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Background and objectivesThe incarcerated population is growing older and by the year 2030, more than one third of people incarcerated in the United States will be over the age of 55. This population shift will have a profound impact on correctional health care systems as older incarcerated people often have multiple chronic illnesses and correctional institutions were not designed with aging and disability in mind. Black women experience greater burdens of comorbid conditions and are disproportionately represented among incarcerated women.Research design and methodsWe utilized Black Feminist Epistemological Methodology to explore the intersection of aging, chronic illness, and mass incarceration via in-depth interviews with 13 formerly incarcerated older Black women.ResultsFirst, participants described needing to prove themselves to be trustworthy prior to becoming ill in order to be believed and granted access to care when they report symptoms. Next, participants report being treated, not as patients, but as "inmates." The punitive nature of prison health care disrupted the patient-provider relationship and complicated the ability of patients to maintain autonomy in health care interactions. Finally, I describe how carceral health extends beyond the walls of both the clinic and the institution.Discussion and implicationsFor older Black women, medical care and decision making inside prisons occur within a punitive context, which presents unique barriers when seeking care. Their experiences of health and illness while incarcerated may continue to influence if and how they seek care as they age in the community and thus must be interrogated when discussing aging in the Black community.

This article deals with the right to make requests and complaints (RCs) inside Spanish prisons. It discusses the European Prison Rules and the principles set forward by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), examining how the Spanish system respects these. It then introduces the RCs system in Spain. Through research carried out in four prisons, interviews with the directors and with 21 inmates and taking as an example one prison, we were able to discover that the number of requests in one year is 55,000. This result reveals the formalised character of Spanish prisons and raises the question as to how to respond to RCs inside prison. The last part of the article draws on interviews with three Penitentiary Judges and discusses their role in reviewing RCs. In our analysis of 626 of the final decisions we found that 98.6% were denied. Finally, the article provides some explanations for this result and questions whether judges can be said to provide an effective remedy in such cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisoners face inequalities relating to health and social care and educational needs. Peer support (prisoners providing support to other prisoners) is used in addition to professional support to address needs. It is not clear how effective or cost-effective peer-support services are, how they are implemented or experienced, or how best to evaluate such schemes. This review aimed to evaluate the following: 1. Outcomes and economic outcomes that have been studied for prison peer support, and data sources used. 2. Effectiveness and cost of prison peer support. 3. Implementation and experiences with prison peer support. A rapid systematic scoping review (registered on International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews: CRD42022351592) that focussed on peer support within adult prisons. The search included six databases, grey literature databases, handsearching journals, and reviewing reference lists (June 2022). Studies were screened, and data were extracted. Narrative synthesis was used to analyse findings. Seventy papers were included (qualitative: 30, quantitative: 21, and mixed-methods: 19). No studies measured cost/cost-effectiveness. A range of methods were used to measure effectiveness (e.g., surveys, routinely collected data), implementation, and experience (e.g. interviews, surveys, observation). There was evidence of some positive effects (e.g., disease detection, mental health). Factors influencing peer support in prisons included individual, service, and organisational factors. Benefits (for prisons/prisoners/staff) and challenges (e.g., burden, exploitation) were identified. Prison peer support services are internationally used to address public health. Future research could robustly evaluate effectiveness and cost effectiveness. Attention should be given to potential risks and barriers affecting implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People who use psychoactive substances that are illicit have increased chances of coming into contact with the law enforcement and criminal justice systems for different reasons. The problem statement in terms of the need for healthcare services for such people is yet to be defined and quantified in India. Methods: We used the data collected by the National Crimes Record Bureau for the years 1986 to 2021. We assessed the profile of offences registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), 1985 over the successive years in India. We also made comparisons between the offences for possession for personal use/consumption and for trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances at the national level and at the level of states and union territories in the country. Results: The percentage of these arrests, charge sheets and convictions as part of total Special and Local Laws (SLL) has increased over the years, showing a positive monotonic trend. A large percentage of those arrested were males. A higher percentage of females were arrested and charge-sheeted for trafficking than for personal use or consumption. The percentage of total persons arrested, charge-sheeted and convicted for possession of drugs for personal use/consumption was greater than that of those arrested for possession of drugs for trafficking for all years from 2017 to 2021. There were significant associations between gender and the types of offense. The highest rates of offences were reported from some north-western states, north-eastern states and Kerala. Conclusion: The findings help us make a strong argument in favour of strengthening the health sector response for people who use psychoactive substances and are in contact with the law enforcement and criminal justice systems in the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractCorrectional work is associated with high levels of stress and poor sleep quality. Although previous research has primarily relied on correctional officers’ perceptions of these outcomes, biometric indicators can provide more objective and continuous information. Using daily data points collected from smartwatches worn by 15 prison staff over a six-week period with a single-subject ABA research design involving two control phases and a mindfulness activity phase, this pilot study establishes a proof of concept for using wearable biometric sensor devices to study correctional staff health and well-being. By applying longitudinal mixed effects regression models with a GAMLSS framework, this study finds that biometric measures are sensitive to change, such that stress was reduced and sleep quality improved among participants during the mindfulness activity phase. Participating staff complied with and felt positively about the research protocols. Several important lessons for advancing measurement in future correctional health and wellness research are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: We examine the economic consequences of choosing between higher education and correctional facilities for rural communities seeking economic development. Because rural areas have lagged behind urban areas in their pursuit of economic development, some areas rely on the employment boost from attracting prisons and other incarceration facilities, while others try to attract or expand facilities of higher learning. Methods: Using Census and QCEW data, we employ a quasi‐experimental analysis to examine the relative merits of both approaches for economic development for rural California. Evaluating average wage per worker along with industrial diversity and employment measures, we compare rural California counties that have prisons to those that have higher education versus a control group without such public investments. Results: Our results show that while correctional facilities can generate regional growth, the economic development offered by higher education appears to have more substantive long‐term benefits stemming from larger population growth, wealthier proprietorships, and a decline in a county's dependence upon government as a source of its income. Conclusions: We conclude that universities help build regional coalitions and linkages that reenforce economic development for a rural community as well as providing a skilled labor force and cultural opportunities that a rural prison does not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Suicide is a leading cause of death in prison and the suicide rates are several times higher in the prison population than in the general population in most countries. Of the studies that have investigated risk factors for suicide in prison, few have controlled for possible confounding factors. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors of suicide among people in French prisons, over a four-year period. Methods: All incarcerations that occurred in France during 2017–2020 were eligible. Sociodemographic, criminal and prison characteristics were collected for each incarceration from data of the National Prison Service. Survival univariate and multivariate analyses were performed with a Cox regression model. Results: 358,522 incarcerations were included, of which 449 ended in suicide during the follow-up. The median length of prison stay was 5.1 months. The median age at prison entry was 30 years and 95.8% of incarcerations involved men. The overall suicide rate was 173 [157–189] per 100,000 person-years. Factors associated with suicide in the multivariate model (p < 0.05) were the early stage of incarceration and in particular the first week (HR = 7.6 [5.4–10.8]), violent offences and in particular homicide (HR = 3.0 [2.1–4.2]), French (HR = 1.7 [1.2–2.4]) and other European nationalities (HR = 2.1 [1.4–3.3]), age above 40 (HR = 2.0 [1.5–2.6]), pre-trial incarceration (HR = 1.8 [1.4–2.3]), being separated (HR = 1.6 [1.1–2.3] and having a high school diploma (HR = 1.4 [1.0–1.8]). Conclusions: Factors associated with suicide in prison are complex and involve individuals' criminal history as well as conditions of incarceration. These characteristics may be relevant to focus suicide prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate the impact of the CD4 count on ESAT6-CFP10 (EC) skin test, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube test (QFT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) in a large prison and communities in Jiangsu Province among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Participants in communities were tested with the QFT and EC skin test and in prison were tested with the QFT, TST and EC skin test. A 4-knotted restricted cubic spline fitted for Logistic models was used to explore the cutoff point of CD4 count and the associations between changes in CD4 count and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) infection. Among 1,815 PLHIV included, 19.3% (350) were from prisons and 80.7% (1465) were identified through community screenings. M.tb infection rates were 12.2% and 8.3% through QFT and EC tests, respectively. Odd Ratios (ORs) for infection increased with CD4 counts, peaking at 618 cells/mm3 for EC, 392 cells/mm3 for QFT, then plateaued. However, the pattern differed for EC between prison and screening scenarios. In prison settings, M.tb infection increased with CD4 count from 0 to 350 cells/mm3, plateaued until 500 cells/mm3, and then persistently increased. Conversely, for community, ORs decreased until 300 cells/mm3, followed by an increase between 300 and 729 cells/mm3, after which they continued to rise persistently. Our cross-sectional study among PLHIV revealed a higher rate of M.tb infection in prison compared to the community. The relationship between CD4 count and infection became negative after a certain threshold. This pivotal point differed with detection methods, with QFT showing lower CD4 thresholds than EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventing in-prison violence and maintaining a safe environment is an important goal within prison settings. Screening for violence risk may provide a valuable addition to reach this goal. Within the Dutch prison system, the Risk Screener Violence (RS-V) has become an important new element in overall risk management. Prior research shows that RS-V scores are a sound predictor of institutional violence and aggression of incarcerated persons. Whereas previous studies predominantly analyzed retrospective file-based data, the present study includes RS-Vs rated by prison employees in real-life prison practice shortly after implementation. The RS-Vs of 956 detained individuals from 25 Dutch prisons were analyzed. Disciplinary reports were consulted to measure violent and aggressive incidents during 4 months after the screening. In addition, detention duration (length of stay in prison before the screening) was included as an additional variable. Results of the present prison practice study show good predictive values of the RS-V ratings for violent and aggressive incidents during prison stay. The predictive validity was similar for prisoner-to-prisoner assault as well as prisoner-to-staff assault. In addition, the predictive validity of the RS-V scores did not differ between individuals with a longer detention duration versus individuals with a shorter detention duration. This multisite prison practice study is an important step in the further validation of the RS-V and shows that the RS-V is a valuable tool in determining who is more likely to show institutional violence. Nonetheless, it remains important to continually monitor the implementation and correct application of the RS-V in prison practice. Public Significance Statement: This study investigated the predictive validity of a new risk screening instrument within the prison setting, called the Risk Screener Violence (RS-V). RS-Vs rated by prison employees in real-life prison practice were able to identify which detained individuals are more likely to prospectively show violence and aggression during their prison stay. It remains important to continually monitor the implementation and correct application of the RS-V in prison practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisons are stressful environments for both people living and working in them. Extant literature suggests that correctional staff have increased stress levels that lead to compromised physical health, mental health, social relationships, and increased emotional strain. This article reports on a project utilizing a modified Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach to understand the mechanisms that lead to increased stress levels among correctional officers who reported working overtime. The analysis utilizes organizational justice and social comparison frameworks to explore predictors of individual levels of stress among correctional officers working overtime in a Delaware prison. The findings indicate that individual-level stress spreads through perceptions of coworker's stress and is inversely related to perceived levels of organizational justice. This analysis is useful to prison administrators, leadership, in suggesting avenues to improve the climate of correctional environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The context of the carceral environment is based on the logic of surveillance and relies on cameras to act as the ever-present eyes of the institution. We explore the investigative roles that cameras play in the institution from the perspective of correctional staff and residents. A qualitative study was conducted in a medium-security institution in the Midwest region of the United States as part of the Prison Research and Innovation Initiative (PRII). The findings are based on semi-structured interviews with people who are incarcerated and correctional staff (including custody and noncustody staff). Upholding accountability was a perceived benefit of reviewing footage from prison cameras during investigations, yet the harms of selective enforcement against the resident population and the perceived misuse of cameras for staff disciplinary actions thwarted the benefits of having and using cameras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Correctional institutions have historically faced challenges in hiring and maintaining a workforce, which only increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Considerable turnover in staff in recent years has led some states to lower the age of hiring eligibility, which in turn increases the number of new and younger officers on the job. This study explores the challenges and opportunities that the unprecedented change in the workforce in one Midwestern prison has had on workplace morale and strain. This study uses data from semi-structured interviews with a diverse group of correctional employees. We find a considerable disconnect between "new" and "old" correctional officers and offer policy solutions for future staffing practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prison environment has been synonymous with criminality, brutality, and drug activity. Yet, incarcerated individuals are expected to be released from prison clean from drugs and rehabilitated, with little to no access to the basic needs necessary to successfully rehabilitate. This single, qualitative case study explored the prison environment, basic needs, and the barriers to substance use rehabilitation. Data revealed that when basic needs were met, incarcerated individuals had the motivation to reach higher-order needs to aid in their recovery from substance use during treatment and that a negative or drug-infested environment and an unwillingness to change were barriers to sobriety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prison leavers encounter significant barriers to successfully re-integrating into the community, which can lead to re-offending. Complex interventions which are multi-faceted and involve successful partnerships are needed to meet the distinct health and social needs of this population group. For this study, we conducted a process evaluation of a pilot project, which aimed to offer holistic support to prison leavers through a combination of peer mentoring, sport and physical activity, and signposting, delivered in a community setting. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted with individuals (n = 14) involved in the delivery and the management of the project to understand how it had been implemented and what factors had influenced the delivery and partnerships involved. Factors that influenced project delivery included safeguarding and risk assessment concerns, lived experience of peer mentors, accessibility of the intervention, and the role of sport and physical activity as a vehicle for community re-integration. Partnership working was influenced by effective information sharing, organizational commitment, building relationships and professional networks, and regular communication between organizations. An intervention involving peer mentoring, sport and physical activity, and signposting, supported by close partnership working, was viewed as a promising approach to support the community re-integration of prison leavers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) burden is higher among people in prison given high prevalence of injecting drug use. This study evaluated direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) treatment outcome in prisons. Methods: The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP‐C) study enrolled individuals incarcerated in four Australian prisons (2017–2019). Participants with detectable HCV RNA were offered sofosbuvir‐velpatasvir for 12 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed in intention‐to‐treat (ITT; participants commencing treatment and due for SVR assessment before study close) and per‐protocol (PP; participants with documented treatment completion and SVR assessment) populations. Results: Among 799 participants with HCV, 324 (41%) commenced treatment (94% male; median age, 32 years; median duration of incarceration, 9 months). In ITT population (n = 310), 201 had documented treatment completion (65% [95% CI: 59–70]), and 137 achieved SVR (ITT‐SVR: 44% [95% CI: 39–50]). In PP population (n = 143), 137 achieved SVR (PP‐SVR: 96% [95% CI: 91–98]). Six participants had quantifiable HCV RNA at SVR assessment from treatment failure (n = 2) or reinfection (n = 4). Release or inter‐prison transfer was common reasons for no documented treatment completion (n = 106/109 [97%]) and no SVR assessment (n = 57/58 [98%]). In ITT analysis, longer incarceration was associated with increased SVR (adjusted OR per month 1.03 [95% CI: 1.01–1.04]). Conclusion: Among participants who completed DAA treatment and were assessed for SVR, treatment outcome was consistent with non‐prison clinical studies. However, most individuals did not complete treatment or lacked study‐documented treatment outcome due to release or transfer. Strategies to accommodate dynamic prisoner populations are required to ensure continuity of HCV care, including treatment completion and post‐treatment care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have documented the harms of imprisonment on family life, but much less is known about how family members seek support to cope with the challenges of familial imprisonment. In this article, I draw on 8 months of ethnographic observations of a virtual family support group and in-depth interviews with 27 family members of people in prison to explore participants' need for, and construction of, communities of support. Drawing on Bourdieu's concepts of social and cultural capital, I reveal how family members cultivated and leveraged networks of support to develop the social connections, knowledge, skills and resources needed to cope with familial imprisonment. I argue, however, that the persistence of participants' struggles underscores the intractable nature of the inequality produced by familial imprisonment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opportunities for incarcerated persons to connect with their loved ones exist in several forms. Yet, there is limited evidence documenting the scope of state prison family engagement policies beyond visitation. To fill this gap, a systematic policy review and content analysis of nine state prison family engagement policies was conducted. The results provide evidence of both consistencies and inconsistencies in policies across forms of prison contact, as well as opportunities and barriers for incarcerated persons. Important policy and practice takeaways are discussed, particularly the need for more timely, transparent, and clear policies regarding family engagement in correctional settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite its impact on imprisonment, no quantitative study has examined the factors related to people's status on prison incentive schemes. This study addresses this gap by using administrative data to explore the factors related to the status of 405 men on a prison incentive scheme. Results revealed that those who had a prior history of passing prison drug tests at time 1, and spent more time imprisoned during the follow-up period, were more likely to be on the highest level of the scheme one year later at time 2. In contrast, those who had a history of past involvement in misconduct, referrals for serious self-harm/attempted suicide in prison, not taken a prison drug test, property offences, and greater periods of custody at time 1 were more likely to be on the lower levels of the scheme at time 2. The potential implications for theory, policy, and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractBackgroundMethodsResultsConclusionDrug use in Danish prisons has previously not been investigated in detail using confirmatory, laboratory analysis. The objective of the present quality study, initiated by the Danish Prison and Probation Service, was to i) evaluate the performance of an initial, on-site drug screening strategy; ii) gain insights into emerging drug trends; and iii) suggest evidence-based strategies for future drug testing.Over a two-year period, routine urine samples (n = 1952 from 710 inmates) from three Danish prisons were subjected to comprehensive drug testing. Immunoassay screening was conducted on-site. A parallel sample aliquot was forwarded to laboratory analysis by confirmatory methods: High-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) targeting 56 drugs-of-abuse/medical drugs, 26 key metabolites, 41 new psychoactive substances (NPS), including specific biomarkers for heroin, crack cocaine, or ethanol (a total of 123 target analytes/sample).The on-site immunoassay method showed a sensitivity from 66 to 100%; specificity was above 98%; accuracy was above 95%. Laboratory analysis detected compounds not screened for including tramadol, oxycodone, buprenorphine, ketamine, MDMA, 4-fluoroamphetamine, and GHB. The prevalence of drug use was in the order: cannabis > ethanol > cocaine > benzodiazepines > amphetamine.The performance of the immunoassay was found acceptable; however, the screening program was inadequate for detecting other significant substances. Based on these findings, a broader screening method will be implemented in future at Danish Prisons to minimize false negative results. The data did not indicate a trend of using NPS in Danish prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a perspective based on a comparative viewpoint on the Colombian Penal Code and a theoretical approach to neurolaw and criminal responsibility in contexts of marginality and extreme poverty. We present a further response to the debate on how structural injustice impacts criminal responsibility. By offering a comparative and theoretical insight, this paper enriches the debate and provides an understanding of how legal systems might address these issues. The paper then suggests that other legislations can follow the rule of Article 56 of the Colombian Penal Code, which reduces punishment in circumstances of marginality, ignorance, or extreme poverty. Utilizing neuroscience findings, we briefly highlight the interplay between structural injustice and neurobiological vulnerabilities, emphasizing the complexity of the role of incarceration and criminal law in marginalized populations. We invite scholars to consider debates on alternatives to criminal law, the reduction of prison use and mass incarceration, as well as further remarks on the problem of free will. In this paper, we seek to bridge the gap between neuroscientific insights and socio-legal ethics to foster a more equitable and humane system of justice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mentoring can positively influence the mentee, the mentor, and the organization in which both are employed. Mentoring can help employees to overcome workplace challenges, including barriers to advancement, while increasing job satisfaction, enhancing career development, and producing a greater sense of value within the organization, often leading to increased productivity. While mentoring clearly has a multitude of benefits, women have traditionally had difficulty establishing mentorships in the workplace, which appear especially problematic in traditionally male-dominated careers, such as corrections. Based on surveys and interviews with members of the Association of Women Executives in Corrections (AWEC), this study investigates the role of mentorship in women's advancement within corrections departments. Data show that support, particularly from one's supervisor, is critical as women consider advancement, regardless of the supervisor's gender. These results imply that when there are few women in the administrative ranks, limiting the opportunity for female mentorship, women can find equally effective mentorship from male superiors. Moreover, mentorships do not necessarily have to be formalized to be effective and can develop from outside one's department when none exist within. Corrections agencies interested in diversifying their administrative ranks should plan to establish more opportunities to foster mentoring relationships, which would benefit all employees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The renewed growth of immersive "faith-unit" programs operating inside U.S. maximum-security prisons has brought with it a heightened emphasis on the practice of religion in correctional settings. Modeled from a prototype Christian seminary planted inside Louisiana State Penitentiary Angola, newer programs utilize outside religious educators for the credentialing of inmates into work assignments on behalf of prisons. As resource-challenged wardens deploy religiously credentialed inmates for leading new forms of prison ministry inside state facilities, research has not kept pace with the rapid growth of programs. Based on previous research, this article offers a retrospective account of the establishment of "offender ministries" at the Angola prison seminary planted at Louisiana State Penitentiary in 1994. While correctional leaders are obliged to accommodate the diverse religious identities of prisoners, private sponsors of immersive religious programs must balance doctrinal fealty with religious pluralism. Drawing from fieldnotes and on-site interviews in previous research, lessons from the history of Angola's ecumenical prison seminary and "inmate ministry" programs are discussed while strengths and weaknesses are also highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the number of people ageing in prison with complex healthcare needs continues to increase, so does the need for palliative care in the restrictive prison context. Palliative care for people in prison is facilitated by correctional officers, and prison- and hospital-based clinicians. A collective analysis of existing research to identify common experiences of these stakeholders globally has not been completed. Aim: To explore the perceptions and experiences of correctional officers and prison- and hospital-based clinicians who facilitate palliative care for people in prison. Design: A systematic review and meta-synthesis. Data sources: Keywords and subject headings related to palliative care and prisons were used to search seven databases with no time limitations. Peer-reviewed research in English, containing qualitative data from stakeholders facilitating palliative care for people in prison were included, and appraised using the CASP tool. Results: Two analytical themes emerged: (i) a prison lens on a palliative approach and (ii) coping complexities. Palliative care is 'translated' into the prison setting according to security and environmental constraints. Stakeholders experienced ethical, personal and professional difficulties, because prison-based palliative care did not align with community norms. Ambiguous policy and expectations regarding prioritising care needs and balancing custodial rules led to role stress. Conclusions: Providing palliative care for people in prison is complex and impacts stakeholders and people in prison with palliative care needs. Supporting person-centred care through a multi-service approach, stakeholder education and standards will improve the quality and accessibility of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Texas Substance Abuse Felony Punishment Facility (SAFPF) is a part of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) aimed at reducing crime by treating substance use disorders for individuals with felony charges. This work investigates the lived experience and shared themes of persons who attended SAFPF (N = 8) using phenomenological qualitative methods. The results highlight many strengths including connection through relationships, self-motivation, and aftercare options. Reported weaknesses included treatment provision, curriculum deficits, and operational problems. Results found numerous positive and negative aspects of the person's lived experience that could inform policy and treatment methods of future SAFPF programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: This study explored participant experience of mentalization after the completion of an introductory MBT group within an Irish prison. Methods: Data were collected from four participants using semi-structured interviews which were analyzed according to IPA methodology. Results: Four group experiential themes were identified from the data: making sense of difficulties with emotions in the context of early life experiences, learning to feel and manage emotions, keeping other minds in mind and mentalizing in practice. Conclusions: This study adds to the wider qualitative literature on MBT and presents a unique insight into participant experiences of developing their mentalizing capacity within a prison setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Almost a year after the enactment of the law regulating euthanasia in Spain, public opinion was shocked to learn that a defendant in criminal proceedings obtained medical assistance in dying following injuries sustained in an exchange of gunfire with the police after having committed a series of severe crimes. Although there are very few cases in the world where prisoners have received euthanasia, the one we will discuss in this article is the only known case where both the public prosecutor's office and the private prosecutors judicially opposed the defendant's euthanasia. This article aims to offer a new perspective on the ethical legitimacy of detainees' access to euthanasia: the ethics of caring solidarity. To do this, we will first place the case in its legal context. Subsequently, we will address the two main arguments proposed in the literature to justify euthanasia in detention: respect for the autonomy of the detainee and the principle of equivalence of care. Finally, after having identified serious shortcomings in both arguments, we will argue that the perspective of caring solidarity offers a better ethical basis for people in detention's access to euthanasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Copyright of 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.)

This article is an audience ethnography, focusing on the documentary The Work (dir Jairus McLeary and Gethin Aldous, US, 2017), which depicts a four-day therapeutic programme involving men from the community and men from a high security prison. The film was screened to audiences of people who live and work in an English prison-based therapeutic community. Previous prison-based audience studies have highlighted the significance of the media text and the characteristics and experiences of the audience, but have not specifically addressed the salience of the context in which the media is consumed. By conducting the research in an atypical penal environment, the intention is to illuminate how consumption is affected by different penal contexts. The audience offered macro, meso and micro level responses to the documentary. At a macro level, they recognised the reforming intentions of the film, but also revealed the limitations of popular culture, with its emphasis on spectacle. At a meso level, the audience offered a sophisticated and expert analysis of the content and omissions of the film's representation of therapeutic processes and cultures. At a micro level, those serving prison sentences used the content of film as therapeutic material, reflecting on their own emotions and experiences, while the prison staff used the content to explore their professional identities. The audiences viewed the film through a therapeutic habitus, and media consumption was a way of enacting and reinforcing the expectations and practices of therapeutic community life. By highlighting the salience and variability of penal contexts, the study extends prison-based audience scholarship, but also highlights a factor that should be considered in the planning and design of media and arts programmes in prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restorative justice (RJ) is a way of doing justice following an offense that is oriented toward repairing individual, relational, and social harm. Despite indications of their contribution to rehabilitation, RJ is still used infrequently, especially in serious offenses. We believe implementing them in prison is likely to provide access to RJ to a wider population. Twenty-three adult correctional clients were interviewed about their attitudes toward participation in RJ while in custody. Specifically, the study examined facilitators and barriers affecting their willingness to participate. The facilitators found included the following: (1) Desire to seek forgiveness; (2) Expressing respect for the victim; (3) Reciprocity—the correctional client as a victim; and (4) Desire to renew relationships. The barriers identified were as follows: (1) Fear of the victims' reactions; (2) Disbelief in the victim's ability to forgive; and (3) Unwillingness to include their supporters. These facilitators and barriers are discussed with a view to implementing RJ in prisons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nPOINTS OF INTERESTDisabled persons are grossly overrepresented among incarcerated persons in U.S. prisons and likely to continue to grow as a group. Prisons are increasingly responsible for protecting the rights of incarcerated persons with disabilities, which includes the provision of accommodations and care. On the basis of thirteen qualitative interviews with persons with disabilities, personal care assistants, and others in a California state prison, the research subjects not only revealed the limits of disability rights in prison, but ways in which corrections officers used accommodations and personal assistance as means of harassing disabled inmates. Despite the failure of rights, persons with disabilities and their allies found ways to access care through mutual relationships and informal networks. This finding supports a disability justice perspective that argues that argues state-sponsored rights have failed specifically marginalized persons with disabilities, but also argues that disability emancipation can be found through peer-based mutual care.Persons with disabilities represent a large and growing population among incarcerated persons in the United States;Past studies overwhelmingly focus on the overrepresentation of persons with disabilities in prison rather than the experiences of persons with disabilities while incarcerated in prisons;A focus on the life of persons with disabilities in prison shows that the government often ignores the rights of disabled persons in prison. It also shows that persons with disabilities in prison and others work together to take care of each other;According to the law, persons with disabilities in prison have the same rights as other persons with disabilities in the U.S. This includes the right to things like wheelchairs or someone to help them with their daily needs;Sometimes, prison staff harass and punish persons with disabilities in prison by taking things like their wheelchair or someone who helps them away or forcing them to use these types of assistance when they do not want to;Persons with disabilities and their allies in prison engage in informal relations of care and personal assistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Court-ordered forensic psychiatry treatments (COT) are specifically designed to reduce the risk of violence in mentally disordered offenders. Given their high costs and ethical issues, mental health professionals need admission criteria to be able to select those candidates with optimal benefit. This study analyses offender-related and treatment-related determinants of COT outcome and risk mitigation. Methods: This two-year longitudinal study assessed the evolution of 117 adult offenders admitted to a specialized medium-security forensic psychiatry clinic. Treatment outcome included court-ordered discharge locations and the Historical Clinical Risk Management (HCR) score evolution. Treatment progress was assessed every six months across five time-points including measures of protective factors, work rehabilitation and security. Outcome determinants included psychiatric diagnosis and type of offence. Results: Discharge locations are predicted by pre-treatment risk level. Lower HCR scores are associated with discharge into low-security psychiatry wards independently of the psychiatric diagnosis. Risk reduction follows diagnosis-sp7ecific and offense-related patterns and reveals that mentally disordered offenders with Cluster B personality disorders or those sentenced for drug crimes are significantly less prone to benefit from COT. Conclusions: Our findings indicate that criminological characteristics at baseline as well as diagnosis of personality disorders are the main determinants of treatment outcome in our care setting. Inmates with concomitant higher violence risk at baseline and presence of Cluster B personality disorders might benefit the least from court-ordered forensic inpatient psychiatric care in prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIn the United Kingdom (UK), individuals in women’s prison account for only 4% of the total prison population. Existing research stresses the detrimental consequences of institutionalisation that, in female prison spaces, seems to employ femininity as a primary mode of social control. Through document analysis, this study investigates 75 governmental and non-governmental documents related to women’s prisons in England, where most UK women’s prisons are located, to identify recurring themes associated with women’s imprisonment. The two themes that emerged point to, on the one hand, the ubiquity of binary gender differences, through which healthcare, education and vocational opportunities reproduce notions of subordinate femininity, and, on the other hand, the hiddenness of agency, as prisoners’ autonomy over their body and their space is concealed by the institution to ensure their docility. Although geographically specific, the results of this study contribute to existing criminological research on women’s prisons by emphasising how the institutional refeminisation and the responsibilising agenda that permeate female prison spaces normalise a unidimensional display of femininity, one that is subjugated, passive and bound to the domestic. The consequences of this can have detrimental effects not only for gender non-conforming individuals, but for all those who experience imprisonment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The world of smart prisons is gaining momentum despite receiving limited attention due to the ability to maintain social order and reduce crime rates. Therefore, this research aims to synthesize the current knowledge of smart prisons, identify barriers to trend technologies, and provide valuable insights for practitioners, and policymakers. The systematic literature review (SLR) method by Kitchenham was used to collect data from Scopus from 2007 to 2023, which comprised 59 articles in the final phase. The high cost of smart technology, ineffective technology design, poor management, aging facilities, increased violence, ethical concerns, and lots more, were some of the barriers associated with the topic. The study highlights the need for targeted strategies, such as cost‐benefit analyses, phased implementation, and comprehensive staff training, to overcome these barriers. The study also reveals varied approaches to smart prison adoption across countries, influenced by differences in economic resources and policy frameworks. The study emphasizes the importance of continuous evaluation, international collaboration, and adherence to ethical standards to sustain smart prison development. The result showed that smart prisons are important in the field of corrections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A growing body of scholarship has worked to recover the vocal dimensions of early modern reading and the effects of aural reading cultures on literary composition. Where these studies have focused on the relationship between the human voice and early modern texts, this article examines how the seventeenth-century royalist prisoner Sir John Gibson deploys early modern ideas about birds and birdsong as he seeks consolation through the material and textual processes of literary composition, manuscript compilation, and epistolary exchange. These efforts are evident in his physical and imaginative construction of his miscellany (BL Add 37719) as possessing bird-like capacities for movement and communication. While Gibson's miscellany does draw on familiar seventeenth-century ideas about music and the human voice, I argue that his invocations of birds and birdsong produce intriguing and powerful claims for the ways written texts can extend the capabilities of the human voice and body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women who are pregnant and postpartum in prison must deal with their incarceration along with the immense stress of having given birth while inside a total institution. Total institutions can strip individuals of who they are on the outside and disconnect people from the outside world. While the total institution serves to cut people off from the outside, ties between other incarcerated women and those on the outside can persist. For these women, social ties from both with those inside and outside the prison is crucial – positive ties can take the form of friendship, emotional support, practical assistance, or even taking temporary custody of the baby. We consider social ties from those inside and outside the prison in terms of support and strain within the context of the total institution. We consider the effects of positive, negative, and mixed ties and the relationship between incarceration and pregnant and postpartum women's relationships, which has major implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the formulation of inclusive education for the deradicalization of children involved in terrorism in Jakarta Juvenile Correctional Institution. The institution is in charge of implementing the deradicalization programs for children involved in terrorism. However, research found that the deradicalization program for children involved in terrorism at Jakarta Juvenile Correctional Institution has yet succeeded in reforming the children to be law-abiding citizens. This study aims to formulate an inclusive education for the deradicalization of children involved in terrorism at Jakarta Juvenile Correctional Institution. This study is a qualitative study conducted at Jakarta Juvenile Correctional Institution. Research data was obtained through interviews, observations, focus group discussions, and literature reviews. The findings show that Jakarta Juvenile Correctional Institution implements non-formal education as a rehabilitation program for children involved in terrorism. The current non-formal education does not fully accommodate all the expected goals based on the outcome chain formulation within the framework of program theory. Adaptation and integration of non-formal education with other development programs is needed to support resistance to achieve correctional goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study what factors contribute to the extent that detained individuals (a) perceive their time in detention as severe and (b) perceive their treatment by prison staff as procedurally just. More specifically, the aim of the study is to examine the antecedents of subjective severity of detention (SSD) and perceived procedural justice (PPJ) with the aim to identify individual and situational characteristics that contribute to such perceptions. Our analyses were based on data from the Prison Project (n = 1430), which includes detailed information on measures of SSD, and PPJ among Dutch males held in Dutch penitentiary institutions. Based on their SSD and PPJ scores, detained individuals were classified as belonging to one of four subgroups (reference group, high SSD, high PPJ, or high both). Using a large set of background variables, we found that older age, a less elaborate criminal history, no daily drug use before arrest, not having experienced any victimization by prison staff, and the personality traits of neuroticism, conscientiousness, and agreeableness were the most relevant antecedents for 'high both' subgroup membership. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key digested message We see young people becoming involved in crimes which in many cases results in a cycle of release from prison and recidivism. In many cases the environment plays a role and upon release those individuals go back to a criminal life. Other times, there is an escalation in the crime type due to the lack of support within the system. Either way, if a solution is not found and if the system remains the same, the criminal cycle will be sustained. Preventative measures are required and further support for people in prisons but also for prison officers, who are often also suffering the consequences of working in prison. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prisoners' common mental disorders (CMDs) and their social contacts are a complex and significant concern. We have systematically investigated the relationship between social contacts (i.e. perceived, and objective social support, and loneliness) and prisoners' mental health. This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). A protocol was developed and registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023372942). A search strategy was applied across four databases (namely MEDLINE [via OVID SP], APA PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science). The quality assessment entailed the critical appraisal skills program (CASP) Checklist for cohort studies. The data were presented through a narrative synthesis. After screening, 32 studies that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included in this review. Most were cross-sectional (k = 27), while five had a longitudinal design. The total number of study participants was 10,613. The majority of the studies reported negative correlations between perceived and objective social support and symptoms of common mental disorders (CMDs), specifically, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The included studies appeared to indicate a correlation between loneliness and PTSD symptoms. The lack of social support was linked to the development or exacerbation of CMDs in prisoners. Initiatives, such as reducing visitation barriers and providing access to technology for remote communication, can assist prisoners in strengthening their support systems and enhancing their opportunities for reintegration into society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A history of social research has aimed to illuminate consequences for the psyche of workers that carry out occupations in dehumanizing contexts. In criminology, scholarship has detailed concern over how carceral contexts produce detriment via emotional labour for workers. Although prison work has been shown to necessitate emotional suppression, studies also find workers can bear intimacy for the incarcerated. We contribute to the prison scholarship by illustrating these emotive paradoxes that represent dissonance for staff. We draw from 18 focus groups of staff, to examine how emotive dissonance manifests from contradictory feeling rules in prison work. We explore emotive disharmony among the workgroup that comes from opposing feeling rules, and, we explore how workers experience with emotive dissonance manifests as emotional estrangement. Our findings help contemplate the implications of navigating emotion within dehumanizing contexts and illustrate that how staff treat the incarcerated has implications for their own sense of humanity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores how fatherhood in prison is conceived and supported by policy intervention in Italy. Despite the fact that, in 2020, 96% of adults detained in Italian prisons were men and half of them had at least one child, fatherhood in prison, a gendered space and institution where masculinities are (re)produced, is an underdeveloped research topic. Adopting a caring masculinity perspective, we focus on incarcerated fatherhood to investigate if and how Italian social programs that deal with incarcerated parents target fathers and, if so, to what extent they promote caring masculinities. To this aim, we will combine an analysis of social programs for incarcerated fathers in Italy, almost entirely run by third sector organizations, with discursive interviews with educators, welfare workers, and third sector stakeholders who participated in the implementation of a project for incarcerated parents in a north Italian prison. The results of our analysis show that involved fatherhood is not only denied to incarcerated men; it is also not allowed in an institution, such as a prison, where domination is the keyword. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This contribution addresses some bioethical and medico-legal issues of the opinion formulated by the Italian National Bioethics Committee (CNB) in response to the dilemma between the State's duty to protect the life and health of the prisoner entrusted to its care and the prisoner's right to exercise his freedom of expression. The prisoner hunger strike is a form of protest frequently encountered in prison and it is a form of communication but also a language used by the prisoner in order to provoke changes in the prison condition. There are no rules in the prison regulations, nor in the laws governing the legal status of prisoners, that allow the conscious will of the capable and informed subject to be opposed and forced nutrition to be carried out. However, this can in no manner make therapeutic abandonment legitimate: the medical doctor should promote every action to support the patient. In the recent opinion formulated by the CNB it was remarked how self-determination is a central concept in human rights and refers to an individual's ability to make autonomous and free decisions about his or her life and body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prison populations are rapidly aging. Persons in prison age quicker and suffer more chronic illness and disability than their nonincarcerated peers, posing challenges to caring for prisoners who are chronically ill and dying. The goal of our study was to describe state prisons' practices and policies addressing persons in prison with advanced chronic and life limiting illness through a national web-based survey of state-level prison health care professionals. In particular, we focused on advanced care planning, use of health care directives, decision-making about goals of care, including life sustaining treatments, The response rate was 22% for a sample size 152 completed surveys. The average age of respondent was 52 years; majority were female and Caucasian, and had worked in corrections more than 8 years. Nearly half were registered nurses. Most reported their prison did not have a dedicated end-of-life care program and only 11% offered a peer-care program. However, two-thirds indicated their facility provided the opportunity to designate a health care agent with physicians most likely responsible for facilitating completion of a health care directive. It is evident the care of persons aging and dying in prison is complex and requires further investigation addressing staff and prison population education, ethics guidelines for care, compassionate release, and advance care planning. This study suggests that hospice and palliative care professionals could collaborate with corrections professionals and national organizations to provide innovative education and support to enhance the humane care of this vulnerable population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Evidence regarding the incarceration of women generally indicates significant mental health challenges, particularly elevated depression and reduced self-esteem. However, in the Czech Republic, little research has been undertaken on the birth experiences of women in this population, and indeed, more generally, there is little research undertaken on this specific group of women. METHODS: A quantitative questionnaire-based cohort study was undertaken in a major women's prison in the Czech Republic. The Birth Satisfaction Scale-Revised (BSS-R), the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) were administered to participants. Comparisons with normative data using the one-sample t test, comparisons between depression screen positive/negative groups using the independent t test, and correlational analysis were conducted. A measure of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PP-PTSD) was also administered. RESULTS: BSS-R subscale scores were observed to be either similar or higher than the noncustodial population. High screen-positive rates of EPDS-assessed depression were observed, and the study cohort was characterized by low RSES-assessed self-esteem. PP-PTSD levels approximated the noncustodial population. CONCLUSIONS: Women in the Czech prison system report levels of birth satisfaction equal to or better than noncustodial women. However, the mental health of this group is comparatively impoverished, thus presenting a complex relationship between birth experience and mental health during the prison sentence. Limitations of the research are discussed, and the direction of future research is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: While three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been conducted using omega-3 supplementation on prison populations, none have examined effects on recidivism. This study presents pilot findings on recidivism rates following omega-3 and vitamin D supplementation. Methods: Young offenders (N = 145) were randomized into 3 groups: omega-3/vitamin D supplementation (N = 48), placebo (N = 46), and treatment-as-usual controls (N = 51). One-, two-, and three-year recidivism rates were calculated. Results: The omega-3 group showed non-significantly reduced recidivism rates compared to both control groups in all three years. Three-year recidivism reduction effect sizes were as follows: omega-3 versus controls (d =.18) and omega-3 versus placebo (d =.17). Conclusions: A future study with a sample size of 237 would have a power of.80 to detect these effect sizes. These pilot data suggest that omega-3 and vitamin D supplementation, a simple and relatively cheap health intervention, could reduce 3-year recidivism by 16.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore the transition from correctional facilities to community among women living with HIV in Vancouver, Canada, we interviewed 19 recently incarcerated women and 6 service providers. Findings highlighted heightened risk of violence at release, a lack of immediate supports, challenges accessing safe housing and addictions treatment, and interruptions in HIV treatment and care. In the face of structural barriers, women blamed themselves for not being able to break the cycle of incarceration. There is a critical need for enhanced pre-release planning with a priority on housing and substance use services, alongside supports that are trauma-and violence-informed and culturally safe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]