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Background: For a long time, the penalty of imprisonment has been studied and criticized as ineffective in achieving the goals of resocialization and rehabilitation of offenders, and studies have associated incarceration with increased prevalence of disease. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended decarceration as a prevention measure. The aim of this review was to analyze the effectiveness of non-exposure to incarceration in preventing COVID-19 and mitigating associated events. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies comparing the adult general population (GP) and incarcerated population (IP). Results: We identified 1,334 publications without duplicates and extracted data from 22 studies. We found that COVID-19 incidence was 61% lower in the GP (RR = 0.39 [0.34, 0.45], p < 0.0001). Non-exposure to incarceration was associated with lower age- and sex-adjusted mortality (RR = 0.36, [0.27, 0.49], p < 0.0001). We did not find standardized data on age-adjusted case fatality. The hospitalized GP was older and showed a higher rate of obesity than the hospitalized IP; however, no statistically significant differences were found between the populations for admission to intensive care (RR = 0,91 [0.74, 1.13], p = 0.41) and hospital mortality (RR = 0.81 [0.54, 1.23], p = 0.32). Prevalence of the use of invasive mechanical ventilation was 23% lower in the GP (RR = 0.77 [0.70, 0.84, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Non-exposure to incarceration can be a strategy for preventing the spread of COVID-19 and reduces COVID-19 mortality in younger populations. Despite differences in age distribution and presence of comorbidities among the hospitalized GP and IP, we did not find any statistically significant differences between the two populations across most of the hospital-related outcomes. These findings should be interpreted with caution because it was not possible to determine a cause-and-effect relationship between the COVID-19 outcomes and exposure to incarceration. Registration: PROSPERO CRD42023446610. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractHarmonious organizational cultures where staff experience positive mental health outcomes are largely created by managers who practice servant leadership. For many correctional officers, this leadership style is missing from corrections, leading to harmful institutional cultures, and depleted officer mental health. To determine whether correctional cultures and officer mental health can be improved, a servant leadership intervention was randomly assigned to one jail in Tennessee, while two other jails served as comparisons. Paired samples t-tests and linear regression models revealed how servant leadership improved officer beliefs about organizational culture, and decreased their symptoms of depression, anxiety, and burnout. Supplementary Sobel tests indicated how the effects of servant leadership on officer mental wellness were partially mediated by their culture perceptions. A cost-benefit analysis, coupled with a discussion of how important institutional cultures and officer wellness are to correctional operations, are offered to support the expansion of servant leadership throughout corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research examines the validity of criminological theories of misconduct in jails, a setting often overlooked in research on this topic. Prior research suggests that the processes that underlie offending within prisons are distinct from those which contribute to community offending. To determine if the context of misconduct within jails is distinct from that which occurs in prisons, and to test other theories of deviance, we surveyed those incarcerated in two jails about their misconduct experiences. Findings indicate that importation, code support, and differential associations are robust predictors of misconduct in this jail sample. Given the prevalence of jails in the criminal justice system, it is imperative to continue to assess misconduct to improve the safety of these institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines criminogenic risk levels of individuals with serious mental illness (SMI) involved in the justice system compared to justice-involved individuals without mental illness. The sample (N = 436) consisted of ninety-three individuals with SMI incarcerated in a county jail in a mid-size Midwest city, 217 individuals with SMI incarcerated in a state prison in the US Northeast, and 126 individuals without mental illness incarcerated in a state prison in the US Southwest. Results indicated that people with SMI incarcerated in jail and prison had higher overall criminal risk levels than prison inmates without mental illness. Results further demonstrated that, on average, higher percentages of persons with SMI had high/very high criminogenic risk scores. Finally, we noted that persons with SMI scored higher on most of the eight criminogenic risk domains measured by the Level of Service Inventory. These findings are possibly the most compelling to date in the growing body of literature demonstrating that justice-involved people with SMI have elevated criminogenic risk comparable to or greater than their non-mentally ill peers involved in the justice system. Consequently, treatment programs and interventions for justice-involved individuals with SMI need to explicitly target criminogenic needs into treatment efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fewer than 1% of United States' largest corrections facilities allow access to MOUD. The cascade of care is an organizing framework that quantifies treatment processes within and across systems of care ranging from screening to treatment discharge. This study highlights best practices for the implementation of MOUD across the cascade of care, addressing unique characteristics of legal settings and individuals within them. After reviewing best-practices for MOUD implementation in legal settings and examining jail and community provider's use of and goals toward improving these practices, this study concludes that despite interest from agencies to improve care considerable variation remains in treatment availability between agencies and within agencies at different stages of incarceration. Seamless systems of care require multiagency collaboration, staff and provider competency, and patient awareness of MOUD. These strategies will decrease punishment-oriented ideologies surrounding MOUD application in justice settings and improve access to resources that remove barriers to care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Time is a social construct often weaponized against marginalized people via waiting, imprisonment, and other forms of social control. In prisons, the length of one's sentence is something to be passed, overcome, or defeated. This paper seeks to understand how incarcerated women in jails—associated with awaiting sentencing or short sentences—experience time in the United States. Moreover, how do minoritized women experience and resist the time of imprisonment in such liminal spaces? I utilized participant observation, semi‐structured interviews, and visitations—in‐person and virtually—with women in a county jail. Their narratives elucidate that time was weaponized against them at three levels: (1) imprisonment itself, (2) through local and facility policies, and (3) via the manipulation of time by facility actors. Moreover, the women articulated how the weaponization of time was exacerbated for minoritized women and women who questioned their mistreatment. Finally, despite this weaponization, the women resisted the jail's temporal regime via intrapersonal tactics and interpersonal organizing. This was done in symbolic and meaningful ways tied to their intimate and embodied familiarity with jail time structures. They also resisted in substantive ways, alongside a community organization, which culminated in mutual aid programs, solidarity protests, and exposure of abuses in the jail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research is to examine the role of justice-involved status on in-hospital mortality among nonelderly adults during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic. This retrospective cohort study used data from the 2021 State Inpatient Databases for 20 US states, which included discharges from general acute care hospitals among adults aged 18-64 years hospitalized for at least 24 hours. The main outcome was all-cause in-hospital mortality and the primary comparison was justice-involved status. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), with adjustment for sociodemographic factors, Elixhauser comorbidities, COVID-19 diagnosis, admission acuity, other clinical features, metropolitan area, and seasonality. We randomly split the data into a 50% training and 50% validation set. With the latter, we evaluated the performance of our final model. The study population included 4,712,441 discharges (1.1% justice-involved; mean [SD] age 47.5 [12.8] years; 47.0% women; 63.6% White, 21.8% Black, 11.8% Hispanic, 1.8% Asian/Pacific Islander, and 1.0% American Indian/Alaska Native). Among these, 102,735 in-hospital deaths (2.2%) occurred. In the multivariate analysis, in-hospital mortality was about 40% less likely among justice-involved patients (odds ratios 0.6, 95% CI 0.5-0.7, P value <0.01). The final validated model showed excellent discrimination (area under the curve for the receiver operator characteristic 0.953, 95% CI 0.952-0.954) and good calibration (Brier score 0.014, calibration belt P value.186). In this cohort study, justice-involved status was independently associated with lower in-hospital mortality. Future studies should examine preadmission and postdischarge outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the United States, it is permissible to place an undercover police officer in the jail cell with a suspect. This tactical move is rare and launched only for serious crimes, and it takes place before any charges have been filed. This tactic goes under the name of Perkins operations, from the case ruling that if an individual speaks freely to someone whom they believe is a fellow inmate it is allowed to take advantage of their misplaced trust (Illinois v. Perkins, 1990). In this study, we examine 22 Perkins operations, 60 hours of secretly taped interactions in the cells, and we describe and categorize the different approaches and tactics that the undercover officers used. Based on the descriptive analysis, we conceptualize two pathways to information elicitation (direct and relational) and explore the undercover officers' use of risky interview tactics. The findings suggest that undercover officers use four broader approaches to establish relationships and gather information, and we were able to identify only a few instances of risky tactics in this sample. The relevance of the findings for human intelligence gathering and counterintelligence are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anticipatory stress—or worries about the future that produce emotional distress—may explain some of the deleterious repercussions of incarceration for health. We use nearly 500 interviews with incarcerated men and their family members to describe anticipatory stress stemming from the stressor of jail incarceration, a commonly experienced but understudied type of confinement distinct from prison incarceration. We identify and explain how jail incarceration involves a powerful confluence of factors that give rise to anticipatory stress about adjudication, family relationships, the well‐being of loved ones, and reintegration. We describe three types of anticipatory stress proliferation between incarcerated men and their families. First, anticipatory stress commonly proliferates from incarcerated men to their children's mothers and their own mothers, with anticipatory stress being particularly salient when it involves the possibility of major changes, system irrationality, and powerlessness. Second, family members can experience anticipatory stress regardless of whether their incarcerated loved one reports anticipatory stress, shaped in part by men's extensive criminal legal contact. Third, family members with weak relationships with incarcerated men generally do not experience anticipatory stress despite the anticipatory stress endured by their incarcerated loved ones. This study provides a framework for understanding how other stages of criminal legal contact contribute to health inequalities among incarcerated people and their families. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Individuals who are incarcerated are often stressed, hopeless, and overwhelmed by this challenging life circumstance. Unfortunately, jails offer little treatment to assist in enhancing coping and fostering hope and resilience. This research study in a rural Pennsylvania jail provided four six-week coping and stress reduction groups, two with and two without therapy dogs. Findings indicate that all group participants experienced significant reductions in stress, improved resilience, and an increased sense of hope as measured by standardized scales. All four groups rated the interventions as very helpful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population of women in jail increased by 15% from 2008 to 2018. A portion of this increase was due to state policies shifting individuals serving sentences of 1–5 years to local jails to reduce prison overcrowding. In-depth interviews with 62 women serving long-term sentences in local jails in Central and Eastern Kentucky were conducted to examine how they navigated motherhood in this carceral setting. Findings suggested that despite the salient role that motherhood played in their lives, jails provided few meaningful opportunities for women to perform identity-congruent behaviors or receive verification of their maternal identity. Implications for reintegration, desistance, and theoretically relevant intervention models are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: For people with opioid use disorder (OUD), transitioning from pregnancy to postpartum and from incarceration to the community is a time of increased risk for opioid overdose. This prospective project evaluated the extent of Jenna's Project's success in preventing overdoses and improving recovery outcomes by coordinating postrelease care in incarcerated OUD perinatal patients. Methods: Participants (N = 132) were pregnant or postpartum (1 year postdelivery) with OUD during incarceration and self-referred for post-release services. FromMarch 2020 to October 2021, participants could receive up to 6 months of postincarceration care coordination services (eg, regular communication, transportation, emergency housing, SUD treatment), medication to treat OUD (MOUD) and other treatment services. Outcomes included verified overdose (fatal), self-reported nonfatal overdose, reincarceration, active Medicaid, receipt of MOUD, presence of children living with participants, open Child Protective Services cases, and number of referrals for services. Results: There were 0 nonfatal and 0 fatal overdoses at both 1 and 6 months postrelease, and 3 of 132 (2%) returned to incarceration. Significantly fewer participants had Medicaid at release (36%) and at 6 months postrelease (60%) than before incarceration (87%) (P < 0.001 for all 3 pairwise comparisons). At 6 months postrelease, significantly more participants reportedMOUDreceipt (51%) comparedwith before incarceration (39%) (P < 0.001). Therewas no significant change in the number of open Child Protective Services cases. Referrals for childcare or parenting services were the most common referrals provided. Conclusion: Immediate postrelease care coordination for pregnant and postpartum women with OUD was feasible and effective in preventing overdose, reincarceration, and promoting recovery outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a significant health care need for women, particularly those involved in the criminal legal system (CLS). There are no studies to date that focus on the utilization of telehealth as a platform for assessment and linkage to medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) at community re-entry for women, despite the fact that women have unique risk factors that may contribute to opioid relapse in the community. The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to provide an overview of the innovative use of telehealth for linking incarcerated women to community MOUD treatment in the Kentucky-hub of the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). Methods This study incorporates qualitative and quantitative data collection with MOUD providers, recovery staff involved in peer navigation services, and women who are incarcerated to understand perceptions of the use of telehealth prior to jail release as a linkage to community services. Results Findings from this study suggest overall support for the use of telehealth between community MOUD treatment providers and women who are incarcerated using videoconferencing technology. On average, there was very little variation in provider favorable feedback related to clinical engagement or in face-to-face comparability, as well as how telehealth allowed the participant to discuss personal and sensitive issues during the clinical assessment. Conclusions Study findings suggest benefits associated with the use of telehealth in increasing access to treatment for women with OUD. Jails are critical venues for telehealth interventions because they provide the opportunity to reach women who have been actively using illicit substances, often have advanced-stage substance use disorders which have compromised their health and mental health, and often have not been previously identified as needing treatment. Trial registration : This study was originally registered on 8/23/19, ClinicalTrials.gov, #NCT04069624.

Abstract Background Incarceration provides an opportunity for health interventions, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and prevention of opioid-related overdoses post-release. All FDA-approved forms of medication for OUD (MOUD) treatment were mandated in several Massachusetts jails in 2019, with some jails offering extended-release buprenorphine (XR-Bup). Little is known about patient perspectives on and experiences with XR-Bup in carceral settings. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews in 2022 with community-dwelling people who received MOUD during a recent incarceration in a Massachusetts jail. We asked participants about their experiences with and perspectives on XR-Bup while in jail. Qualitative data were double-coded deductively and reviewed inductively to identify emergent themes, which were structured using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Results Participants (n = 38) had a mean age of 41.5 years, were 86% male, 84% White, 24% Hispanic, and 95% continued to receive MOUD at the time of their interview, including 11% receiving XR-Bup. Participants who viewed XR-Bup favorably appreciated avoiding the taste of sublingual buprenorphine; avoiding procedural difficulties and indignities associated with daily dosing in carceral settings (e.g., mouth checks, stigmatizing treatment from correctional staff); avoiding daily reminders of their addiction; experiencing less withdrawal; having extra time for other activities, such as work; and reduction of diversion of MOUD within the jail setting. Participants who viewed XR-Bup less favorably preferred to maintain their daily dosing routine; liked daily time out of their housing unit; wanted to know what was “going into my body everyday”; and feared needles and adverse events. Participants also reported that jail clinicians used XR-Bup for patients who were previously caught diverting sublingual buprenorphine, suggesting limited patient participation in decision-making around XR-Bup initiation in some jails. Conclusion People who received MOUD in Massachusetts jails had both favorable and unfavorable views and experiences with XR-Bup. Understanding these preferences can inform protocols in jails that are considering implementation of XR-Bup treatment.

Abstract Background Widespread antibiotic prescribing contributes to globally emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite stewardship recommendations by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, there is a lack of literature identifying barriers and facilitators to antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in United States (U.S.) carceral settings. Methods Guided by the Theoretic Domains Framework, we performed in-depth interviews with 68 key stakeholders in Massachusetts carceral settings to contextualize barriers and facilitators to ASP implementation. We recruited 32 people incarcerated in Massachusetts jails and 36 carceral clinicians, correctional officers/administrators in Massachusetts and other U.S. states, and Massachusetts community clinicians for interviews. Results From the completed semi-structured in-depth interviews, we identified seven salient themes—four barriers and three facilitators—both specific to and across stakeholder groups. Barriers included the following: (1) jail being viewed as a “dirty place” that increases the risk of infections; (2) variable awareness and knowledge of AMR and ASPs; (3) clinicians’ opposition to change and oversight of their antibiotic prescribing; (4) competing priorities taking precedence over ASP implementation. Facilitators included (5) interest in changing the narrative about carceral healthcare through ASP implementation; (6) opportunities for education about ASP and AMR; and (7) the development of systems, policies, and regulations to improve antibiotic prescribing. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study to leverage broad criminal-legal stakeholder groups to inform the next steps in developing and implementing ASPs in carceral settings in the U.S.

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) remains a significant health care need for women, particularly those involved in the criminal legal system (CLS). There are no studies to date that focus on the utilization of telehealth as a platform for assessment and linkage to medications to treat opioid use disorder (MOUD) at community re-entry for women, despite the fact that women have unique risk factors that may contribute to opioid relapse in the community. The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to provide an overview of the innovative use of telehealth for linking incarcerated women to community MOUD treatment in the Kentucky-hub of the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN). Methods: This study incorporates qualitative and quantitative data collection with MOUD providers, recovery staff involved in peer navigation services, and women who are incarcerated to understand perceptions of the use of telehealth prior to jail release as a linkage to community services. Results: Findings from this study suggest overall support for the use of telehealth between community MOUD treatment providers and women who are incarcerated using videoconferencing technology. On average, there was very little variation in provider favorable feedback related to clinical engagement or in face-to-face comparability, as well as how telehealth allowed the participant to discuss personal and sensitive issues during the clinical assessment. Conclusions: Study findings suggest benefits associated with the use of telehealth in increasing access to treatment for women with OUD. Jails are critical venues for telehealth interventions because they provide the opportunity to reach women who have been actively using illicit substances, often have advanced-stage substance use disorders which have compromised their health and mental health, and often have not been previously identified as needing treatment. Trial registration: : This study was originally registered on 8/23/19, ClinicalTrials.gov, #NCT04069624. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate whether a history of incarceration was associated with increased odds of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and to determine if this association was further strengthened when combined with a history of solitary confinement. Methods: We collected cross-sectional data from a general population sample in New York City and Baltimore in March 2017. Participants were categorized based on their history of incarceration and solitary confinement: (1) no incarceration, (2) incarceration-only, and (3) incarceration plus solitary confinement. We compared these three groups, utilizing hierarchical adjustments for sociodemographic factors and adverse childhood experiences. Missing data were accounted for utilizing multiple imputation via chained equation. Results: A total of 1221 individuals were analyzed. Those who experienced both incarceration and solitary confinement consistently had higher odds of suicidal ideation (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.43 to 5.48) and suicide attempts (OR, 6.98; 95% CI, 2.77 to 17.61) than never incarcerated individuals. Those who experienced incarceration without solitary confinement had higher odds of suicide attempts (OR, 3.77; 95% CI, 1.35 to 10.56) than never incarcerated individuals, whereas this association was not evident for suicidal ideation. Solitary confinement increased the odds of suicidal ideation even compared to incarceration without solitary confinement (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.09 to 6.74). Conclusions: Our findings support the need to address the higher likelihood of suicide-related outcomes among those in contact with the criminal justice system, and to consider alternatives to solitary confinement. HIGHLIGHTS: Those who experienced both incarceration and solitary confinement had higher odds of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than never incarcerated individuals. Solitary confinement increased the likelihood of suicidal ideation, even more so than incarceration without solitary confinement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Little is known about the scope of use-of-force incidents in carceral settings, nor the impact of efforts to control it. Correctional agencies have recently begun adopting body-worn cameras (BWCs) to mitigate such incidents and improve institutional management. We conducted a one-year randomized controlled trial of BWCs among the 12 housing units in the Loudoun County Adult Detention Center in Virginia. We collected data on the 97 response-to-resistance (RTR) events that occurred during our study period, including deputies' control methods (physical controls, restraints, weapons) and residents' resistance levels (passive, active, aggressive) during these events. Using negative binomial regression, we found a 40% decrease in RTR events in unit-months with BWCs. We also found 37% and 52% reductions in the use of physical controls by deputies and the occurrence of resident active resistance, respectively. We situate these findings in the correctional context and discuss their implications for policy and future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Transdisciplinary artist James Gordon Williams writes about two improvised performances on former Cook County Department of Corrections, Chicago, prison bars in an ongoing collaboration with artist Maria Gaspar. Williams reflects on the bar performances that were featured in Gaspar's 2023 installations and solo exhibitions at El Museo Del Barrio and the Institute of Arts and Sciences at UC Santa Cruz, respectively. Discussing how each iteration of the bar performance evolved to include conventional instruments, he documents how his burgeoning understanding of the Ifá orisha system, abolition geography, and theories on the agency of metal helps him think through his relationship with carceral debris to create an abolitionist soundscape in real time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incarceration provides an opportunity for health interventions, including opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment and prevention of opioid-related overdoses post-release. All FDA-approved forms of medication for OUD (MOUD) treatment were mandated in several Massachusetts jails in 2019, with some jails offering extended-release buprenorphine (XR-Bup). Little is known about patient perspectives on and experiences with XR-Bup in carceral settings. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews in 2022 with community-dwelling people who received MOUD during a recent incarceration in a Massachusetts jail. We asked participants about their experiences with and perspectives on XR-Bup while in jail. Qualitative data were double-coded deductively and reviewed inductively to identify emergent themes, which were structured using the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability (TFA). Results: Participants (n = 38) had a mean age of 41.5 years, were 86% male, 84% White, 24% Hispanic, and 95% continued to receive MOUD at the time of their interview, including 11% receiving XR-Bup. Participants who viewed XR-Bup favorably appreciated avoiding the taste of sublingual buprenorphine; avoiding procedural difficulties and indignities associated with daily dosing in carceral settings (e.g., mouth checks, stigmatizing treatment from correctional staff); avoiding daily reminders of their addiction; experiencing less withdrawal; having extra time for other activities, such as work; and reduction of diversion of MOUD within the jail setting. Participants who viewed XR-Bup less favorably preferred to maintain their daily dosing routine; liked daily time out of their housing unit; wanted to know what was "going into my body everyday"; and feared needles and adverse events. Participants also reported that jail clinicians used XR-Bup for patients who were previously caught diverting sublingual buprenorphine, suggesting limited patient participation in decision-making around XR-Bup initiation in some jails. Conclusion: People who received MOUD in Massachusetts jails had both favorable and unfavorable views and experiences with XR-Bup. Understanding these preferences can inform protocols in jails that are considering implementation of XR-Bup treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

County sheriffs hold a great deal of discretionary power at the county level; however, little is known about the decision-making of sheriffs. One key role they hold is overseeing county jails. In this role, county sheriffs choose how often to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they make a detainer request of the county. This study investigates the factors influencing sheriffs' decision making, specifically whether sheriffs make discretionary decisions based on the will of the people. Using ICE data about cooperation with county jails, and Cooperative Congregational Election Study (CCES) data, we assess if sheriff cooperation with ICE is politically motivated, in congruence with preferences of the voters countywide, or are other factors potentially influencing sheriffs. We find that sheriffs' decision to cooperate with ICE is influenced by the demographics and economy of their county rather than their own political affiliation or their county's ideological stance on immigration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Preventing escapes from custody is an essential function of prisons and jails. Yet, when these incidents occur, little is known about how often or quickly escapees are recaptured. Drawing on the routine activities framework, this study examines a dataset of 610 prison and jail escapees collected through a comprehensive open-source search protocol. The study uses logistic and Cox regression techniques to determine which factors are associated with being recaptured and the time-to-recapture. Findings indicate that more than 91 percent of escapees were recaptured within 1 year and very few remained on the lam for more than a few days. People who escape from nonsecure facilities (often called walkaways) were less likely to be recaptured and remained out of custody for longer durations than those who escaped from secure facilities or while outside under secure (e.g., transport) or nonsecure (e.g., work release) settings. Jail escapees were also less likely to be recaptured, and were apprehended more slowly, than those who fled from a prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Widespread antibiotic prescribing contributes to globally emerging antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Despite stewardship recommendations by the Infectious Diseases Society of America, there is a lack of literature identifying barriers and facilitators to antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) in United States (U.S.) carceral settings. Methods: Guided by the Theoretic Domains Framework, we performed in-depth interviews with 68 key stakeholders in Massachusetts carceral settings to contextualize barriers and facilitators to ASP implementation. We recruited 32 people incarcerated in Massachusetts jails and 36 carceral clinicians, correctional officers/administrators in Massachusetts and other U.S. states, and Massachusetts community clinicians for interviews. Results: From the completed semi-structured in-depth interviews, we identified seven salient themes—four barriers and three facilitators—both specific to and across stakeholder groups. Barriers included the following: (1) jail being viewed as a "dirty place" that increases the risk of infections; (2) variable awareness and knowledge of AMR and ASPs; (3) clinicians' opposition to change and oversight of their antibiotic prescribing; (4) competing priorities taking precedence over ASP implementation. Facilitators included (5) interest in changing the narrative about carceral healthcare through ASP implementation; (6) opportunities for education about ASP and AMR; and (7) the development of systems, policies, and regulations to improve antibiotic prescribing. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first qualitative study to leverage broad criminal-legal stakeholder groups to inform the next steps in developing and implementing ASPs in carceral settings in the U.S. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research summary Policy implications In 2012, Chicago closed half of its public mental health clinics, which provide services to those in need regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. Critics of the closures argued that they would result in service shortages and divert untreated patients to the criminal justice system. We explore this claim by examining whether and to what extent the closures increased criminal justice contact. Using a difference‐in‐differences framework, we compare arrests and mental health transports in block groups located within a half mile of clinics that closed to those equidistant from clinics that remained open. While we find evidence that police‐initiated mental health transports increased following the closures, we do not observe similar changes in arrests.Chicago's mental health clinic closures remain a contentious issue to this day. Our results suggest that the shuttered clinics were meeting a need that, when left unmet, created conditions for mental health emergencies. While the closures do not appear to have routed untreated patients to the county jail, they increased police contact and, subsequently, transportation to less specialized emergency care facilities. Our findings demonstrate the need to strengthen health care access, crisis prevention, and the mental health safety net to preclude police from acting as mental health responders of last resort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poor interactions between police and trans folx have been well documented in academic literature and non-profit reports. However, most of these focus on the most egregious of offenses, when police insult and assault trans folx as a result of their identity; yet, there is more nuance to these interactions. Trans folx are more likely to interact with police who are not outwardly violent towards them yet can be misidentified and misgendered. While these interactions can be rooted in a difference between the person in front of the officer and the picture, name, and gender marker on identifying documents, police have a duty to use facts (proper name and pronouns) to facilitate respectful interactions. This article seeks to explore this dynamic between officers who fail to identify trans folx properly as a policy and procedural issue, use participant narratives, as well as provide substantive considerations for training and policy recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drawing upon organizational perspectives and focal concerns theory, this article tests the impacts of jail utilization (i.e. the ratio of jail population: rated capacity) on sentencing practices. Using 18 years of felony sentencing data from Florida and county characteristics, ordinary least squares regression models are estimated to determine whether jail utilization impacts sentencing trends between counties. Latent growth curves assess jail utilization effects within counties over time. Jail utilization is significantly associated with sentencing and this effect is robust across and within counties over time. Across counties the effect is largely non-linear; community-based sanctions are more common in counties that have reached a jail utilization threshold. Jail utilization effects are robust across general and discretionary cases but vary according to local crime rates. The findings suggest that extralegal considerations influence sentencing decisions; i.e. when jail utilization decreases, courts will impose more jail sentences simply because space is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) has shown preliminary success in the treatment of youth in forensic settings. However, the implementation of DBT varies considerably from facility to facility. A scoping review was conducted to detail DBT intervention protocols in juvenile correctional and detention facilities. We described eight works treatment setting, study design, youth characteristics, staff training, DBT approach, DBT skills modules, and main findings. All works involved DBT skills sessions, but few incorporated other DBT components such as individual therapy or skills coaching. Outcomes included reducing problematic behaviors such as aggression, improving mental health, and largely positive feedback regarding the DBT intervention from youth and staff. Our results consolidate the existing literature regarding DBT intervention in forensic settings for youth and inform future implementation and research of DBT in such facilities.

Abstract Background People incarcerated in jails are highly impacted by the opioid epidemic, and overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is an effective strategy to reduce opioid overdose deaths. This study examines barriers and facilitators of fast-track OEND implementation within the jails in the Wave 1 Kentucky counties of the HEALing Communities Study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Meeting minutes with jail stakeholders were qualitatively coded using the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) as the coding framework. The analysis highlighted the top barriers and facilitators to fast-track OEND implementation within the PRISM framework. Results Space and staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in interorganizational programming from pandemic-related service suspensions, and a lack of technological solutions (e.g., reliable Internet access) for socially distanced delivery were the top barriers to fast-track OEND implementation. In addition, there were limitations on non-jail staff access to jails during COVID-19. Top facilitators included jail leadership support, the option to prioritize high-risk groups, and the incorporation of OEND processes into existing communications and management software. While the COVID-19 pandemic strained jail infrastructure, jail and partner agency collaboration led to creative implementation strategies for the successful integration of OEND into jail operations. Urban jails were more likely than rural jails to be early adopters of OEND during the public health emergency. Conclusions Understanding the barriers to and facilitators of OEND within jails will improve implementation efforts seeking to curb opioid overdose deaths. Jail leadership support and interorganizational efforts were key facilitators to implementation; therefore, it is recommended to increase buy-in with multiple agencies to promote success. Challenges brought on by COVID-19 have resulted in a need for innovative solutions for implementation. Clinical trial information ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04111939, Submitted 30 September 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04111939?titles=HEALing%20Communities%20Study&rank=1 .

This paper assesses a faith-based, short-term program for trauma healing among incarcerated individuals, "Correctional Trauma Healing Program" (CTHP). We hypothesized that participation in the CTHP would reduce negative consequences of lifetime trauma: symptoms of PTSD, state depression, state anger, suicidal ideation, and the risk of interpersonal aggression. We also hypothesized that the reduction, if found, would be partly attributable to anticipated program outcomes (a decrease in vengefulness and an increase in religiosity, forgiveness, perceived forgiveness of God, gratitude to God, and perceived positive impact of the Bible). To test our hypotheses, we conducted a quasi-experimental study of 349 jail inmates in Virginia. Manifest-variable structural equation modeling was applied to analyze data from pretest and posttest surveys. As hypothesized, the CTHP reduced the negative consequences of trauma by increasing religiosity and other positive attributes and decreasing vengefulness directly and/or indirectly via increased religiosity. Implications and limitations of our study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current wave of the opioid epidemic has contributed to a record number of drug-related overdoses and a significant proportion of people who experience opioid use disorder are admitted to local jails. These correctional facilities serve as the principal entry point to the criminal justice system as nearly every person who is taken into custody is admitted to a local detention center. Although jails are recognized as primary intervention points for people who may require treatment for opioid use disorder, services in these facilities remain deficient. The absence of jail-based treatment has become a pressing concern as the number of drug-related deaths in custody continues to rise and the risk of post-release overdose also remains high. The present study draws on the opioid-related module of the 2019 Bureau of Justice Statistics' Census of Jails to assess the relationships between the characteristics of 2588 local detention centers and the availability of treatment services. These specific approaches included screening for opioid use disorder, providing medication to manage withdrawal symptoms, administering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), providing overdose reversal medication at the time of release, and linking people with community-based care following release from the detention center. The results demonstrate facilities located in the Northeast, larger jails, those in urban areas, and detention centers with higher turnover rates are significantly more likely to provide a wider variety of opioid treatment services. These findings have important implications for the prioritization of policies and the allocation of resources to support the adoption of opioid treatment services in local jails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased incarceration rates of women in small county jails raises questions about how women experience reentry in often under-resourced rural areas. This study examined links between transportation, supervision requirements, and risk for women living in rural towns during probation. Travel data of 25 women and thematically analyzed interview data of four probation officers and five women representing 11 rural towns in a Northeastern State are understood using the vulnerable populations conceptual model (VPCM). Findings confirmed high travel need with limited transportation access, which corresponded to risk in mothering roles, housing, and relationship safety. Policy implications and future research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented problems to correctional facilities globally, increasing issues of overcrowding and public health. This study delves into the lived experiences of jail officers during the pandemic, focusing on their experiences with high congestion rates among persons deprived of liberty. Twelve participants were given detailed semi structured interviews to investigate their lived experiences, and the data was analyzed utilizing interpretative phenomenological analysis. This study exposes the many challenges that these jail officers encountered as they reached an intricate setting where health, safety, and justice all intersected. Findings discuss the emotional experiences, health risks, and personal problems experienced by jail officers while upholding their duty of care. Moreover, this study emphasizes the importance of lawmakers actions and reform within the criminal justice system to ensure the safety of both jail officials and inmates as well as following public health crises. The experiences of jail officers, who were first hand witnesses of the pandemic's outcome on the prison population, provide light on important facets of our society's behavior to these unprecedented conditions. This study informs concerning future readiness and change in the criminal justice system and helps us understand the intricate dynamics that existed within correctional facilities throughout the epidemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To understand the experiences of Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color (BIWOC) correctional officers (COs) with justice-involved individuals and other staff, we draw on interviews with 15 BIWOC COs at Rikers Island. Despite power differential between COs and justice-involved individuals, participants described relatability through their shared backgrounds and upbringings. We found that relatability minimized the distance between them and may be particularly beneficial for confined persons of color. Nevertheless, hierarchical power dynamics shaped power struggles between BIWOC COs concerning mutual respect and professionalism in the workplace, coupled with power differentials reinforced by BIWOC supervisors in their decision-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study utilizes a dataset of 1,300 individuals who have been released from a Pennsylvania county jail between 2015 to 2017 to assess the competing risks of returning to jail on a probation violation versus committing a new offense. The study also examines differences between males and females. The findings suggest that while traditional predictors of recidivism help to explain male behavior, they do not allow for an understanding of women's recidivism. Future research must continue to explore gender-specific factors to provide more clarity on the experiences of men and women upon release. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People incarcerated in jails are highly impacted by the opioid epidemic, and overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is an effective strategy to reduce opioid overdose deaths. This study examines barriers and facilitators of fast-track OEND implementation within the jails in the Wave 1 Kentucky counties of the HEALing Communities Study during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Meeting minutes with jail stakeholders were qualitatively coded using the Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM) as the coding framework. The analysis highlighted the top barriers and facilitators to fast-track OEND implementation within the PRISM framework. Results: Space and staffing shortages related to the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions in interorganizational programming from pandemic-related service suspensions, and a lack of technological solutions (e.g., reliable Internet access) for socially distanced delivery were the top barriers to fast-track OEND implementation. In addition, there were limitations on non-jail staff access to jails during COVID-19. Top facilitators included jail leadership support, the option to prioritize high-risk groups, and the incorporation of OEND processes into existing communications and management software. While the COVID-19 pandemic strained jail infrastructure, jail and partner agency collaboration led to creative implementation strategies for the successful integration of OEND into jail operations. Urban jails were more likely than rural jails to be early adopters of OEND during the public health emergency. Conclusions: Understanding the barriers to and facilitators of OEND within jails will improve implementation efforts seeking to curb opioid overdose deaths. Jail leadership support and interorganizational efforts were key facilitators to implementation; therefore, it is recommended to increase buy-in with multiple agencies to promote success. Challenges brought on by COVID-19 have resulted in a need for innovative solutions for implementation. Clinical trial information: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04111939, Submitted 30 September 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04111939?titles=HEALing%20Communities%20Study&rank=1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is common among individuals who are incarcerated. However, OUD treatment services are sparse in smaller county jails found in many rural areas, which limits a healthy and supportive jail environment. This study assesses the facilitators of and barriers to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) adoption or expansion in rural Colorado jails. A qualitative descriptive design was implemented during the summer of 2022 using semi-structured interviews with jail staff, sheriffs, and contracted personnel. Interview questions focused on facilitators of existing MOUD services and barriers to adopting or expanding services. To identify the facilitators and barriers, data were coded using thematic analysis. Results: Seven jails were included in the study. Representatives from each jail participated in the seven interviews, which often included multiple participants per interview. Three of the jails had established routine practices for MOUD administration. Two jails occasionally administered MOUD or had plans in place to be able to administer, while the remaining two did not offer any MOUD. While administrative support, collaborative partnerships, and jail nurses facilitated MOUD use, barriers were more prevalent, including physical space limitations, distance to services, lack of providers in the area, staffing and training issues, funding/budget issues, and perceived risk of diversion. Conclusion: Making MOUD available to people who are incarcerated is an important and timely step in enhancing the jail environment, especially in rural areas that often lack access to MOUD. As states look to require MOUD availability for people who are incarcerated, facilitators to MOUD adoption/expansion can be leveraged while strategies are needed to overcome barriers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by the premise that an individual's safety may be more at risk when their routines, personal attributes, or lack of guardianship influence their opportunity for exposure to violence, we examined the factors that influenced victimization risks and safety perceptions among a representative sample of respondents incarcerated at a large Midwestern jail. Results showed that vulnerable individuals such as those who were victimized prior to their incarceration, and those who antagonized others such as those who perpetrated assault, were threatened more often, were more at risk of assault victimization, and perceived more dangerous conditions. Conversely, females and individuals with greater self-control were less likely to have experienced victimization and generally felt safer in jail. Our results illustrate the importance of identifying and protecting individuals who might experience greater safety risks during jail incarceration and should be interpreted alongside research and policy aimed at improving safety and welfare within correctional institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body-worn cameras (BWC) have become ubiquitous in law enforcement but are nascent in correctional settings. There is little research on the attitudes of the corrections personnel expected to wear these devices, even though their buy-in is critical for successful implementation. We address this gap by examining the perceptions of deputies from the Loudoun County, Virginia Adult Detention Center (LCADC) who participated in a 12-month BWC pilot program. We survey LCADC deputies at three periods (pre-, mid-, and post-implementation) and analyze mean changes in their perceptions of BWCs and staff-resident relationships. We find that LCADC deputies were neutral or did not agree that BWCs would improve efficiency and accuracy, have a civilizing effect on incarcerated residents, or lead to work-related disruptions. These attitudes remain largely consistent across the three survey periods. We also find that deputies had more negative perceptions of their relationships with residents at both the mid- and post-implementation periods, compared to the pre-implementation period. The results suggest that, when developing a BWC program, corrections officials should involve front-line personnel early in the planning process. Officials should also ensure policies are tailored to the unique needs of their correctional agency, rather than merely adapting policies created for law enforcement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Incarcerated people have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and face significant challenges to COVID-19 vaccine confidence. Objectives: (1) Describe our partnerships with community members directly impacted by incarceration, (2) discuss the partnership's process for co-developing and implementing project interventions to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence, and (3) share lessons learned from this unique community-engaged partnership. Methods: An advisory board of 14 formerly incarcerated community members participated in this project. Their wisdom and experience led to the development and implementation of interventions to increase confidence in COVID-19 vaccines among incarcerated people. Lessons Learned: Valuable lessons learned were centering community, leaning into trusted sources of information, acknowledging historical and present harms, and investing in community-engaged work. Conclusions: Centering lived experiences of those directly impacted by incarceration has been crucial to increasing vaccine confidence among this population. Doing so reinforced the importance of long-term investments in community-based collaborations with communities impacted by incarceration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Much is unknown about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the carceral experience. Firsthand accounts, however, can illuminate how the virus traveled through correctional institutions and how operational changes intended to mitigate virus transmission altered daily life for incarcerated people. Analyzing semi-structured interviews with 53 individuals released from state prisons, county jails, and halfway houses in a northeastern U.S. state between October 2020 and June 2021, this study explores the shifting conditions of confinement in the early months of the pandemic, as well as how incarcerated individuals experienced the pandemic in terms of their mental and physical health, safety, and trust in correctional institutions. Interviewees described the spread of COVID-19 in correctional environments and how it led to several pandemic-related changes, such as stoppages or adjustments to programs, visits, recreation time, and movement around the facility. The data ultimately suggest that pandemic lockdown measures, instituted to prevent virus transmission, led to environments akin to solitary confinement and compromised the ability of incarcerated individuals to connect with loved ones, exacerbated their fears about contracting the virus, and further eroded their trust in correctional institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research was to explore and analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on practices in law enforcement and jails, with a specific focus on sheriff departments serving in small, rural counties in the state of Indiana. This study identified and analyzed various issues and trends pertaining to COVID-19's effect upon jail and offender management, patrol and criminal investigation, personnel and offender safety, public service and expectations, courthouse trial and case management, and community trust in sheriff departments. Semi-structured interviews were employed with current sheriffs working in four different counties in Indiana in this qualitative research. The results showed that COVID-19 has brought to the forefront two major themes: (a) precautions taken by sheriff departments against COVID-19 and (b) changes in the way the criminal justice system works. Findings were further grouped into three categories according to each sheriff's sentiments: negative (e.g., increase in expenses, loss of workforce, and mental health), positive (e.g., decrease in the workload and decrease in jail population), and mixed (e.g., precautions against COVID-19, changing crime patterns, and trust). The study concluded that COVID-19 caused a wave of change that sent ripples through these communities, the criminal justice system, and sheriff departments in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]