Inmate Prison Research Articles

Religion and Misconduct Among Prison Inmates in South Korea.

Although faith-based programs are present in most prisons for offender rehabilitation, the effect of religion on prison inmates remains an understudied topic. In addition, existing research shows mixed results about the religious effect. The present study intends to not only advance the understanding of inmate's prison misconduct but also examine whether religion is likely to contribute to reducing the risk of misconduct using a non-Western sample of inmates. To assess the relationship between inmates' religion and prison misconduct, we applied negative binomial regression to analyze survey data from 986 Korean adult male inmates. Results showed that inmates who had a religious affiliation with Catholicism or Buddhism were less likely to report prison misconduct than those who had no religion. In addition, the inverse relationship was observed whether inmates had participated in religion before incarceration or came to participate in religion while incarcerated, depending on religious denomination.

Prison Reform: The Cost of Prison for Inmates, Families, and Society

Prison Reform is front-and-center in America today. The cost of prison is higher than ever - but not just in economic terms. More and more Americans are being incarcerated every day when there are so many other options that could take its place. The cost of prison is taking its toll on the quality of the family unit, the quality of society, and on the quality of the perceived self-worth of the individual incarcerated. Most incarcerated Americans are forgotten and unloved. They are treated, many times, worse than animals. Extensive sentencing and unnecessary incarceration for first-time, non-violent offenders must stop. Please join me in the fight to change policy in America’s prison system by sharing this with your Senators, Congressman, or any others who may appreciate it, may benefit from it, or who can otherwise help instigate change.

Las penas de larga duración y los derechos humanos –conclusiones de un estudio internacional–

This article shows a selection of findings obtained from the research project entitled Long term sentences and the human rights situation in countries that are members of the European countries. The research sought to examine the observance of human rights standards in relation to persons sentenced to long-term criminal sanctions (five years or more) in eleven countries that are members of the European Union. The research also includes the study of the living conditions in prison for inmates, their training and leisure time, their contact with the outside world and their organizational culture as well.

A comparative study on the prevalence and risk factors of tuberculosis among the prisoners in khuzestan, South-west iran.

Background:High prevalence of Tuberculosis (TB) among prisoners is reported as an alarming public health problem in the world, especially in the developing countries.Objectives:Since there is almost no information from TB in this population in Khuzestan province, the current study aimed to assess the prevalence and identify risk factors of TB among the prisoners of this region.Patients and Methods:In a retrospective study, medical files of patients with Tuberculosis in Khuzestan Health Center (KHC), from 2005 to 2010, were studied. Patients with Pulmonary TB were placed in two groups as the Inmate Prison (IP) and Non-Inmate Prison (NIP) groups. Data extracted from the patients' records in the two groups were compared by SPSS software system using Chi square and Fisher exact tests. P-value was considered less than 0.05.Results:From the reported 4562 patients with Tuberculosis, 363 (7.9%) were prison inmates at the time of TB diagnosis. Prevalence of TB cases among the prison inmates was 403.3 per 100'000.The annual TB case rate in the general population during this period was 16.4 per 100,000. Among the TB risk factors close contact [odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI), 19.4, 8.9-41.8, P < 001] especially in the recent 2 years, injection drug use (IDU) [OR, 95% CI, 4.61, 1.7-12.4, P = 006], and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection [OR, 95% CI, 2.4, 1.1-5.0, P = 025] were more frequent in the prisoners than in the general population with TB.Conclusions:In the region under study the prevalence of TB among the prisoners was higher than the general population. The main risk factors for Pulmonary TB in this population were close contact, IDU and HIV infection.

Rates of Sexual Victimization in Prison for Inmates With and Without Mental Disorders

Rates of Sexual Victimization in Prison for Inmates With and Without Mental Disorders

Rates of sexual victimization in prison for inmates with and without mental disorders.

This study estimated the rates of sexual victimization among prison inmates with and without a mental disorder. The study sampled inmates aged 18 or older in 13 prisons within a single mid-Atlantic state prison system (12 facilities for men and one for women). A total of 7,528 inmates completed the survey instrument, which was administered by audio-computer-assisted technology. Of the 6,964 male respondents, 58.5% were African American, 16.2% were non-Hispanic white, 19.8% were Hispanic, and 5.5% were of another race or ethnicity. Of the 564 female respondents, 48.4% were African American, 30.9% were non-Hispanic white, 14.4% were Hispanic, and 7.3% were of another race or ethnicity. Mental disorder was based on self-reported previous mental health treatment for particular mental disorders. Sexual victimization was measured by using questions adapted from the National Violence Against Women and Men surveys. Approximately one in 12 male inmates with a mental disorder reported at least one incident of sexual victimization by another inmate over a six-month period, compared with one in 33 male inmates without a mental disorder. Among those with a mental disorder, sexual victimization was three times as high among female inmates (23.4%) as among male inmates (8.3%). African-American and Hispanic inmates with a mental disorder, independent of gender, reported higher rates of sexual victimization than their non-Hispanic white counterparts. Prisons are hazardous places. Steps must be taken to protect inmates from predators inside prison, to screen them for posttraumatic stress disorder, to provide trauma-related treatment, and to keep them safe.

MMPI characteristics of difficult-to-manage federal penitentiary offenders.

Many MMPI patterns for inmate prison groups have been reported, e.g., mean profiles for male prisoners being reported as 4' 26 91 76 3-50 ( 1 ) . Investigators have correlated offender MMPI profiles with various cr~m~nological criteria ( 2 ) . The present study investigated personality characteristics of a special population of young adult offenders in the U. S. federal prison system. These men had experienced educational and disciplinary difficulties and were being transferred to a new facility oriented toward rehabilitation. Identification of this group and planning appropriate treatment programs were needed. The booklet form of the MMPI was administered to 74 inmates selected at random at rhe U. S. Penitentiary, Marion, Illinois. Ss' M.,. was 24 yr., a Stanford Achievement grade level 8.9, and an over-all Mlo 105. None were atypical of the population in which they resided. Criteria of invalidity for both groups included raw F-I; of +9 or above, raw L score of 10 or above, raw F score of 16 or above. Comparison Ss were 120 literate male penitentiary inmates with a sixrh grade reading level o r above, admitted to a male penal instirution in Maryland (3 ) . Table 1 presents the raw score means, standard deviarions and rs of the offenders and the comparison group. Significant differences were noted in all but the Pd and Ma scales and K score. The scaled mean profile was 48' 27 6935-101 F L K / , which suggested that the offenders were lacking in behavioral controls as well as display~ng some serious misperceptions and inappropriate emotional reactions to their surround~ngs Examination of behavioral correlates and MMPI profiles is needed to plan specific treatment programs.

Dynamics of Individualized Treatment in an Institution for Defective Delinquents

1. The Classification Summary is the starting reference point for all subsequent judgments on the inmate while he is confined. 2. Integrated Staff function of the highest calibre is needed most after an inmate has begun his training program, not when he is starting it. Evaluation of development of the inmates must be done on an individual basis. 3. The Staff not only meets regularly with each inmate as a body, but members thereof are in constant, daily contact with the inmate population. 4. The Staff constantly strives to make trying institutional situations constructive elements in the inmate's prison experience. 5. An inmate's feelings, attitudes, and mental content are never glossed over or otherwise neglected. 6. Favorable discharge consideration is entertained when the inmate reaches the point where he gives reasonable promise of being able to behave in a manner that emphasizes his strengths, and minimizes his weaknesses. 7. Discharge should occur as soon as possible after Staff recommendation therefor. 8. Home and Sponsorship requirements are of value in planning community return of Defective Delinquents. Job requirement, on the other hand, is much less so.