Correctional Center Research Articles

"You need a designated officer" - Recommendations from correctional and justice health personnel for scaling up hepatitis C treatment-as-prevention in the prison setting.

Hepatitis C (HCV) is highly prevalent among people who are incarcerated. HCV treatment-as-prevention was implemented in the SToP-C trial in four correctional centres in New South Wales , Australia to determine whether prison-wide scale up of antiviral treatment was an effective strategy to reduce HCV incidence and prevalence in the prison setting. A qualitative assessment was undertaken with prison-based correctional and health personnel at each of the four prisons to understand operational, sociological, and cultural barriers and enablers to scale up. Informed by a framework for scaling up population health interventions, this analysis examines recommendations by correctional and justice health personnel for HCV treatment-as-prevention scale up in the prison setting. Correctional (n=24) and justice health (n=17) personnel, including officers, nurses, and senior administrators, participated in interviews across the four prisons where SToP-C was delivered and included two maximum security, one minimum security, and one women's medium/minimum security prisons. Scaling up HCV treatment-as-prevention was contingent on compatibility (including sentence length), efficacy (securely funded positions for dedicated personnel and continuity of care for patients transferring between prisons), stakeholder analysis (generally the whole of prison workforce, particularly custodial officers and senior administrators), reach (reliant on peer and officer champions), and legitimised change (via dedicated officers who could instigate cultural shifts). Achieving scale up of such an intervention should be guided by an understanding of the potential barriers and enablers. This analysis showed key considerations for HCV treatment-as-prevention scale up in correctional centres.

Peran Pembimbing Kemasyarakatan dalam Mendampingi Anak yang Berhadapan dengan Hukum

Community Supervisor according to Law No. 11 of 2012 concerning the Juvenile Criminal Justice System (SPPA) in Article 1 paragraph (13) is a functional law enforcement official who carries out community research, guidance, supervision, and assistance to children in and outside the criminal justice process. This research aims to find out the role of Community Supervisors in assisting Children Who Face The Law at the Correctional Center Klas II Mataram. This research uses a qualitative approach with descriptive methods. The subject in this study is the Community Supervisor. Data collection techniques use observation techniques, interviews, and documentation. Based on the results of the study shows that the Community Supervisor in assisting children who face the law consists of assistance at the investigation stage, the prosecution stage, the trial stage, and the trial. The internal factors that affect the Community Supervisor in assisting children who face the law are Human Resources, the area of work area, and the budget of funds. While external factors consist of cooperative relations with other agencies and coordination with parents / guardians and the community.

ASSESSMENT OF MARITAL VISITATION CHALLENGES OF MARRIED COUPLES DURING IMPRISONMENT AT SODO CORRECTIONAL CENTRE, WOLAITA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Correctional centers are admitting prisoners with reformative and rehabilitative services to make attitudinal and behavioral changes. Nevertheless, the rising number of prisoners makes correctional centers the place to learn more sophisticated crimes and prisons as industrial complexes. In visitation programs, the role of spouses is essential to maintaining marital relationships among prisoners and their spouses. However, very little research has been conducted on the challenges of imprisoned married couples during marital visitation. This study was aimed to assessmarital visitation challenges of married couples during imprisonment at Sodo correctional center. The study employed mixed research methods. The research employed cross-sectional and case study research designs. Thus, the research employed purposive and simple random sampling techniques for data collection. The collected data was analyzed using both qualitative and quantitative methods. The research found prisoners were emotional satisfied from marital visitations which continue and strengthening marital relationship during imprisonment. The pattern of frequency of visitation shows that the mostly visited prisoners by their spouses had high emotional attachments. But, marital visitation was continuously encountered by various problems, such as a lack of space for mass visitation, the absence of a private room for marital visitation, overcrowding of visitors, less time given for visitation, and lack of privacy to discuss marital issues, which hampered the effectiveness of visitation programs. Therefore, the limitations of the visitation procedure necessitate a high level of commitment from the concerned body, unless the prison system will continue to be the source of social dysfunction.

Educator professional development towards management of curriculum implementation: A case study in Correctional Centres of Gauteng Region, South Africa

This experience which is under constant ‘surveillance’ within the correctional facilities is not often discussed by researchers. Basic literacy and numeracy skills are offered to adults who were socially marginalized and economically disadvantaged prior to their imprisonment. Educator professional development (EPD) is a key mechanism for improving classroom instruction and student achievement hence curriculum management is imperative for educators through their possession of motivational and inspirational skills. inadequate educator orientation, training and development as one of the leading impediments to effective curriculum implementation in schools. This study is qualitative in nature and is located in the interpretive paradigm. Therefore, a case study design was employed to explore and provide a detailed description of educators’ understanding, experiences, practices and the challenges they encounter in a correctional service setting. This goal is in planning and developing an effective in-service development programme as it is important to note that recent reviews of continuous and consistent EPD indicates that DCS in Gauteng is ineffective in bringing about the required change in the teaching practices of educators. It is therefore imperative for educators in correctional centres to manage curriculum effectively and efficiently.

The Role of Community Counselor in Handling Child Clients in Class I Correctional Center of Medan

The existence of laws against children must be considered and must be led to be more responsible for themselves, because children are different from adults. Children are teenagers, human resources, and have the potential to continue the life of the nation and state. The child client is then guided to improve himself and his behavior in the existing reality, with the aim of changing his lifestyle, and assisted in behavioral restructuring, especially for clients with severe personality problems that take a long time to resolve. In other words, probation officers can educate a child client about the rejections they will face when receiving changes or feedback from others, while encouraging them to motivate themselves, accept their situation, and change what the child client is going through. Another important thing that must be done in dealing with child client is to involve the family of the child to participate in the process of handling the child who violates the law.

Coping, aggression, perceived social support and demographic variables as predictors of prison adjustment among male incarcerated offenders

The unique contextual attributes of the correctional environment and the frustrations, deprivations and challenges associated with it impact adjustment to incarceration. Offenders who cannot adjust to the correctional environment may experience behavioural and psychological challenges, including institutional misconduct, violence, aggression, withdrawal, anger, hostility, anxiety and depression. It is imperative to identify which variables are possible predictors of correctional adjustment among male incarcerated offenders in a private, maximum-security correctional centre in South Africa. In this quantitative study, 418 male maximum-security offenders were sampled. Questionnaire data were collected, and the results indicated that the combination of some variables (Friends, Avoidance and Problem-solving) predicted Internal Adjustment and (Anger, Friends and Verbal Aggression) predicted External Adjustment of the offenders. The results from this study could aid in the development of future programmes that assist offenders with adjusting to the correctional environment.

Analisis Optimalisasi Sistem Penempatan Pegawai Negeri Sipil Berbasis Kompetensi pada Balai Pemasyarakatan Kelas II Bukittinggi

In this thesis the author discusses the Optimization Analysis of Competency-Based Civil Servant Placement System at the Class II Bukittinggi Penitentiary. This study aims to determine what factors are obstacles to the Optimization of Competency-Based Civil Service Placement System at the Class II Bukittinggi Correctional Center. The data collection technique used by the author is library research and field studies by conducting direct interviews with related parties. The results of this study indicate that the optimization of competency-based civil servant placement is very important in carrying out the duties and functions of the employees themselves and to achieve organizational goals. There are several obstacles in optimizing the placement of competency-based employees such as the formation of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights of the Republic of Indonesia that is not appropriate, competencies that are not in accordance with the needs in the field. The lack of education and training for the Bukittinggi Class II Fathers Board employees.

Sentencing Guidelines and Prison Congestion in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects for Decongestion

This Paper examines the problems of absence of Sentencing Guidelines and Prison Congestion in Nigeria. It compares these in passing with the position in the United Kingdom. The Paper finds that the absence of Sentencing Guidelines does not encourage use of non-custodial options in sentencing but allows for uncoordinated exercise of judicial discretion in custodial sentences, which leads to prison congestion, disparity and uncertainty in penalties inflicted on prisoners convicted of same or similar offences. This is despite the efforts made in the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 at providing scanty sentencing guidelines to solve the problem of uncoordinated sentencing. It concludes that comprehensive Sentencing Guidelines and Nigeria Sentencing Commission should be created to ensure adequate use of non-custodial sentences in deserving cases, uniformity and certainty in custodial sentences, and decongestion of correctional centres. The paper suggests solutions to bridge the gap, one of which is a recommendation that a penal law be enacted or existing ones amended to accommodate comprehensive Sentencing Guidelines and Sentencing Commission in Nigeria's criminal justice system. Analytical, comparative, descriptive, doctrinal, and empirical research methods are used in collating and scientifically analysing relevant statutes, statutory instruments, reports, judicial authorities, learned articles and textbooks, and interviews. These are followed with conclusion and recommendations.

Listening to Country: Immersive Audio Production and Deep Listening with First Nations Women in Prison

Listening to Country was an arts-led research project where, as an interdisciplinary team of practitioner-researchers, we worked with incarcerated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to produce a one-hour immersive audio work based on field recordings of natural environments. The project began with a pilot phase in Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre (BWCC), Australia, to investigate the value of acoustic ecology in promoting wellbeing among women who were experiencing separation from family, culture, and Country (ancestral homelands). The team facilitated a three-week program with the women, using arts-led processes informed by visual art, performance, Indigenous storywork, and dadirri (deep, active listening). The soundscape presented here is a response to the creative process that we led inside the prison and the audio work that the incarcerated women co-created with the research team. The accompanying text describes the background to the original project, the process we undertook in the prison, and our methodology for translating knowledge from the research based on the acoustic and poetic resonances of our experience.

The Relationship between Dysfunctional Family, Substance Abuse, Emotional Intelligence and Recidivism among Young Adult Inmates in Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria

The Relationship between Dysfunctional Family, Substance Abuse, Emotional Intelligence and Recidivism among Young Adult Inmates in Agodi Correctional Centre, Ibadan, Nigeria

Patterns of victimization in Ghana's Senior Correctional Center: The experiences of juvenile offenders

Victimization is considered a serious issue which affects children across the globe and this is particularly accentuated in the prison environment Research on prison victimization and psychological health however, has primarily focused on adult prisoners. There is little documentation on how victimization impacts the psychological health of juvenile offenders in correctional facilities. This article therefore explores the experiences of victimization among juvenile offenders in the Senior Correctional Center, Ghana. A total of 20 juvenile offenders were purposively sampled from Ghana's Senior Correction Center. Using thematic analysis, three themes were generated and discussed: forms of victimization, causes of victimization and impacts of victimization. It was revealed that, besides taking the form of either direct and or indirect physical assault, victimization also manifested in the form of verbal assault. Moreover, victimization was found to usually occur when young offenders direct their built-up frustrations at others or when victims possess specific attributes that make them targets. The various forms of victimization experienced by these young offenders impacts their well-being physically, psychologically and socially. It is recommended that stakeholders should practice stress management exercises, and establish a buddy system for juvenile offenders in the correctional facility.

Psycho-spiritual intervention to reduce anger level among delinquent teenager

To this day, delinquent among teenagers remain the most critical social issue facing the Malaysian nation. This study examined the effects of psycho-spiritual intervention in reducing the level of anger among delinquent teenagers from correctional and rehabilitation centers in Terengganu. This study employed quasi-experimental research with one group pretest-posttest. The 24 female delinquent teenagers from correctional and rehabilitation centers in Terengganu were involved in this study. Differences in anger levels were evaluated based on the pretest and posttest scores, using the clinical anger scales (CAS). Descriptive analysis and pair sample t-test were used to analyze data. Overall, the pre and post-test mean scores showed a decrease in delinquent teenager’s anger levels. Pair sample t-test showed a significant difference in anger level before and after the psycho-spiritual intervention. It is shown that psycho-spiritual intervention is effective to reduce the levels of anger among teenagers who are involved in delinquent behavior. <br /><br />

Shoplifting Behavior Among Patients With an Eating Disorder at a Medical Correctional Center in Japan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

PurposeIn Japan, the incarceration of patients with eating disorders (EDs) owing to repeated shoplifting has become a social issue. This study examined the shoplifting behavior of inmates with EDs at our medical correctional center, with the objective of delineating their characteristics, identifying an adequate treatment plan, and preventing recidivism.MethodsThe participants consisted of 32 incarcerated patients with EDs (22 females, 10 males) charged with shoplifting, from a medical correctional center in East Japan. A cross-sectional study was employed. Data were collected by retrieving the patients' medical records and through individual interviews conducted by psychiatrists.ResultsThe food-specific shoplifting ED group (those who had never shoplifted anything other than food) had a core pathology of the binge-purge type of anorexia nervosa with juvenile onset (p = 0.044). Furthermore, they demonstrated an average gap of 8 years between the onset of ED and their first shoplifting episode. The non-specific shoplifting ED group (those who shoplifted food and other items) typically shoplifted before the onset of ED (p = 0.001). They experienced the onset of ED after incarceration (p = 0.004) and had comorbid disorders (p = 0.024). The food-specific group required a psychosocial approach focusing on maintaining healthy body weight and mental stability, whereas the non-specific group required multiple forms of support for substance abuse and behavioral addiction, as well as interventions to reduce impulsive behavior.ConclusionEarly intervention is necessary to improve the prognosis of patients with EDs and shoplifting behavior.

Suicidal behavior and associated factors among prisoners in Dilla town, Dilla, Ethiopia 2020: An institutional based cross-sectional study.

BackgroundSuicide is a serious cause of mortality worldwide and is a psychiatric emergency. Among prisoners, it is the leading cause of death compared to the general population. However, suicide in prison is a neglected public health issue especially in middle- and low-income countries including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of suicidal behavior among prisoners in Dilla Town Correctional Center, South Ethiopia.MethodsAn institution-based cross- sectional study was conducted from May13- June 13, 2020 in the Dilla Town Correctional Center. The simple random sampling technique was used to select 650 prisoners. Data were collected by face-to—to-face interview. Suicidal ideation and attempts were assessed by using the suicidality module of World Mental Health survey initiative version of the World Health Organization composite International diagnostic interview. Data were coded, entered with EP-data version 3.1, and analyzed by using Statistical Package for Social Science version 24. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significant association between explanatory variables and outcome variables at 95% CI.The resultsThe prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempt among prisoners were 21.9% (95%CI, 18.4–25.2) and 13.1% (95%CI, 10.6–15.8), respectively. Female sex [(AOR) = 2.6, 95%CI, (1.39, 8.2)], divorced/widowed [AOR = 3.67, 95%CI, (2.05, 6.58)], family history of mental illness [AOR = 2.49, 95%CI, (1.41, 4.38)], common mental disorder [AOR = 1.98, 95%CI, (1.25, 3.16)] and poor social support [AOR = 2.68, 95%CI, (1.42, 5.06)] were statistically associated with suicidal ideation. Whereas, female sex [AOR = 3.24, 95%CI, (1.89, 9.4)], previous incarceration [AOR = 2.38, 95%CI, (1.2, 5.16)], and family history of mental illness [AOR = 2.08, 95%CI, (1.11, 3.9)] were associated with suicide attempt.ConclusionThe prevalence of suicidal ideation and attempts among prisoners were high. The special attention in early screening and treatment of suicide among prisoners and collaborating with health institutions is important for better management and prevention.

Non-custodial sentences in the Northern Areas: Female offenders’ experience

While studies on female offenders in South Africa are valuable, very few have provided an understanding of women serving alternative sentences. This is critical in South Africa considering its slow administration of justice and the use of ‘alternative’ sentencing could possibly relieve the conditions in correctional centres. Since alternative sentencing is less retributive than incarceration, they are assumed to be more restorative in reforming and reintegration. However, when the offenders are placed back into the society that promoted the criminal behaviour, it becomes difficult to govern. This ethnographic study explores the lived experiences of five female offenders serving non-custodial sentences in Port Elizabeth’s Northern Areas, a known gang area.

Relationship between prisoners’ self-awareness and stress problems related to psychological well-being and duration in prison

This study was designed to address the relationship between components of psychological well-being and duration among prisoners in Addis Ababa’s Kality correctional centre. To meet this objective, the researcher selected 100 participants by using systematic random sampling techniques. A 5-point Likert-type scale questionnaire was used. The data were analysed through percentage, frequency and correlation. The result revealed that there is no significant relationship between components (i.e., self-awareness, stress and stress coping) of psychological well-being and age among prisoners. However, the study revealed that there is a significant difference between male and female prisoners on the components of psychological well-being. The study suggested that it is advisable to create favourable conditions for the prisoners to develop a sense of good interaction among them. Finally, the correctional centre should develop a sense of belonging and coordination among the offenders to minimise stress and conflict in the correctional centre. Keywords: Relationship, prisoners, self-awareness, stress, psychological well-being, duration;

Forgiveness Mediates the Protective Role of Religiosity on Psychological Distress: Findings from Inmates in Eswatini Correctional Centres.

This study examined the mediating role of forgiveness in the relationship between religiosity and psychological distress among 244 inmates (Meanage = 31.6) in Eswatini, a country in Southern Africa formerly called Swaziland. Results showed that religiosity, forgiveness and psychological distress were related in the expected direction. Outcomes of SEM analyses indicated that high religiosity was associated with greater forgiveness, which in turn associated with low distress. While the presence of positive feelings of forgiveness was a significant mediator, the absence of negative feelings was not. Psychotherapeutic techniques targeting lower distress from religiosity should utilize forgiveness interventions with a special focus on the presence of positive feelings toward the offender.

Politicization of Insecurity and Efficient Management of the Nigerian Correctional Service, 2015-2022

In recent times, Nigeria has been plagued by escalating insecurity, which has culminated in daily cases of kidnapping, banditry, robbery, and indiscriminate killings in nearly all six geopolitical zones. The recurring decimal of these criminal operations has made possible the further extension of attacks to the Country’s correctional centers (Prisons), Thereby, hindering the ability and capacity of the Nigerian correctional service to live up to high public expectations of efficient management of correctional facilities across the country. However, despite the high number of attacks, the government appears powerless to stop this threat due to their inability to convict the perpetrators of these crimes. These terrorists on their own have grown more daring as can be observed with the rising cases of prison breaks across the nation as they aim to free their already captured colleagues without fear of being confronted by the security agencies. This paper therefore examined the effect of politicizing insecurity by political actors and its implication on the proper and efficient management of the Nigerian correctional service within the period under review. Using the instrumental theory of terrorism, the paper investigated critically the underlying issues preventing the Nigerian government from successfully apprehending runaway terrorists. Data for the study was collected through documentary sources and analyzed appropriately using the qualitative-descriptive method of data analysis. The study established that there appears to be a convoluted relationship between certain segments of the government or its security personnel and the terrorists wreaking havoc on the Nigerian state and this has had adverse effects on the efficient management of the Nation’s correctional service. As a result, the research urges a thorough investigation of Nigeria's terrorist sponsors and a complete revamp of the nation's security system.

Investigating the Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2).

This study was done to prepare a Persian version of the MAYSI-2 and investigate its psychometric properties among the adolescents of the Juvenile Correction and Rehabilitation Center in Mashhad. By available study sample 329 male adolescents were selected. The findings showed that the Cronbach's alpha values for subscales were from .74 to .91. Compound reliability was also obtained in different scales between .72 and .98 indicating the optimal reliability of the scale. The CVR and CVI indicating the appropriate content validity. The results of CFA showed that the factor loading of the items was more than .5. The scale had good structural validity. The GFI of .90, IFI of .91, and RMSEA of .072 were all within the acceptable limits. Convergent and divergent validity indicators showed that the subscales benefited from the convergent validity. Our results showed that the Persian version of the MAYSI-2 had desirable psychometric properties. Therefore, it can be used for assessing mental health problems of juvenile delinquent and upcoming research.

Factors influencing incarcerated offenders’ perceptions of correctional officers in South African correctional centres

Factors influencing incarcerated offenders’ perceptions of correctional officers in South African correctional centres