney, Australia, was opened by Governor Macquarie in 1819. As an institution it stood at the intersection of new and fashionable discussions about prisons and imprisonment, naval discipline, and the emergence of a diligent and Methodist-influenced culture of clerks. Together they created the meaning of the walls and wards, the fabric of the building. Confinement produced "Barrackmen," a distinct subculture produced outside the notions of labour and centered on pain. The author accesses the Barracks by examining the Bench Book of 1820-1821, a rare surviving document of the late Macquarie period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This paper focuses on the current development of the Czech prison system, which feels the strain from prison overcrowding, the need to improve resocialization programmes, and to lower penological recidivism. The paper places particular emphasis on the growing share of women serving prison sentences. An additional area of discussion highlights the need for economic sustainability of the prison system. Said proposals could improve the financial circumstances of the prison system and raise the chances of successful prisoner reintegration into society, precisely because of the employment rate. This paper aims to illustrate the significance of the restorative approach in justice (in contrast to the retributive approach) in combination with economic effectiveness that it can assist in ensuring a stable prison system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This article analyzes, from the perspective of interdisciplinary approach, the status of the educator - a public servant with special status in the Romanian prison system, as well as the opportunity for career development through the professionalization of the occupation of prison educator. The research employs a systemic method for the structured approach to the topic, as well as for the analysis of principles of administrative law and criminal execution law. The logical method serves as the foundation for identifying reasoning and legal benchmarks both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, the analysis highlighted in this article aims to raise awareness of the need for career development for educators within the Romanian prison system and to build a legal and social framework conducive to adopting the professional status of the educator - a public servant with special status in the Romanian prison system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco 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.) more...

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco 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.) more...

Copyright of Dilemas Contemporáneos: Educación, Política y Valores is the property of Dilemas Contemporaneos: Educacion, Politica y Valores 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.) more...

With increasing numbers of prisoners, research on Swedish prison officers' perceptions of management and support at work is warranted. Previous studies have mainly used a variable-centered approach, identifying several individual and organizational factors that influence prison staff's evaluation of their job. The present study adopted a person-centered approach, exploring the heterogeneity in a Swedish national sample of prison officers. Based on an extensive survey of the quality of prison job, 10 key predictors for overall prison regime evaluation were identified. Following latent class analysis, three distinct subgroups were discerned from the entire sample. Remarkably, a sizable subgroup with a relatively negative evaluation of the prison regime was observed. While most background covariates did not associate with the subgroup membership, prison officers who experienced violent or threatening incidents tended to report a negative evaluation of the prison regime. Intra-organizational social support, communication and loyalty are highlighted as key components of overall regime evaluation. Our findings suggest that enhancing collegial, management, and supervision support and communicative skills may increase prison officers' job satisfaction. Beyond the organizational level of prisons, we also discussed the challenges that the Swedish prison system faces, along with the portrayal by social media of a violence-dominated environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This article explores the factors contributing to drug‐related deaths in English and Welsh prisons between 2015 and 2020. Based on content analysis of all Prison and Probation Ombudsman 'other non‐natural' fatal incident investigation reports, descriptive statistics were generated. Qualitative analysis explored the circumstances surrounding deaths and key risk factors. Most deaths were of men, whose mean age was 39 years. Drug toxicity was the main factor in causing death, exacerbated by underlying physical health conditions and risk‐taking behaviours. A variety of substances were involved. New psychoactive substances became more important over time. A high proportion had recorded histories of substance use and mental illness. During this period, the prison system was under considerable stress creating dangerous environments for drug‐related harm. This study highlights the process of complex interaction between substances used, individual characteristics, situational features and the wider environment in explaining drug‐related deaths in prisons. Implications for policy and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

In recent years Scotland has been experiencing a disproportionally high number of drug related deaths compared to other European countries, causing significant individual, societal and economic burden. A possible cause of this is the increase in average number of substances involved in Scottish drug related deaths, as well as the changing pattern of substances involved. Opioids, cocaine, and alcohol have been consistently involved in the culture of drug use in Scotland, however recently National Records Scotland have identified that designer benzodiazepines such as etizolam, and prescription drugs such as gabapentinoids are increasingly being detected in Scottish toxicology reports. A systematic literature review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted through searching PubMed and Google Scholar to identify peer-reviewed articles published in English between 2013 and 2023 that investigated Scottish population data on gabapentinoids and etizolam to establish their contribution to the rise in Scottish drug related deaths. 18 studies were included in the review. A high use prevalence of etizolam and gabapentinoids in Scotland has been identified, with both substance-related deaths showing recent increase, marked since 2015. This pattern is replicated in the Scottish prison system. There has also been a significant increase of gabapentinoids prescriptions in Scotland. Polydrug use was identified as the most common determinant of both etizolam and gabapentinoids related adverse effects and fatality in Scotland, especially concurrent opioid use. The results indicate the literature on individual characteristics of Scottish at-risk users of gabapentinoids and etizolam is limited, however the data shows both substances are being used by older cohort, with adverse effects seen more in older women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This article reconstructs the earliest known movement for sex workers' rights in US history. It interprets collective assertions of due process as a strategy to overturn vagrancy laws, which permitted municipal officials to summarily commit 'common prostitutes' to the penitentiary for months. Mass arrests sparked an anticarceral movement of 'streetwalkers' who refused to be contained. Unlike the middle‐class Woman's Rights Movement, which sought equal rights for their own sake, streetwalkers acted to build a world in which they could control their own labour, have sex without punishment and move freely through their city. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

This study, based on Marxian theory, aims to fill an existing gap in discussions on modern slavery, i.e., the role of the state in institutionalized slavery. We analyze how the participation of the state in social relations, which has built and permeates the penal system, has transformed part of the working class, mostly composed of young and Black people that previously were part of the reserve army of labor, into an imprisoned reserve army of labor, allowing it to be exploited under conditions akin to slavery. We used the method of historical materialism to understand the essence of social relations that we observed over an eight-month period using on-site (in loco) research in seventeen prison units in the state of Minas Gerais and semi-structured interviews. Our analysis allowed us to grasp the expression of the working class overcoming common moral sense, as it is irrelevant whether industrial activities are legal or illegal from the perspective of value and capital accumulation. The difference lies in the particularity of Brazilian capitalist development, which imposed on Black people an intense process of impoverishment due to their initial exclusion from the processes of capitalist exploitation, determining a place for this population with numerous obstacles to the sale of their workforce in the sectors developed under capitalism and in unequal conditions of pay. In this way, with the development of Brazilian capitalism, we see the historical constitution of a predominantly Black stagnant superpopulation, in which the maximum amount paid for their working time is the minimum wage, incorporated by the State into slave labor in prison, especially from the political of rehabilitation and private management1 of the prison system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article reviews the design of the criminal justice system and trends in crime in Russia over the last two decades (2000–2020). First, we argue that the criminal justice system is built upon the idea of meeting quotas, which ensures its accountability to the Russian state and downplays its transparency and crime-control efficiency. Second, we analyse recent crime trends and argue that Russia has experienced a long-term drop in crime. Finally, we overview the available evidence on the enforcement of drug laws and the operation of the prison system in Russia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Summary: There is accumulating evidence that imprisonment is expensive but does little to address the underlying drivers of offending. At the same time, it is now recognised that a large proportion of prisoners are diagnosable with significant psychiatric disorders. In this piece we explore the potential role of psychiatry in addressing the societal challenge of a failing prison system. We argue that core psychiatric skills of engaging in balanced, values-based thinking and implementing sound clinical processes can play an important role in reducing reoffending risk. We briefly discuss some of the key challenges involved and outline several relevant service models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article discusses the legal issues related to pay-to-stay statues of U.S. states, particularly the provisions allowing the seizure of inherited property to recompense for a person's incarceration costs. Also cited are the claim that property seizure is an interference by states on a decedents' freedom to choose their beneficiaries, and the alleged disadvantages of said statutes like perpetuating a cycle of poverty and reducing the urgency of decarceration. more...

Copyright of Neue Kriminalpolitik is the property of Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG 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.) more...

Reentry programs represent an increasingly popular method to reduce recidivism for individuals exiting prison and jail systems throughout the United States. Most evaluations tend to focus on recidivism as the primary outcome of interest. Attrition, however, can function an important supplementary measure that complements recidivism outcomes. To demonstrate, we analyze a jail reentry program built around peer navigators serving as staff members that refer participants to necessary support services while also serving as a mentor to participants exiting jail. We use a combination of general linear models (GLMs), Mahalanobis distance matching (MDM), and panel regression to both predict attrition and compare recidivism outcomes between three attrition groups: program completers, program quitters, and matched controls. Participants that successfully completed the program did not avoid new convictions or reincarceration significantly more or less than matched controls. Participants that quit the program, however, saw significantly higher conviction and reincarceration rates compared to matched controls. The nuance added to our program evaluation by adding attrition as a differential factor is worth consideration by other reentry programs who may not be realizing the full picture of their results by presenting recidivism outcomes alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Aim: Criteria for the evaluation by the Constitutional Court of decisions on the execution of sentences. Methodology: Descriptive, documentary and content analysis. Findings: According to the Section 27 (1) of the Act on the Constitutional Court, the decision on the merits, i.e. the decision on the substance of the charge and the decision on criminal responsibility, or the decision on the guilt and the acquittal, can be the subject of a constitutional complaint. The final decisions -- the order not to proceed to trial and the order terminating the proceedings -- cannot be considered as decisions on the merits within the meaning of the Constitutional Court Act. However, these decisions can be examined in the context of a constitutional complaint, because they correspond to the Section 27 (1) of the Constitutional Court Act, the other decision ending the court proceedings. Value: So far, no academic article has been published that analyses which decisions of the penitentiary judges can be challenged by a constitutional complaint following the latest amendments to Act CCXL of 2013 (Act XCVII of 2023). The study gives an overview of the investigative criteria applied by the Constitutional Court in the reception and assessment of decisions on the execution of sentences. It also records the tests that the Constitutional Court has applied over the years. It presents the Constitutional Court's practice in prison cases, some of which it decided before and some after the entry into force of the Fundamental Law. An analysis of the decisions taken under the credit system introduced in the framework of the penitentiary system, from the point of view of whether these decisions can be challenged by means of a constitutional complaint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The recent crisis of violence in Ecuador raises the question of the reasons for the failure of a penitentiary system and its conversion into an export platform for criminal activities. Issues such as the quality of the governance of prison systems or the characteristics of the prison population are decisive in explaining the reasons why prison systems collapse and cease to guarantee the fulfilment of their role which is none other than custody and reintegration. At the same time, it denotes the need to revisit the theories that explain the way in which power relations are configured between the penitentiary institution and the people in its custody, and those that are established in turn between the subjects in custody and society. This theoretical review raises the question of whether it is possible to speak of an export theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Despite the growing body of literature on Prison Officers and therapeutic practitioners within correctional facilities, comparatively little research exists into prison volunteers. Using semi-structured interviews with caseworkers (n = 5), analyzed via Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, this study explores the experience of being a Prison In-Reach Caseworker, supporting the male ex-Armed Forces population in Greater London prisons. Through identifying three superordinate themes of the inherent moral values of the shared past, compassion and "in" versus "out" of the prison system, the study concludes that the caseworkers, working outside the boundaries of the correctional system, reject the label of "criminal" and its associated consequences, choosing instead to attribute value and dignity to the prisoners, both as ex-Armed Forces personnel, and as human beings. The findings offer an insight into the consequences of positive labeling for perspectives of redemption and desistance and suggest the need for further investigation into the experiences and impact of prison volunteers working with different populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Across research on incarceration and insularity, recent trajectories have challenged conventional understandings of islands and prisons as isolated, autonomous units. Instead, they have directed attention toward their capacity to establish relations, circuits and routes. Beyond the focus on mobility and exchanges, this literature criticised the association between insularity, incarceration and confinement as the outcome of specific colonial epistemologies. This article builds on these literatures to investigate the case of Sardinia, a large Mediterranean island that plays a key role in the Italian carceral regime by providing a destination for thousands of Italian convicts. Despite being an Italian and European region, Sardinia's past and present exhibit distinct colonial qualities, which are visible in the structure of its carceral estate. The case study exemplifies how islands can hardly be interpreted as isolated units, given that their histories and geographies have implications that extend far beyond their coasts. In the case of Sardinia, the island combines modern penitentiaries with dynamics reminiscent of previous periods in the history of punishment, specifically penal colonies and convict transportation. This case study illustrates the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach that is willing to question the conceptual categories adopted, particularly those of island, prison and colony. The article examines how research on incarceration and insularity has moved beyond previous paradigms that focused on confinement and isolation. It then applies the insights from the literature to the case study of Sardinia, a large Mediterranean island that has historically served a key role in the Italian prison system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The article presents an interview with John J. Lennon, a prison journalist, who discusses the failings of the American prison system and the process of rehabilitation. Topics discussed include the warehousing of mentally ill inmates, the impact of second-look legislation on sentencing, and the challenges of prison reform and clemency. more...

Copyright of Turkish Journal of History / Tarih Dergisi is the property of Istanbul University, Department of History 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.) more...

Copyright of Revista CES Derecho is the property of Universidad CES 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.) more...

This article explores the current status, evolution, and envisaged future of prison visits, analysing the shift in paradigm from traditional models to an increasingly digital format that demands specific policy amendments and fosters an empathetic approach towards incarceration. The discourse begins with an in-depth examination of the current prison visitation models, delving into the strengths, weaknesses, and potential of both in-person and video visitations. This exploration uncovers the critical shortcomings of in-person visits, such as limited accessibility due to geographical and logistical constraints, and the rising potential of video visits to bridge these gaps. Simultaneously, we highlight the challenges in implementing video visitation systems, focusing on issues such as equitable access to technology, appropriate surveillance, and privacy regulations. It underscores the need for considering both sides of the coin, i.e., the convenience and feasibility of video visits versus the potential risks to the privacy and dignity of incarcerated people and their families. The article then delves into the policy considerations necessary to ensure a smooth transition to video visitations, exploring regulatory and statutory amendments needed to safeguard incarcerated individuals' rights and ensure a more humane prison system. The analysis uncovers a pressing need for a robust framework that not only respects privacy rights and promotes familial ties but also supports an important goal of prisons – effective rehabilitation of incarcerated people. Proposing an idealised future model for prison visits, the discourse presents a hybrid approach that skilfully combines the strengths of both in-person and video connections. This innovative model reimagines the future of prison visits, suggesting a shift from punitive and impersonal methods to empathetic and relationship-focused practices that align with contemporary understandings of rehabilitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Copyright of Pacha: Journal of Contemporary Studies of the Global South / Revista de Estudios Contemporáneos del Sur Global is the property of PACHA REVISTA DE ESTUDIOS CONTEMPORANEOS DEL SUR GLOBAL 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.) more...

Dual harm behaviour has recently gained scholarly attention. Dual harm centres on a subset of people who display violent and self-harming behaviour. This study re-examines the differential profile characteristics identified in Europe for those who dual harm, using international data featuring a population study of a state prison system in the south-eastern United States. Three years of data produced 43,489 institutional events, from a custodial population of 22,918. Logistic regression analysis indicates that those who dual harm in custody had an overall rate of infraction 40–70% higher than those who engage solely in violence or self-harm, and five times higher than those without physical harm infractions. Dual harm was associated with higher rates of non-harm incidents (e.g. property damage and disorder), younger age, lower educational achievements on admission and less educational development during imprisonment, greater self-reported mental health need although not substance abuse, and fewer intimate relationships. Dual harm was related to more lethal acts of self-harm such as ligature or ingestion. This is the first study that applies the dual harm profile to prison data within the US. This study supports dual harm as a highly relevant construct within international custodial settings and offers policy implications for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Prison scholars have long noted prisoners' improvisation with materials and resources at hand (or bricolage) in ways that defy the prison regime. Yet longstanding scholarly perspectives which cite such bricolage as evidence for themes like "prison culture" or "resistance" have often distracted scholars from accounting for the specific features of organizational materials and operations that prisoners leverage in their bricolage, and distracted from the rather mundane nature of the practices—like grooming, cleaning, and eating—they thus serve. Drawing from interviews with de-incarcerated persons from a U.S. state prison system, and from documents memorializing the disruption of prison routines during COVID-19 pandemic in that same state, this article investigates the specific resources prisoners enlist in bricolage projects related to making and sharing meals. Those resources, I argue, are the material and organizational products and byproducts of the complex prison undertaking. The practices prisoners achieve are precarious, with low degrees of equifinality –there are only so many ways to accomplish them in contexts of comprehensive restriction. The COVID-19 pandemic threatened those delicate arrangements not only through problems in the acquisition of raw food materials, but also through disrupted institutional routines which offer the resources necessary to coordinate, assemble, and transform those materials into meals. This pattern comes into focus when the "prison food system" is approached as a consumption system like any other, though one which operates in a strictly regulated context with minimal materials and deeply curtailed choice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

Since December 2017, Canada's federal correctional system provides prisoners the opportunity to be assigned to living units according to their self-identified gender. Still organized around sex, conceptually and spatially, prison policies and procedures surrounding transgender prisoners require navigation to adhere to the rights of all prisoners. Based on interviews conducted between October 2019 and October 2021 with 74 correctional officers (COs) from the Canadian federal prison system, we discuss how correctional officers view and operationalize Canada's transgender policy to understand its unintended consequences for both prisoners and prison staff. Unintended consequences revolve around the potential risk for prisoner victimization, prisoner pregnancy, lack of adequate housing, strip search complications, officers' fear of being labeled transphobic, and uncertainty and discretion; all having effects on staff wellness. The policy, although well-intended, may potentially compromise prisoner safety, making correctional work even more stressful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...