Correctional Facilities Research Articles

Video consultations enable guideline-based and continuous medical care under the structurally challenging conditions of correctional facilities. This article presents the model of team-based telemedicine using concrete fields of application such as tele-general medicine, telepsychiatry, tele-substitution therapy, and teledermatology. Special attention is given to technical requirements, quality assurance measures, and the challenges and opportunities in correctional healthcare delivery. The approaches described are based on the experiences of the "Videoclinic" in more than 120 correctional institutions. In addition, the results of an initial empirical analysis of telemedicine routine care data (January 2023 to March 2025) and asatisfaction survey of medical and nursing staff (March 12 to 9 April 2024) are presented, which provide insights into the realities of healthcare delivery, the disease spectrum of inmates, and indications regarding the effectiveness and acceptance of telemedicine care in correctional settings.

Background: Bystander CPR (B-CPR) rates in Birmingham, Alabama are significantly below the national average, contributing to one of the lowest out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survival rates in the United States. Telecommunicator CPR (T-CPR), in which 9-1-1 call takers provide real-time CPR instruction to callers, is a cost-effective strategy to improve B-CPR rates. However, the current status of T-CPR practices in Birmingham remains unknown. We aimed to evaluate existing T-CPR performance, identify barriers to implementation, and compare local metrics to recently published American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all 9-1-1 audio recordings for adult (≥18 years) non-traumatic Emergency Medical Services (EMS)-treated OHCA cases in Birmingham from January 1 to December 31, 2023. EMS-witnessed events or those occurring within healthcare or correctional facilities were excluded. T-CPR metrics were manually extracted and compared to the AHA T-CPR benchmarks using descriptive statistics. Results: Among 236 included OHCA cases, 94 (39.8%) were correctly recognized by call takers (AHA goal: >75%). Of cases deemed recognizable by AHA definitions, 50.0% were identified correctly by the call taker (AHA goal: >95%), with a median recognition time of 60 seconds (AHA goal: <90 seconds). T-CPR instructions were provided to 72.7% of recognizable cases (AHA goal: >75%), with a median time to first chest compression of 172 seconds (AHA goal: <150s). When T-CPR instructions were offered to callers who were willing and able to perform CPR, chest compressions were initiated in 97.9% of cases. Performing CPR was refused by 6 callers. Common barriers to OHCA recognition included inaccurate assessment of breathing and reports of seizure activity. Conclusion: Despite low rates of telecommunicator recognition of OHCA and T-CPR instruction in Birmingham, chest compressions were initiated by nearly all callers who received T-CPR guidance. Targeted improvements in T-CPR implementation represent a high-impact opportunity to increase bystander CPR rates in Birmingham and other communities with low B-CPR engagement.

Introduction: Advanced heart failure in incarcerated individuals presents unique clinical, ethical, and logistical challenges. Mechanical circulatory support (MCS), including left ventricular assist devices (LVAD), offers life-saving therapy for patients ineligible for heart transplant. However, access remains limited in the prison system due to systemic healthcare disparities. This case highlights the complexity of managing cardiogenic shock in incarcerated patients and barriers to equitable advanced heart failure care with MCS. Case Presentation: A 57-year-old incarcerated male with non-ischemic cardiomyopathy presented with abdominal pain, dyspnea, and atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response. Exam revealed hypotension, cold extremities, and elevated jugular venous pressure. Workup showed a renal infarct (presumed cardioembolic), EF 8%, biventricular dysfunction, and cardiogenic shock despite cardioversion and rhythm control requiring norepinephrine (0.5 mcg/kg/min), epinephrine (0.1 mcg/kg/min), and dobutamine (2.5 mcg/kg/min). Though initially ineligible for transplant or LVAD due to incarceration and prior substance use, he was temporarily stabilized with an Impella 5.5. He was transitioned to milrinone with clinical improvement and discharged to his correctional facility with plans for reassessment for advanced options following expected imminent prison release. Unfortunately, he was readmitted with recurrent cardiogenic shock and MRSE bacteremia. Following stabilization with dual inotropes and aggressive afterload reduction as well as completion of antibiotic therapy, he underwent successful LVAD placement. Discussion: This case underscores the barriers in providing durable LVAD therapy to incarcerated patients. Coordination of care is limited by the constraints of the correctional health system, including staff education, restricted access to specialized centers, and difficulty with device maintenance such as hygiene, battery care, and emergency care in case of device malfunction. Incarceration also limits social support, impacts adherence, and contributes to psychological stress. Infection risk and security concerns further complicate care. Addressing these challenges are essential to ensure that incarcerated individuals receive equitable access to advanced heart failure therapies and thus facilitate optimal outcomes.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of chronic illness, multimorbidity, mental illness and comorbidity among older adults incarcerated in a Mid-South state prison system. This study used a cross-sectional descriptive design, gathering data through face-to-face interviews with older adults (n = 499) incarcerated in five state prisons in Kentucky. Uncovered was a substantial prevalence of chronic diseases and mental health disorders among older adults incarcerated in a Mid-South state prison system. Specifically, hypertension was reported by 65.5% of the participants, arthritis by 52.3% and diabetes by 23%. In terms of mental health, significant findings included that 34% of the older adult population scored above the threshold for major depression, and over one-third met the criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder. Constrained by its cross-sectional design, the study may not reflect changes in chronic and mental health conditions over time. The predominantly white demographic of the Kentucky state prison system limits the generalizability of findings to more racially diverse populations. Findings highlight the need for integrated health-care models within prison systems to address the complex, coexisting chronic and mental health conditions among older inmates. These findings illuminate the substantial social implications of inadequate health care for aging incarcerated persons, revealing a pressing public health issue within correctional facilities. The study highlights the often-overlooked demographic of older adults within the correctional system, particularly within a specific geographical region of the Mid-South, which is known for its higher disease prevalence. It contributes valuable insights into the multimorbidity and comorbidity of chronic and mental health conditions among incarcerated older adults.

Indonesia has recognized narcotics-related crimes as extraordinarily serious crimes against humanity, thus requiring special, effective, and maximum enforcement measures. Efforts to tackle narcotics addiction demand appropriate policies and strategies to reduce the high rate of drug abuse in the country. Although Law Number 35 of 2009 on narcotics explicitly guarantees the right to rehabilitation for drug users for personal purposes (addicts), in practice, deviations still frequently occur. Therefore, the implementation of rehabilitation must be carried out consistently in accordance with the provisions of Articles 54, 103, and 127 of the Narcotics Law as well as Supreme Court Circular (SEMA) Number 4 of 2010, so that drug users can obtain optimal recovery and proper social reintegration, while also helping to alleviate the overcapacity burden in correctional facilities. This research employs a normative juridical approach. The data used in this study are secondary, obtained through a literature review. The results of the study are: (1) Although Law Number 35 of 2009 on narcotics explicitly guarantees the right to rehabilitation for drug users for personal use (addicts), there are still frequent instances of legal violations or misconduct by law enforcement officials in handling such cases, particularly involving individuals who use drugs for personal consumption. Non-compliance with these provisions by law enforcement has led to serious consequences, including new problems for the government—especially for the Directorate General of Corrections under the Ministry of Law and Human Rights—such as overcrowding in correctional institutions. (2) Ideally, the legal policy for individuals caught using narcotics for personal purposes should be to immediately place them in a rehabilitation center. During the judicial process until a verdict is issued, the individual should continue to receive care and treatment in the rehabilitation facility, in accordance with Articles 54 and 103 of the Narcotics Law and SEMA Number 4 of 2010.

Providing comprehensive access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) for people transitioning from United States (US) jails and prisons is important to addressing the substance use disorder (SUD) epidemic. Such policies have augmented public health in other countries, but a precise estimate of its potential impact in the US is lacking. This study sought to estimate: (1) the annual number of opioid overdose deaths (OODs) among individuals released from US jails and prisons, and (2) the number of OODs preventable by providing comprehensive MOUD programs in carceral settings and linkage to care post-release. Nationally weighted synthetic estimates of opioid overdose mortality incidence rates among people released from US jails and prisons in a given year were calculated using mortality rates obtained from published studies. Previously published mortality rates were adjusted, using state-year multipliers, to account for temporal variation among study cohorts. Adjusted rates were weighted and combined to produce synthetic national estimates, then rescaled to reflect national OOD patterns from 2017 to 2022. These rescaled mortality rates were then applied to US jail and prison release statistics to estimate the annual number of OODs among the recently incarcerated. Estimates of MOUD efficacy 12 months post-release were used to estimate the number of potential lives saved through expanded MOUD access. We estimate that 21,784 people [95% synthetic confidence interval (SCI) 18,425 to 25,142] released from US jails and prisons in 2022 died from opioid overdose that year, constituting 27% of annual OODs nationwide. If all jails and prisons provided SUD screening upon entry, MOUD while incarcerated and linkage to care upon release, we estimate that 13,288 OODs (95% SCI 11,239 to 15,337), or 16% of the national total, may have been prevented in 2022. Approximately 27% of opioid overdose deaths in the United States in 2022 occurred among individuals recently released from carceral settings. Expanding access to medications for opioid use disorder to people in custody and those recently released could potentially prevent a substantial portion of opioid overdose deaths in the United States.

This review provides an overview of sexual abuse in correctional facilities, including victimization rates, reporting rates, common victims and offenders, and prevention efforts RECENT FINDINGS: There is disagreement about the cause of rape and sexual assault among men and women who are incarcerated. Some explanations argue that it is a manifestation of power and control while others argue it is a result of deprivation. Research has not isolated one specific explanation. Women tend to be victimized by correctional officers and people who are transgender are often victimized by other incarcerated people. Prevention efforts have been ineffective even through prisons are required, by law, to implement principles from the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Correctional facility sexual abuse is rampant and often goes unreported. Incarcerated individuals who are victimized are often fearful of retaliation, not being believed, and embarrassed. When they do report, however, very few incidents are substantiated. Prevention efforts are lackluster and do not adequately prevent rape and sexual assault inside correctional facilities.

IntroductionSuicidal behaviour is highly prevalent in prisons. The VigilanS programme is a brief contact intervention that is now recognized as a pillar of France’s national suicide prevention strategy. This study aimed to evaluate the VigilanS-prison intervention, focusing on two aspects: its feasibility and its effectiveness in reducing the rates of suicide attempts (SAs) and suicides in correctional facilities.MethodsVigilanS-Prison was launched in June 2021 in two of the 16 correctional facilities for adults in the Hauts-de-France region: Lille-Sequedin and Lille-Annoeullin. The programme expanded to Longuenesse and Vendin-le-Vieil in June 2023 and to Maubeuge in January 2024. The activity of the programme from June 2021 to April 2024 was described. To assess its impact, suicidal behaviours recorded by the prison administration between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2023, were analysed. Interrupted time series (ITS) analyses compared the monthly rates of SAs and suicides before and after programme implementation in Lille-Sequedin and Lille-Annoeullin. Joint time series analyses compared these trends to those of control facilities.ResultsA total of 384 individuals (43 women) were included in VigilanS-Prison due to either a history of SAs in the year prior to detention (n = 83) or following an SA in prison (n = 301). During the study, 1,343 postcards were distributed, with 78 participants (20.3%) responding at least once. Following implementation, the SA rates in Lille-Sequedin and Lille-Annoeullin decreased significantly (-37.31 per 10,000), whereas the suicide rates showed a non-significant reduction (-2.91 per 10,000). Over time, declines in monthly SA (-0.69 per 10,000) and suicide (-0.09 per 10,000) rates were observed but remained non-significant. Comparisons with control facilities revealed no significant differences in immediate or long-term trends.ConclusionThe VigilanS-Prison programme has demonstrated feasibility and an immediate significant reduction in SA rates in intervention facilities. However, its effect on suicide rates was modest and non-significant. The long-term trends suggest potential benefits, although these effects remain non-significant. The specificity of the programme's impact could not be established, given the non-significant results in comparisons with control facilities. Further evaluation with larger datasets collected at the individual level and over a longer follow-up period is needed to confirm the effectiveness of the programme.

The medical care of prisoners in the German correctional system has traditionally taken place within aparallel structure, characterized by specific actors, regulations, and conditions. In light of the serious challenges in recruiting medical personnel for correctional facilities, cooperation with the public health system is becoming increasingly important. This is evident, for example, in the growing reliance on private (specialist) physicians and in the establishment of specially secured hospital rooms for the inpatient treatment of prisoners in public hospitals.International frameworks such as the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the European Prison Rules (EPR), and the Nelson Mandela Rules, as well as the reports of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), also contribute to aligning healthcare in prisons with societal standards. Nevertheless, the generally poor health status of many inmates requires special efforts to achieve astandard of care equivalent to that of the public health system.This article first provides an overview of the legal foundations of medical care in correctional facilities. It then explains in more detail the duties and responsibilities of prison physicians, describes the care structures and various medical specialties involved, and concludes by emphasizing the importance of aqualified, comprehensive assessment of deficiencies in prison healthcare.

This research provides an understanding of the implementation of good governance principles in the public service at the Class IIA Correctional Facility Pontianak. The research investigates issues related to the occurrence of overcrowding for years in the correctional facility, the lack of prison guards responsible for family visit services, and the baggage scanner (X-ray machine) for family visitors that is already broken. The purpose of this research is to describe and analyze how good governance principles are implemented in the public service at the Class IIA Correctional Facility Pontianak. The results showed that the correctional facility implemented at least two of nine principles expressed by the UNDP 1997, such as the responsiveness principle and efficient and effectiveness principle. Based on the interviews and observations in this research, prison guards have served visitors responsively, in line with the SOP. The prison guards strive to maintain a high level of accuracy in their work, although the shortage of service staff remains an obstacle to providing responsive services. Meanwhile, in the efficient and effective principle, the research observed that the service was given structurally. However, the visit baggage scanning was still low due to the limited number of prison guards and the large number of visitor belongings while visiting the correctional facility. This research suggests that an implementation of virtual reality (VR) -based visits to facilitate families who live far from the correctional facility. In addition, the use of big data and AI is highly encouraged to manage visitor load and develop a “Visit Facilitator” program involving the alumni of the prisoners or some volunteers. As a final suggestion, a gamification system is needed to improve compliance with visitation procedures, along with mobile visitation services through a mobile service unit.

In Germany, there are approximately 70,000 prison spaces (criminal and pre-trial detention), which are currently over 90% full. Medical care is organized by the judicial administration. Section63 of the Bremen Prison Act (BremStVollzG) regulates medical care. It stipulates that prisoners are entitled to "necessary, sufficient, and appropriate medical services, observing the principle of cost-effectiveness and taking into account the general standards of statutory health insurance."The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) identifies important principles for prison medicine: unhindered access to aphysician, equivalent healthcare to that provided in freedom, patient self-determination and physician confidentiality/discretion, preventive healthcare, humanitarian assistance, professional independence, and sufficient medical competence.This article first outlines the requirements for prison medicine based on these principles. The author then reports on his own professional experiences as aprison physician at the Bremen Correctional Facility, including the challenges posed by the widespread prevalence of mental disorders, substance use, infectious diseases, and physical violence in prisons. Adequate training of medical staff is essential to meeting these unique requirements.

The illicit circulation and abuse of narcotics in Indonesia constitute a serious and escalating problem that threatens social and economic stability, as well as the future of the younger generation. One form of law enforcement against narcotics traffickers is the imposition of criminal fines as stipulated in Law Number 35 of 2009 on Narcotics. This study aims to explain and analyze the imposition of criminal fines in addressing illicit narcotics circulation and to examine judicial considerations in Case Decision Number 468/Pid.Sus/2024/PN Smg. The method employed is normative juridical research, which examines norms in positive law and court decision studies. Based on the research findings, the imposition of a criminal fine of IDR 1,000,000,000.00 with a subsidiary six-month imprisonment in this case is deemed insufficient to deliver the expected deterrent effect, as the offender may circumvent legal consequences through financial capability or networks within correctional facilities. The judge’s considerations in rendering the decision encompass juridical and sociological aspects; however, further evaluation of the fines is necessary to ensure they create both deterrence and justice. This study underscores the need to strengthen legal instruments so that criminal fines are not merely symbolic but also functional in combating narcotics-related crimes.

Background/Objectives: The prison environment presents a unique context for examining the impact of addiction on physical and psychological functioning. Individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs) are overrepresented in correctional facilities and often experience greater emotional difficulties and impaired physical capacity. This study aimed to conduct a comparative analysis of psychological and functional profiles between addicted and non-addicted male inmates in a semi-open correctional facility. Methods: The study included 47 male prisoners (19 addicted, 28 non-addicted). Physical performance was assessed using the Countermovement Jump (CMJ), handgrip strength, the Functional Movement Screen (FMS), and the FitLight reaction time test. Psychological functioning was evaluated using six standardized questionnaires: problem-focused, emotion-focused, and avoidant coping strategies, depression (PHQ-9), perceived stress (PSS-10), and self-compassion (SCS). Results: No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between addicted and non-addicted inmates in physical performance parameters. Addicted individuals demonstrated slightly higher handgrip strength with lower variability, while non-addicted inmates showed slightly better lower-body power in the CMJ test. Functional movement quality and reaction speed were similar between groups. Psychological assessments also revealed no significant differences between the groups. Coping styles, depressive symptoms, perceived stress levels, and self-criticism scores were comparable in both populations. In the addicted group, deeper squats correlated with lower stress (rho = −0.46, p = 0.047), and better hurdle step performance correlated with emotion-focused coping (rho = 0.46, p = 0.048). Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences were found between addicted and non-addicted male inmates in the assessed physical and psychological outcomes, the limited sample size and context-specific nature of this pilot study suggest that these findings should be viewed as preliminary and interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, the observed associations between physical performance and psychological variables indicate subtle interconnections between motor capacity, stress perception, and coping mechanisms that merit further investigation in larger, longitudinal studies.

BackgroundCorrectional facilities can act as amplifiers of infectious disease outbreaks. Small community outbreaks can cause larger prison outbreaks, which can in turn exacerbate the community outbreaks. However, strategies for epidemic control in communities and correctional facilities are generally not closely coordinated. We sought to evaluate different strategies for coordinated control.MethodsWe developed a stochastic simulation model of an epidemic spreading across a network of communities and correctional facilities. We parameterized it for the initial phases of the COVID-19 epidemic for 1) California communities and prisons based on community data from covidestim, prison data from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, and mobility data from SafeGraph, and 2) a small, illustrative network of communities and prisons. For each community or prison, control measures were defined by the intensity of 2 activities: 1) screening to detect and isolate cases and 2) nonpharmaceutical interventions (e.g., masking and social distancing) to reduce transmission. We compared the performance of different control strategies including heuristic and reinforcement learning (RL) strategies using a reward function, which accounted for both the benefit of averted infections and nonlinear cost of the control measures. Finally, we performed analyses to interpret the optimal strategy and examine its robustness.ResultsThe RL control strategy robustly outperformed other strategies including heuristic approaches such as those that were largely used during the COVID-19 epidemic. The RL strategy prioritized different characteristics of communities versus prisons when allocating control resources and exhibited geo-temporal patterns consistent with mitigating prison amplification dynamics.ConclusionRL is a promising method to find efficient policies for controlling epidemic spread on networks of communities and correctional facilities, providing insights that can help guide policy.HighlightsFor modelers, we developed a stochastic simulation model of an epidemic spreading across a network of communities and correctional facilities, and we parameterized it for the initial phases of the COVID-19 epidemic for California communities and prisons in addition to an illustrative network.We compared different control strategies using a reward function that accounted for both the benefit of averted infections and cost of the control measures; we found that reinforcement learning robustly outperformed the other strategies including heuristic approaches such as those that were largely used during the COVID-19 epidemic.For policy makers, our work suggests that they should consider investing in the further development of such methods and using them for the control of future epidemics.We offer qualitative insights into different factors that might inform resource allocation to communities versus prisons during future epidemics.

Violence behavior among inmates in correctional facilities is a significant problem in many countries around the world. Studies linking perceived correctional environment and aggression on violent behavior among inmates tend to be lacking. Therefore, this study examines the predictive role of perceived correctional environment and aggression on violent behavior among inmates in correctional facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey design was adopted while purposive sampling technique was used to select one correctional facility in Rivers State. A convenience sampling method was used to collect data from 223 inmates using validated questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regression statistics to test one hypothesis which was accepted at p

Digital-based self-reliance development encourages Correctional Institutions (Lapas) in Central Java to improve organizational effectiveness through the implementation of integrated knowledge management. This study aims to examine the effect of knowledge management on organizational performance by using a balanced scorecard (BSC) approach, especially in supporting prisoner independence programs through digital marketing. Quantitative research methods were applied by distributing questionnaires to 159 staff members from the job training (Bimker) and production activities (Giatja) subsection in 28 correctional institutions in Central Java. Data analysis techniques include validity testing, reliability testing, coefficient of determination, Goodness of Fit model testing, F-Square testing, and path coefficient testing, processed using Smart-PLS version 4.1.1.2. The results showed that knowledge management has a positive and significant effect on organizational performance, with a path coefficient value of 0.857 and a p value of 0.000. R squared value of 0.735 indicates that knowledge management affects organizational performance as measured by the Balanced Scorecard of 73.5%. Each dimension of knowledge creation, adoption, adaptation, and embodiment of knowledge management plays an important role in supporting an organization's internal processes. This study provides empirical insight that strengthening technology-based knowledge management is a fundamental element in creating innovative, productive, and digitally responsive correctional institutions.

Tracking law enforcement-associated fatalities is complicated by an absence of a national database. Death certificates often fail to report deaths due to law enforcement activity. Adopting recommendations by the National Association of Medical Examiners, the present study was conducted using records from the King County Medical Examiner's Office of all deaths associated with law enforcement, including deaths in correctional facilities, from 1995 to 2024. A total of 566 deaths were categorized as Pre-Custody (299) or In-Custody (267). Pre-Custody deaths were subcategorized into: Shooting (178), Vehicular Pursuit (57), Restraint (24), and Other (40). An altercation with law enforcement (40 deaths) or with other individuals (11 deaths) was the most common circumstance preceding the fatal event in the Pre-Custody/Shooting subcategory. In the Pre-Custody/Restraint group, multiple factors contributed to the deaths of all but 5, and stimulant drug intoxication contributed to the deaths of 19. No deaths were caused by tasers or pepper spray. In the In-Custody category, manners of death and demographics differed between deaths from jails and prisons. Racial and ethnic disproportionalities, relative to the county population, were evident in both Pre- and In-Custody deaths. Death certificates mentioned law enforcement involvement in 74% of the Pre-Custody/Shooting deaths and in only 12% of In-Custody deaths due to injuries. As public policies evolve to guide modern policing, creating a national database is imperative. Medical examiners and coroners have an important role in this effort by providing appropriate descriptions in the Describe How Injury Occurred section of death certificates.

In contemporary society, the application of electronic monitoring (EM) as a form of supervision and control of criminal offenders has been enabled by technological advancements and the integration of digital technologies across various sectors, including the criminal justice system. Mass production, increased accessibility and the widespread application of information and communication technologies (ICTs) have facilitated the use of modern technologies in the implementation of certain criminal sanctions and measures. In the Republic of Serbia, the 2009 amendments to the Criminal Code introduced the possibility of using EM in the enforcement of specific non-custodial sanctions and measures against suspected or convicted offenders. EM may be employed in the following cases: for the execution of a custodial sentence not exceeding one year, served at the convict’s residence (house arrest); the enforcement of a measure prohibiting the accused from leaving their residence during the course of criminal proceedings or until the convicted offender is transferred to a correctional facility (house detention); and when the court determines that electronic monitoring is necessary as a condition of the offender’s release on parole. The methodological approach used in the paper required the application of normative, comparative and statistical methods to examine the EM concept and origins, analyze comparative legislation and normative solutions within the Republic of Serbia aimed at developing a sustainable legislative approach, and present empirical data on the application of EM in Serbia. Finally, the analysis of opportunities for improving ЕМ systems served as the basis for the authors’ proposals for its broader application as a mechanism for supervision and control of offenders within the criminal justice system in the future.

A study of sleep in northern New England correctional facilities.

The study develops and evaluates SEA-Talk, a mobile AI-powered voice-to-voice translator which greatly reduces language transfer difficulties across Southeast Asia. It is often this condition because different dialects, accents, and different degrees of formality often make communication poor in this language. Conducting real-time multilingual communication for Filipino migrant workers, tourists, and students alike is a goal for SEA-Talk, which combines the necessary tools-the digitization of sounds, synthetic speech, machine translation, and speech recognition. The development of the system was done based on the agile procedure that allows improvements in the design through feedback from users. Built upon a layered architecture, it is made up of an in-built translation engine, text-to-speech and speech-to-text modules, and offline capabilities via downloadable language packages. Additional important features, including context-aware translation, formality detection, a correction facility, and feedback loop for user suggestions, ensure adaptability to the linguistic and cultural diversity of Southeast Asia. SEA survey was structured for the evaluation of the system, it comprised 100 respondents randomly selected from three different establishments to assess the system based on seven attributes of quality: functionality, performance, usability, reliability, security, maintainability, and compatibility. Results showed high marks across the board ranging from mean scores of 4.07 to 4.22 (Agree), with the biggest scores mostly given to functionality and compatibility, signifying the system can deliver the essential feature without neglecting adaptability in various devices. Reliability and sustainability would need further improvement, while usability, performance, security, and maintainability were rated high. In conclusion, SEA-Talk therefore achieves its desired target: providing a dependable, comprehensive translation platform in a Southeast Asian context. The ratings lend credence to the tool's importance in cross-cultural and linguistic communication. Important recommendations are made for improvements in offline facility, enhancement in languages covered, increased security, and sustained development for wider acceptability.