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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]

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]

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]

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]

Despite efforts to reduce the number of people in the United States living in prison, people with mental illnesses continue to be overrepresented in prisons. This study explores how race impacts the prison experiences of individuals with mental illnesses. Thirty-seven participants were recruited from three states via flyers at community treatment providers and through word of mouth. Participants completed in-depth, semi-structured interviews and surveys to understand prison experiences and collect demographic information. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, framework method analysis, and an intersectional lens. Findings show that participant experiences were influenced by race through interpersonal interactions between those incarcerated and through interactions between people incarcerated and correctional staff. Intersectional identities underlying these interactions were explored including race, socioeconomic status, rural versus urban residents, and subordinate/dominant roles tied to power (e.g., staff vs. person incarcerated). These findings provide insight into how race, mental illness, and criminal-legal contact intersect. [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]

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]

Background and Aims Methods Results Conclusion 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.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.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]).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]

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is more than ten times higher in prisons compared to the general population, and HIV-infected persons are at increased risk of developing active TB and death. In the World Health Organization (WHO) African region, however, where the TB and HIV coinfections are highest, and prisons rarely factored in national disease surveillance, epidemiological data to inform TB control interventions in correctional facilities is limited. In this study, we assessed the prevalence of TB and HIV coinfections, as well as the factors associated with coinfections in our study setting. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study among 157 adult (≥ 18 years) prisoners presenting with symptoms of pulmonary TB at Shimo La Tewa Prison, Kenya, between January and June 2023. The study excluded those with a history of anti-TB drugs use or on treatment follow-up and collected demographic and clinical characteristics data using a questionnaire. Sputum samples were collected and processed immediately using Xpert® MTB/RIF assay or stored at 4 °C for three (3) days in case of delay. Results: The overall prevalence of TB among inmates with presumptive pulmonary TB was 10.2%, 95% CI 6.37–16.91% (16/157), HIV 19.1%, 95% CI 13.73–25.97% (30/157). All the TB cases were positive for HIV (16/16, 100%), translating to TB/HIV coinfection of 10.2%, 95% CI 6.37–16.91% (16/157), and there was no rifampicin resistance. TB and HIV coinfection cases were found among underweight (100%, 16/16) prisoners. The independent factors associated with TB and HIV coinfections were education level (adjusted OR = 0.17, p = 0.007), smoking history (adjusted OR = 3.01, p = 0.009) and illegal drug use history (adjusted OR = 4.55, p = 0.044). Conclusion: We report a high prevalence of pulmonary TB and HIV coinfections among adult inmates with presumptive pulmonary TB in Kenya, with education level, smoking status, and illegal drug use as the independent factors associated with the coinfection. The authority should take measures to protect HIV-positive prisoners from TB, focusing on education, nutrition, smoking, and illegal drug use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: People in correctional settings are a key population for HIV epidemic control. We sought to demonstrate scale-up of universal test and treat in correctional facilities in South Africa and Zambia through a virtual cross-sectional analysis. Methods: We used routine data on 2 dates: At the start of universal test and treat implementation (time 1, T1) and 1 year later (time 2, T2). We obtained correctional facility census lists for the selected dates and matched HIV testing and treatment data to generate virtual cross-sections of HIV care continuum indicators. Results: In the South African site, there were 4193 and 3868 people in the facility at times T1 and T2; 43% and 36% were matched with HIV testing or treatment data, respectively. At T1 and T2, respectively, 1803 (43%) and 1386 (36%) had known HIV status, 804 (19%) and 845 (21%) were known to be living with HIV, and 60% and 56% of those with known HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART). In the Zambian site, there were 1467 and 1366 people in the facility at times T1 and T2; 58% and 92% were matched with HIV testing or treatment data, respectively. At T1 and T2, respectively, 857 (59%) and 1263 (92%) had known HIV status, 277 (19%) and 647 (47%) were known to be living with HIV, and 68% and 68% of those with known HIV were receiving ART. Conclusions: This virtual cross-sectional analysis identified gaps in HIV testing coverage, and ART initiation that was not clearly demonstrated by prior cohort-based studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractThis article presents a broad analysis of the Ottoman penal policies concerning the tolerant and clement punitive sanctions for mother offenders during the late Ottoman era. It scrutinizes the penal strategies of the late Ottoman government, particularly its endeavors in criminal justice reform, with a specific focus on the treatment of female offenders concerning their reproductive functions and maternal roles. The socio-cultural, religious, and biopolitical significance of mothers exerted a profound impact on the formulation of particular Ottoman penal policies. Hence, the main argument of this article underscores the widespread valuation of even criminal women and their babies within the Ottoman penal contexts. This valuation is exemplified through the application of penal measures, including the suspension of death sentences, exemption from strenuous penal labor as stipulated in the 1858 Penal Code, provision of supplementary rations and specific healthcare services, hospitalization of pregnant inmates, and child protection as outlined in the 1880 Prison Regulation. Although the implementation of the penal codes and prison regulations was frequently hampered by fiscal crises and political instability, these attempts marked the birth of penal biopolitics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Primary care plays a central role in most, if not all, health care systems including the care of vulnerable populations such as people who have been incarcerated. Studies linking incarceration records to health care data can improve understanding about health care access following release from prison. This review maps evidence from data-linkage studies about primary care use after prison release. Methods: The framework by Arksey and O'Malley and guidance by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) were used in this review. This scoping review followed methods published in a study protocol. Searches were performed (January 2012-March 2023) in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science Core Collection using key-terms relating to two areas: (i) people who have been incarcerated and (ii) primary care. Using eligibility criteria, two authors independently screened publication titles and abstracts (step 1), and subsequently, screened full text publications (step 2). Discrepancies were resolved with a third author. Two authors independently charted data from included publications. Findings were mapped by methodology, key findings and gaps in research. Results: The database searches generated 1,050 publications which were screened by title and abstract. Following this, publications were fully screened (n = 63 reviewer 1 and n = 87 reviewer 2), leading to the inclusion of 17 publications. Among the included studies, primary care use after prison release was variable. Early contact with primary care services after prison release (e.g. first month) was positively associated with an increased health service use, but an investigation found that a large proportion of individuals did not access primary care during the first month. The quality of care was found to be largely inadequate (measured continuity of care) for moderate multimorbidity. There were lower levels of colorectal and breast cancer screening among people released from custody. The review identified studies of enhanced primary care programmes for individuals following release from prison, with studies reporting a reduction in reincarceration and criminal justice system costs. Conclusions: This review has suggested mixed evidence regarding primary care use after prison release and has highlighted challenges and areas of suboptimal care. Further research has been discussed in relation to the scoping review findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Sex, relationships, and substance use often go hand in hand. Despite this, the impact of sex and relationships on recovery are often overlooked in the field of substance use disorder treatment (SUDT). This study aims to explore sex, relationships, and relapse risk for people in recovery and as an overlooked area of importance in SUDT. This qualitative study uses semi-structured interviews with people currently and/or formerly in prison, together with ethnographic field data from four high security prisons in Norway, collected between July 2021–April 2022. Common sources of anguish around sex after release and recovery included both forming new and maintaining long-term relationships with partners at a different stage in their recovery, dating and initiating sexual relationships with new partners, concerns about sexual performance and fears around attaining sexual pleasure without chemical enhancements. The implications that sex, dating and intimate relationships may have for individual relapse to substance use, can and should play a greater role in both SUD treatment and preparation for release from prison. These problems are exacerbated in carceral settings and should be considered when planning re-entry to the community and in the development of individual relapse prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Occupational therapists work with forensic mental health patients in solitary confinement to counter impacts of mental illness and occupational deprivation, to promote well‐being and support transition to less restricted environments. There is little literature describing occupational therapy in this context. This study aimed to explore and describe the work, context and professional reasoning of occupational therapists working in solitary confinement settings within a large forensic mental health service in Victoria, Australia. Methods: A qualitative design used semi‐structured interviews with 11 occupational therapists and reflexive thematic analysis. Findings: Three central organising themes, it's all about risk, the work we do and why we do what we do, provided rich description of the context and work of occupational therapists in solitary confinement settings, including approaches used to engage patients in occupation and how the Model of Human Occupation and recovery principles informed their professional reasoning. Despite the setting restrictions, participants engaged in core elements of the occupational therapy practice process and described creative work that offered patients choice and meaningful occupation. They described occupational enrichment to address occupational deprivation and create opportunities for change within the highly restrictive and risk‐focussed environment of solitary confinement. Assessment was mainly unstructured, and the need for better evaluation of therapy outcomes acknowledged. Goal setting often focussed on immediate needs. Working in a risk‐focussed environment influenced participants' professional reasoning and work with patients, and while they advocated for occupational opportunities for patients, frustration was experienced in response to limits to occupational therapy involvement in risk assessment. Conclusion: The findings address a gap in the literature about the work of occupational therapists in forensic solitary confinement. Though participants' reasoning was informed by occupational and recovery principles, and they described working in occupation‐based ways, they did not always articulate explicit connections between theory and practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative evidence that poverty and economic inequality impact incarceration are presented. Three samples are examined, a panel of U.S. states and cross-sections of U.S. state and county prisons. In all three, incarceration is shown to rise as local poverty and/or inequality increase. Estimated impacts are found much stronger within relatively low-incarceration areas. Geographically, the relationship between inequality and incarceration is found to be statistically significant across the nation, but the relationship between poverty and incarceration appears more regional. However, the impact of poverty is shown to have increased during the early 21st century, while the opposite is true for inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During COVID and lockdown, many prisoners have not only been affected by infection transmission in crowded and ill-equipped institutions, they have also been separated from a range of supports, including loss of family and professional supports and support for prisoners with addiction and/or mental health problems has been disrupted. This paper reports on evidence of how peer-based recovery organizations have attempted to mitigate these adverse effects, based on a case study of one prison in the North-West of England, using a range of routine reporting data and original research data. The paper shows how prison-based peer recovery support has not only continued through lockdown but grown both in the prison and in continuing care on release. The key conclusion is that Lived Experience Recovery Organizations (LEROs) have a vital role to play in offering continuing care to prison populations both to support early recovery and to sustain change around release back into the community, in COVID but also more generally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on gender disparities in defiance prison -infractions—an understudied and highly discretionary type of rule violation—which have important implications for individuals' prison experiences and outcomes. Using administrative data on a release population in a large western state (N = 23,818), we employed multilevel modeling techniques to test whether (1) women were more likely than men to receive defiance infractions; (2) whether women received a greater number of defiance infractions than men, and (3) whether the gender differences observed for defiance were unique from other types of infractions (e.g. any infraction, nonviolent, violent) net of individual- and prison unit-level controls. Results confirmed that defiance infractions are uniquely gendered, which subjects incarcerated women to harsh consequences for far less serious behavior than their male counterparts. Our work fills key gaps in the literature and contributes to recent policy reform efforts aimed at prison disciplinary reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Training men and women who live in prison to assist corrections staff with the care of growing numbers of older, sicker, cognitively impaired, and dying people in prison is an innovative and viable option to help meet pressing care demands. The purpose of this paper is to report findings from the usability testing of the fully developed Just Care electronic learning program for training carefully vetted people living in prison to assist staff with geriatric and end-of-life care. Research ethics approvals and informed consent were obtained. There were two rounds of usability testing conducted via videoconference. Interdisciplinary staff (i.e., corrections specialists, supervisors, nurses, and chaplains) and people living in prison were recruited from one men's and one women's prison. Fifteen participants completed the testing in each round. Results include participant demographics, concerns and areas for improvement by severity level of programming, and mean scores for both participant groups on the System Usability Scale. Overall, both the incarcerated and staff participants found the program easy to navigate and the interactive content was useful, engaging, and relevant to caring for aging and dying people who are incarcerated. Findings will be used to refine Just Care before usability testing with a larger sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on women who committed crimes has not followed the same developments of males who committed crimes. The study of psychopathy and criminal lifestyle in female populations is one of the main gaps. This study aimed to better understand the construct of psychopathy among women who committed crimes, analyzing its relationship with criminal lifestyle. Sixty-three incarcerated women convicted of different crimes participated in this study. Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R) and Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form-Revised (LSCF-R) were filled in. Females showed low scores on the total psychopathy score. The interpersonal and lifestyle facets were the highest scored, while the antisocial was the lowest scored. Positive correlations between criminal lifestyle and total psychopathy and lifestyle and antisocial facets were found. After controlling for age and criminal variables, total psychopathy and the lifestyle facet emerge as variables associated with a criminal lifestyle. These results are particularly relevant for the design of prevention and intervention policies in female offenses and for risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A person-centered approach to advance care planning is recognized as a fundamental need, yet its routine implementation remains a challenge across disparate settings, such as prisons. The purpose of this study was to gain the perspectives of people who are incarcerated about advance care planning. Four focus groups were conducted with people living in 1 men's and 1 women's state prison (n = 26). Handwritten field notes were taken, transcribed, deidentified, and verified before the completion of independent thematic analysis by 2 experienced qualitative researchers. Key themes regarding advance care planning were identified: components of advance care planning, initiation and continuation of advance care planning, barriers to implementing advance care planning, and facilitators to implementing advance care planning. Participants noted several key components related to the name, structure, and content of advance care planning programs. Insights about who should initiate the conversation, when to continue the conversation, and how to deliver education about advance care planning were obtained. Findings contribute to identifying best practices for infusing advance care planning into prisons. Best practices will inform the development of a toolkit of contextually relevant, person-centered approaches to advance care planning that are tailored to meet the unique needs of people who are incarcerated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The post-release period is associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. Previous studies have identified deficits in pre-release planning for mentally ill people in prison, particularly in remand settings. Objectives: We aimed to determine the proportion of mentally ill people in Ireland's main remand prison who were referred for mental health follow up in community and prison settings, who achieved face to face contact with the receiving service. Method: This retrospective observational cohort study was based in Ireland's main male remand prison, Cloverhill. Participants included all those individuals on the caseload of the prison inreach mental health team who were referred for mental health follow up in community and prison settings at the time of discharge, prison transfer or release from custody over a three-year period, 2015 - 2017. Successful transfer of care (TOC) was defined as face-to-face contact with the receiving service, confirmed by written correspondence or by follow up telephone call. Clinical, demographic and offence related variables were recorded for all participants. Results: There were 911 discharges from the prison inreach mental health team within the three-year study period. Of these, 121 were admitted to hospital, 166 were transferred to other prison inreach mental health services and 237 were discharged to community based mental health follow up in psychiatric outpatient or primary care settings. One third (304/911) had an ICD-10 diagnosis of schizophreniform or bipolar disorder (F20--31) and 37.5% (161/911) were homeless. Over 90% (152/166) of those referred to mental health teams in other prisons achieved successful TOC, with a median of six days to first faceto face assessment. Overall, 59% (140/237) of those referred to community psychiatric outpatient or primary care services achieved TOC following referral on release from custody, with a median of nine days from release to assessment. Clinical and demographic variables did not differ between those achieving and not achieving successful TOC, other than having had input from the PICLS Housing Support Service. Conclusion: Successful transfer of care can be achieved in remand settings using a systematic approach with an emphasis on early and sustained interagency liaison and clear mapping of patient pathways. For incarcerated individuals experiencing homelessness and mental health disorders, provision of a housing support service was associated with increased likelihood of successful transfer of care to community mental health supports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The aim of this study was to explore how sports contribute to the social reintegration of (formerly) incarcerated individuals. The focus lays on the perspectives of participants in sports activities in a Belgian prison. The research utilized participatory observations and semi-structured interviews spanning eighteen months. The data were processed through a thematic analysis by using the Capability Approach as a theoretical lens. The findings reveal how participants attribute meaning and crucial factors to sports, viewing it as essential for fostering aspirations, hope, and establishing connections with other aspects of life. The ‘Going for Goals’ sports programme, therefore, plays a key role in shaping a realistic and positive outlook on their future and life after detention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractIncarcerated women are confined in institutions designed to punish. These sites often ignore the complex mental and physical health needs of people who are incarcerated. Despite the World Health Organization stressing the need for access to reproductive healthcare in carceral institutions, stigma surrounding abortion care and health inequalities create contextually specific issues for incarcerated people seeking to access these services. There is also a dearth of research conducted directly with incarcerated women, trans men and non-binary people to examine their experiences of abortion. A systematic review of international peer-reviewed and grey literature was completed to summarise existing evidence from research conducted on the experiences of needing abortion care whilst incarcerated. Various experiences were identified including: conditions of confinement shaping abortion decisions; bureaucratic obstacles to accessing abortion services; incarcerated women, carceral staff and carceral healthcare staff’s lack of understanding of abortion rights and procedures; and a scarcity of support and empathy, including experiences of stigmatisation and lack of confidentiality. There exists a significant gap in research examining the experiences of incarcerated people who may need an abortion, emphasising the need for international collaboration and advocacy to address systemic issues that extend beyond local contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Prison farms are common programs within correctional services; however, knowledge is limited regarding the agricultural prison industry. As a starting point for further study and policy development, we conducted a scoping review to map knowledge on the industry. The results show many publications focused on the agricultural prison industry were outdated, United States-based, and/or non-original research. Findings reveal agricultural positions tend to be filled by prisoners with pre-existing work skills and relatively low support needs and agricultural positions are not necessarily driven by market demands. Findings also show prisoners experience a lack of workplace protections, such as workers’ compensation, the ability to unionize, and adequate workplace safety and hazardous materials training. Yet, a purported benefit of agricultural programs was improved food security for prisoners. Other finds show there is a predominant focus on self-sufficiency and cost-savings for prisons in the face of inadequate or worsening budgets but limited available data quantifies relationship, prison farms shift from being rehabilitative-focused to profit-driven over a certain amount of acres. We conclude by identifying gaps in the literature on the agricultural prison industry and listing areas of future inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased suicide rates in prison are a serious concern. Early identification of inmates at risk is a component of effective suicide prevention. The present study examined two suicide screening instruments in a sample of men in the Berlin, Germany, prison system (n = 289). The Screening for Initial Risk Assessment (SIRAS) identified significantly more high-risk inmates than the Vienna Instrument for Suicidality in Correctional Institutions (VISCI) (66 vs. 24). The results further show that the agreement in the classification was evident only in inmates with suicidal ideation, but was otherwise quite low. This can be explained by the fact that the instruments differ in terms of the risk factors taken into account. Finally, it was found that inmates classified as high risk received more monitoring and psychiatric or psychological support, which supports the construct validity of the instruments. As there were no deaths by suicide in the sample, no statistical information on the predictive validity of the instruments could be provided. Although research in this area is challenging, methodologically sound studies are needed to inform practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This archival study explores the life and work of Dr. Carrie Weaver Smith (1885–1942), a Progressive Era social worker and prison warden. Specifically, I explore the first phase of her career as a House Physician at the Virginia K. Johnson Home in Dallas, Texas (1911–1915) and as the first Superintendent of the Texas State Training School for Girls in Gainesville, Texas (1916–1925). Using archival research, I detail three conflicts that defined Dr. Smith's superintendency: her fight to reclassify a youth prison as a school, her challenges to a Ku Klux Klan-dominated legislature, and her refusal to cede authority to a State Board of Control. Together, these conflicts led the Board to terminate Dr. Smith's position, an outcome that would replay twice more before she retired from prisonwork. I argue that when most reformers made significant concessions, compromising their visions to maintain state funding and political allyship, Dr. Smith stood out for her record of refusal. And yet, like other reformers, she left Texas with the capacity to imprison more women and girls than ever before. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the epidemiological and genomic characteristics, along with the transmission dynamics, of SARS-CoV-2 within prison units I and II in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. Conducted between May and October 2022, it reveals how the virus spreads in the confined settings of prisons, emphasizing the roles of overcrowded cells, frequent transfers, and limited healthcare access. The research involved 1927 participants (83.93% of the total prison population) and utilized nasopharyngeal swabs and RT-qPCR testing for detection. Contact tracing monitored exposure within cells. Out of 2108 samples, 66 positive cases were identified (3.13%), mostly asymptomatic (77.27%), with the majority aged 21–29 and varying vaccination statuses. Next-generation sequencing generated 28 whole genome sequences, identifying the Omicron variant (subtypes BA.2 and BA.5) with 99% average coverage. Additionally, the study seeks to determine the relationship between immunization levels and the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 cases within this enclosed population. The findings underscore the necessity of comprehensive control strategies in prisons, including rigorous screening, isolation protocols, vaccination, epidemiological monitoring, and genomic surveillance to mitigate disease transmission and protect both the incarcerated population and the broader community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article uncovers, analyzes, and critiques a common yet under-examined trend in the history of Western political thought: punitive humanism, the belief that human beings are "naturally" punitive. Engaging with different iterations of punitive humanist thought in the writings of John Locke, Immanuel Kant, and Jeremy Bentham, I argue that this belief has wide-ranging implications, and constitutes a particular challenge to abolitionist theory and practice. I use the work of Friedrich Nietzsche, particularly his conceptualization of ressentiment , to elaborate a critique of punitive humanism, one which resonates with and provides valuable theoretical material for contemporary abolitionist thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While research on supported desistance is increasing, little is known about practitioners' experiences of facilitating change following release in Norway. This article seeks to expand this knowledge through the perspectives of probation caseworkers and staff of penal voluntary organizations. Despite their common challenges and shared ideals, the two groups experience varying ability to assist in change processes. While staff of voluntary organizations practice close to the ideal, caseworkers describe frustration at an increased risk focus and thus a decrease in desistance promotion. In this context, we discuss how two key developments in Norwegian resettlement practice, (1) increased discrepancies between ideals and realities and (2) the blurring of boundaries between penal voluntary organizations and the Correctional Services, are shifting probation work away from supporting desistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

This article argues that imprisonment creates time that does not matter. It is based on longitudinal interviews conducted with 35 men and women sentenced to typical prison sentences in England. It argues that some responded to this situation by trying to treat the institution as a space of temporary removal and then return to their unblemished lives after release. Others tried to use the prison as a space for reinvention, but it was too disconnected from their biographies for this change to endure. The article then calls for a new understanding of the prison as an institution. The prison is a space of non-life, and as such it can only be understood in the context of that which surrounds it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study seeks to explore, describe, and quantify the effects that the experiences of incarceration have on women in prison contexts in Argentina. Methodology: The results of an original database were analyzed. The database includes two surveys conducted by the Center for Latin American Studies on Insecurity and Violence (CELIV/UNTREF) in 2013 and 2019 in prisons of the Federal and Buenos Aires Penitentiary System. The sample consisted of 845 males and 188 females who participated in the survey in 2013, and 838 males and 200 females in 2019. Results: The results of this study indicate that there are gender differences in the effects of incarceration on the inside, which are mainly crystallized in the behavior of the nearby containment networks. For women, contact with their emotional environment is more limited than for men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We estimated the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in the Norwegian, Danish and Swedish prison populations and compared the prevalence of SUDs in the national prison populations with country‐specific general population prevalence rates. Design: A multi‐national cohort study using data from the National Prison Registries linked to the National Patient Registries in Norway, Denmark and Sweden. Setting and participants: We used data from the PriSUD‐Nordic study, including national prison populations aged 19 years and older in Norway (2010–19), Denmark (2010–18) and Sweden (2010–13). A total of 119 507 Individuals (108 971 men and 10 536 women) contributing to 191 549 incarcerations were included in the study (Norway: 45432 men; 5429 women, Denmark: 42 162 men; 3370 women, Sweden: 21 377 men; 1737 women). Measurement: We calculated a study prevalence and prevalence at entry to prison for all types of SUDs before imprisonment each consecutive year of observation in each prison population. We also extracted country‐specific 1‐year prevalence rates from the Global Burden of Diseases database to calculate comparative national prevalence ratios. Findings The study prevalence of any SUD was approximately 40% [Norway: 44.0%, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 43.6–44.5%; Denmark: 39.9%, CI = 39.5–40.4%; Sweden: 39.1%, CI = 38.4–39.7%] in all three countries. Women had a significantly higher study prevalence of any SUD compared with men (Norway: 55.8 versus 42.6%, P < 0.001; Denmark 43.1 versus 39.7%, P = 0.004; Sweden: 51.7 versus 38.0%, P < 0.001). Prevalence estimates were higher for SUDs among people in prison than in the general population. We observed an increasing proportion of people with SUDs entering prison in Norway (P = 0.003), while the proportion was more stable in Denmark and Sweden. Conclusions: Substance use disorders (SUDs) appear to be highly prevalent among the Scandinavian prison populations compared with the general population, especially among women. In Norway, there was a relative increase in SUDs from 2010 to 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Instrumental and Expressive Aggression Questionnaire (CAIE) is a self-report instrument that allows evaluating aggression based on its motivational bases. The objective of this study was to evaluate its psychometric properties in a Spanish prison sample. The CAIE and other scales (SAQ, PCL-R, and VRAG) were completed by 302 male offenders from several Spanish prisons. The confirmatory factor analysis showed that the structure of the CAIE was explained by a three-factor solution (two first-order factors and one second-order factor). The Cronbach's alpha and omega coefficients showed adequate internal consistency of the total CAIE score and its subscales. In addition, the correlations obtained between the CAIE and the other scales were statistically significant and showed high and moderate magnitudes, indicating evidence of concurrent validity of the instrument. The results indicate the importance of aggression as a factor to be taken into account when assessing the risk of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the majority of incarcerated individuals are younger, there is a growing population of aging adults within the prison setting. It has been recognized that most correctional facilities are not built to house older adults, which has led to constraints and challenges being placed on this population. Understanding how best to respond to older adults in correctional facilities has gained popularity among researchers and politicians. Humblet's book The Older Prisoner (2021) explores the effects prison life has on the aging generation. This book examines the concept of age and the benefits and challenges older adults in the prison setting face. Findings from his book can be used as foundational support for future research or informing prison policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the available evidence identifying the high prevalence rates of potentially traumatic experiences in forensic populations, there is still a lack of evidence supporting the use of suitable assessment tools, especially for young males in custody. For services to identify, support, and offer trauma interventions to this cohort, practitioners require reliable and valid assessment tools. This systematic review (Open Science Framework registration: https://osf.io/r6hbk) identifies those tools able to provide valid, reliable, and comparable data for this cohort. Five electronic databases and gray literature were searched to identify relevant measures. Inclusion criteria: studies of tools to assess for trauma with males aged between 12 and 25 years-old in a custodial setting, any year of publication, and available in English. Exclusion criteria: studies that did not measure psychological trauma or include a standalone trauma scale, or report primary data. A three-step quality assessment method was used to evaluate the methodological quality and psychometric properties of the measures. Fourteen studies were selected for review (which included 12 measures). The studies sampled a total of approximately 1,768 male participants and an age range of 12 to 25 years. The studies reported on various types of psychometric evidence and due to the lack of homogeneity, a narrative synthesis was used to discuss, interpret, and evaluate each measure. The overall quality of the psychometric properties of the measures in this review showed that the currently available instruments for the assessment of trauma with young males in custody is limited but promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

Objective: With the increasing number of incarcerated women worldwide, the rate of women who experience pregnancy in prison, has also increased in this population. Exploring the unique experience of pregnant prisoners can contribute to understanding the complex world of this vulnerable population and, as a result, tailoring programs to promote their health status. The objective of this study was to understand the psychological experience of pregnancy in prison based on the lived experiences of incarcerated women. Methods: This was a qualitative inquiry using van Manen's approach to phenomenology. Seven pregnant and four early postpartum women, with experience of pregnancy during incarceration, were selected purposefully in a prison in Iran from 2019 to 2020. In-depth semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. To analyze data, six-step van Manen's descriptive-interpretive phenomenological approach was adopted using MAXQDA10 software. Results: The main theme of "white torture", a term used to describe the psychological and emotional distress experienced by incarcerated pregnant women, emerged from the data analysis. This theme echoes the pressure and torment of pregnancy on incarcerated women and consists of two subthemes: "captive to bitter and harsh emotions" and "suffering from psychosomatic pain and injuries." Conclusion for Practice: As an emotional trauma, pregnancy puts incarcerated women under psychological torture. Policies should be developed towards the acknowledgment and meeting of the unique psychological needs of pregnant women in prison. It is also crucial for healthcare providers to provide women in prison with training on coping strategies to address the psychological and emotional challenges of pregnancy. Significance: The women who get pregnant while incarcerated face many of emotions ranging from isolation and grief to anger and hostility. Incarcerated pregnant women are constantly tormented; a torment that may have no physical evidence but for pregnant prisoners, their bulging abdomen, leaves deep and long-term psychological impacts that seems like constant torture. This shows that the psychological needs of these women should be identified, and comprehensive executive-guaranteed mental health programs must be developed to promote their psychological and emotional health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of the Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program for reducing psychological distress and enhancing the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal women preparing for release from prison. Study design: Mixed methods; qualitative study (adapted reflexive thematic analysis of stories of most significant change) and assessment of psychological distress. Setting, participants: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at the Boronia Pre‐release Centre for Women, Perth, Western Australia, May and July 2021. Intervention: Cultural, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Program (two days per week for six weeks). The Program involves presentations, workshops, activities, group discussions, and self‐reflections designed to enhance social and emotional wellbeing. Main outcome measures: Themes and subthemes identified from reflexive thematic analysis of participants' stories of most significant change; change in mean psychological distress, as assessed with the 5‐item Kessler Scale (K‐5) before and after the Program. Results: Fourteen of 16 invited women completed the Program; ten participated in its evaluation. They reported improved social and emotional wellbeing, reflected as enhanced connections to culture, family, and community. Mean psychological distress was lower after the Program (mean K‐5 score, 11.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 9.0–13.6) than before the Program (9.0; 95% CI, 6.5–11.5; P = 0.047). Conclusion: The women who participated in the Program reported personal growth, including acceptance of self and acceptance and pride in culture, reflecting enhanced social and emotional wellbeing through connections to culture and kinship. Our preliminary findings suggest that the Program could improve the resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in contact with the justice system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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