Prison Management Research Articles

Towards better prepared prisons: monitoring and response to the use of new substances inside prison

Abstract The use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) became an emerging issue in prisons in a number of European countries in 2014-2015. Synthetic cannabinoids were the new psychoactive substances most often reported, followed by synthetic cathinones, synthetic opioids and new benzodiazepines. Quantitative qualitative data on prison and drugs provided by 27 European Member States, Norway and Turkey to the EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction). An exploratory study conducted in 2017 found signs of NPS use in prison in 22 countries. Based on 2021-2022 data from a few countries, the lifetime prevalence of NPS in prison ranges from <1 to 19%, with large variation by country. Anecdotal information from 2024 referred to the use of new strong synthetic opioids (nitazene) inside prison. A wide range of physical and mental health harms (e.g. psychosis, disorientation, suicidal ideation, aggressiveness to others or self-harm) has been associated with acute intoxication by, and chronic consumption of NPS inside prison. Recent overdoses associated with the use of nitazene were reported in some prisons in Ireland and the UK. Additionally, the use of NPS in prison can have a disturbing impact on prison management, internal violence and bullying. To date, interventions to tackle the problems related to the use of NPS in prison have tended to focus on supply reduction and controls. Health and social interventions have begun to emerge, but they remain limited. Despite signs of increasing challenges posed by the emergence of NPS since several years, prisons remain largely unprepared to monitor and respond to those challenges. A new key task of the revised EMCDDA mandate (EUDA - European Drug Agency from 2nd of July) is to be better prepared to monitor, forecast and respond to new challenges in the drug field. Prisons should be prepared to adequately address the new challenges posed by the NPS to benefit the health and security of people living and working in prison.

A Qualitative Investigation on The Lived Experiences of Incarcerated Elders

The study aimed to explore the lived experiences of incarcerated elders. Qualitative research design, specifically hermeneutic phenomenology was utilized in obtaining its objectives. The study found that elderly persons deprived of liberty were unsatisfied and had a low quality of life, which included unmet psychological and physiological needs. It also indicated that poor prison management of the facility is the cause of unsatisfied life. Lastly, despite the deprivation of freedom, incarcerated elders were still able to acquire positive insights into their experiences inside the pre-detention facility that may help them as they are reintroduced to society.

Advancing HIV Management in Prisons: A Decade of Protocol Development, Implementation, and Expansion in Iran (2014-2024)

Advancing HIV Management in Prisons: A Decade of Protocol Development, Implementation, and Expansion in Iran (2014-2024)

Mental Health and Yoga in Prisons

Prison environments pose substantial health risks and may adversely affect the health and wellbeing of both prisoners and staff. Drawing extensively from international literature across several disciplines and supported by empirical data, this article presents a multidisciplinary study that focuses on mental health in prison settings and examines unconventional healthcare interventions, using yoga and meditation as a case study. Despite compelling research suggesting overall positive outcomes, the idea of yoga in prisons is not fully integrated into criminal justice policy and practice, and there are gaps in prison yoga research. Recognising the multifaceted roles of yoga within correctional institutions, this article specifically explores the impact of yoga on improving the mental health of incarcerated individuals and prison personnel. The primary aim is to raise awareness about mental health challenges in prisons and underscore the healthcare benefits of implementing prison yoga programmes. Accordingly, the article provides an overview of mental health issues in prisons, assesses the potential benefits and mechanisms of yoga and meditation as alternative mental healthcare methods and explores the barriers to integrating these practices into prison healthcare. It advocates for yoga and similar practices as viable mental healthcare alternatives for both prisoners and prison staff. The article's analysis contributes to a preliminary framework for policymakers, prison managers, staff, and scholars seeking to enhance mental health outcomes in penal facilities.

Exploring the relationship between the built environment of prisons and the mental health of inmates

PurposeAround the world, prison complexes have always been fundamentally taxing environments. The strained atmosphere within these prisons often contributes to the deterioration of mental health, mostly those who may already be psychologically vulnerable. This paper aims to understand whether there exists a relationship between the built environment of prisons, particularly the central prisons of India and its effects on the mental health of inmates.Design/methodology/approachBy means of literature reviews, the study parameters were found to be connectivity to nature, lighting, acoustics, colour, air quality and thermal comfort. The data collected through interviews and email correspondences with identified experts were analysed thematically using a deductive approach to derive a set of practical recommendations, which could be implemented in Indian prisons.FindingsThe built environment of prisons impacts the prison population by further contributing to depressive symptoms. The effects of the built space persist regardless of social factors. A well-designed environment is healthy for its occupants and would yield positive changes. However, it is not the sole contributor to depression; social interactions, prison management, societal acceptance and meaningful activities are equally relevant factors. The sole focus of this paper is the relationship between the built environment and the mental health of inmates.Originality/valueThere is a paucity of research into the intersection between prison architecture and the mental health of inmates in the Indian subcontinent. This paper that addresses the gap may have significant consequences on how criminal reform is perceived, and also encourage further research in this field.

Exploring the use of Information System Management in Ugandan Prisons

The article explores the prison management information system in Uganda prisons. The article revealed that the management of prisons in Uganda is still poor due to the manual structure of the processes. However,the system has the scope to be developed as a distributed application where each implementation of PMS in different prisons can be connected and communicate with each other worldwide. In such a scenario a person sitting in Uganda can access the data of different prisons in and outside Uganda. This will make the whole system highly centralized as well as well connected. Most importantly, it will provide the end user who has the necessary security clearance a single portal where he/she can access prison records from all major prisons in Uganda where the PMS would be deployed thus making it a truly practical deployable application that can be used in prisons all over Uganda and other countries. Keywords: Automation, Database, ICT, Prison information management, Prison system

STRENGTHENING THE JUSTICE SECTOR IN UKRAINE AND EUROPEAN ASSISTANCE IN RESPONSE TO RUSSIA'S AGGRESSION

This article examines the multifaceted assistance provided by the European Union and the Council of Europe to Ukraine in response to Russian aggression. It delves into the various forms of support, including financial, humanitarian and institutional assistance, with a particular focus on strengthening the judiciary. Through initiatives such as the Council of Europe Action Plan and the establishment of the Register of Damage, international partners are seeking to accelerate Ukraine's recovery and address human rights violations. The authors emphasise the importance of ongoing cooperation to strengthen Ukraine's resilience and democratic progress, advocating for continued support to promote peace and stability in the region. The authors provide a thorough analysis of the legal and regulatory framework and the criteria for European assistance to Ukraine. They emphasise the key role of the justice sector in ensuring good governance, upholding the rule of law and restoring violated rights. The study describes in detail the financial assistance envisaged in the Council of Europe's Action Plan for 2023-2026 entitled "Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction". The analysis shows that EU financial assistance has been instrumental in addressing the challenges of sustaining the justice system. Economic support to the justice sector, which is monitored by the Council of Europe, aims, among other things, to strengthen judicial expertise, develop free legal aid institutions, formulate programmatic documents for prison reform, implement pilot projects for prison management recommended by the Council of Europe, and strengthen oversight mechanisms for penitentiary institutions. The authors conclude by stressing the need to promote the development of the justice sector and ensure its financial support as an integral part of effective public administration.

The Idea of Privatization and Self-Financing of Prison Management in Positive Law and Islamic Law

The Idea of Privatization and Self-Financing of Prison Management in Positive Law and Islamic Law

Governance of Super Maximum Security Prison Karang Anyar Nusa Kambangan Indonesia in Realizing the Correctional Revitalization Program

The correctional system has undergone changes due to the emergence of the Minister of Law and Human Rights regarding the implementation of correctional revitalization which provides classification of prisons which has an impact on the existence of prisons with categories for placing high risk prisoners. One of them is the Super Maximum Security (SMAX) Class IIA Karang Anyar Nusakambangan Prison for placement of high classification prisoners. This has an impact on the problem of not being able to grant conditional rights to prisoners who do not reduce their risk of crime until they have finished serving their sentence. The aim of the research is to analyze the governance of the SMAX Class IIA Karang Anyar Penitentiary in realizing a correctional revitalization program to improve training for high risk prisoners. The research method uses descriptive qualitative research with informants from prison officers and high-risk prisoners in prison. The results of the analysis show that prison management with a revitalization program has an impact on limiting the granting of conditional rights, there is no maximum guidance carried out by the prison, guidance for high risk prisoners must involve other parties such as the National Counterterrorism Agency, the National Narcotics Agency, the Corruption Eradication Agency, and other parties who have an interest in it. Thus, it is necessary to provide appropriate guidance for high-risk prisoners to be able to change their behavior and obtain their conditional rights. Providing this guidance by applying the principles of planning, organizing, regulating and strictly monitoring during the process of changing behavior and coaching prisoners.

Clinical / Therapeutic Name: Care and treatment of prisoners with intellectual disabilities

AbstractCare and treatment of prisoners with intellectual disabilities I will describe what is the care, from different points of view when an offender with intelledtual disabilities entry in the penitentiary system. As a vulnerable population, people with intellectual disabilities have to be treated in a more specific manner, and both prison managers and clinciacal staff have to be aware of of that. This prisoners, sometimes, also belongs to another vulnerable population ( illegal inmigration, fenmales, ehtnic groups ,etc) that make this cases as a complex ones. The care have to be as a comprehensive, with thr higest standards of care a nd avoid neglicence en treating this cases. We have to emphasize about rehablitation and a goodl coordnation with the intellectual disability community services to avoid relapse and recidivismDisclosure of InterestNone Declared

I Might Be a Goody Two-Shoes, but at Least I Have a Job! An Examination of the Correlates of Following Institutional Rules Among Texas Prison Guards

ABSTRACT For prisons and jails to run effectively and efficiently, correctional officers need to follow institutional policies and rules. Failure to follow the rules could lead to deviant acts of officer-on-inmate brutality, inappropriate staff-inmate relationships, as well as a variety of other unprofessional behaviors that could undermine the prison regime. In this exploratory study, we collected 501 questionnaires from prison officers in Texas to examine the dynamics of rule-following. Using the job demands-resources model to guide in the interpretation of our analyses, we found that older officers, as well as female officers, were significantly more likely than their peers to follow institutional rules. Officers with high levels of family and supervisor support were also likely to follow the rules; however, respondents who experienced role strain were significantly less likely to adhere to agency policies and procedures. Our findings have important implications for the contemporary management of prisons and jails.

Effectiveness of Rehabilitation Initiatives in Reducing Recidivism in Tanzania: Evidence from Isanga and Ukonga Central Prisons

Although there have been different rehabilitation activities introduced by Tanzania Prison Services (TPS) since independence to reduce recidivism, the rate of recidivism has remained relatively high with the prevalence of reoffending and stigma on the part of ex-prisoners. Failure to effectively implement rehabilitation activities is said to be among the causes of an increase in recidivism by the ex-prisoners. With support from cognitive behavioural therapy, human capital theory, and labelling theory, this study aimed to explore the effects of rehabilitation activities on reducing recidivism in Tanzania by combining quantitative and qualitative analyses. Data were collected through surveys, interviews, discussions, and observations. Quantitative data were analysed through descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed through content analysis. Findings revealed that informal rehabilitation activities were not able to reduce the reoffending behaviour of recidivists. The effective rehabilitation activities were those focused on life skills, psychosocial aspects, and educational programs. Problems such as curriculum design, financial constraints, infrastructure limitations, attendance problems, and varying literacy levels among prisoners pose obstacles to the effective rehabilitation of prisoners. Therefore, rehabilitation initiatives should focus on generating practical skills that contribute to the successful reintegration of prisoners into society. In addition, life skills, spiritual, psychological, and educational programs must be supported by authentic curricula and well-defined delivery modes. Prison management should also be sensitized to the importance of disciplinary science, aftercare services, and startup capital for enhancing reintegration, proper rehabilitation, and reducing recidivism among prisoners.

DESAFIOS DA GESTÃO PRISIONAL

This article has os its theme the analysis of the several factors that hinder the management of prison houses. For this purpose, the work has as generais objective to demonstrate the difficulty of prison management and, as specific objectives, the analysis of factors such as resource management, prison population and functional staff. The applied methodology was bibliographic research, using the hypothetical-deductive approach method. The concepts listed demonstrate that managers face daily internal and external factors that greatly damage the prison system. The lack of investments in health, education and job creation contributes to the growth of crime rates and the overcrowding of establishments, making it difficult to reinsert those sentenced to social life.

Violence within women's prisons and its implications on reintegration effectiveness

The involvement of women in various aspects of life, both socially and economically, has exposed the potential for criminal behaviour among women. This situation has led to the phenomenon of women's involvement in criminal acts commonly associated with men, such as robbery, murder, organized crime, and human trafficking. Poor social and economic conditions tend to be triggering factors and solid reasons for women to engage in criminal activities. This background has become the basis for the increasing number of women in prison in Indonesia, opening the possibility of various forms of violence within women's prisons. This presents a significant challenge for the management of women's prisons in optimizing the reintegration system due to the escalation of significant demotivation resulting from the violence experienced by female inmates, both among themselves and with prison staff. This research employs an exploratory qualitative approach, focusing on women involved in criminal cases and sentenced to prison. Primary data from interview results are descriptively analysed, producing a comprehensive, authentic, and representative narrative. The findings of this study indicate that the concept of punishment in Indonesia still emphasizes punitive functions over corrective functions, where both physical and mental violence are considered effective forms of punishment, especially for women. Violence occurring within women's prisons is then negatively responded to and becomes a driving factor for the decreased interest of female inmates in succeeding in the reintegration program. This reluctance then triggers a negative response from the staff in the form of violence against female inmates. A solution to mitigate violence in women's prisons is the placement in open prisons, with the involvement of independent external parties in both the supervision process and the implementation of reintegration programs to achieve an inclusive and constructive effect for all parties involved.

Prediction of Recidivism and Detection of Risk Factors Under Different Time Windows Using Machine Learning Techniques

Following a comprehensive analysis of the initial three generations of prisoner risk assessment tools, the field has observed a notable prominence in the integration of fourth-generation tools and machine learning techniques. However, limited efforts have been made to address the explainability of data-driven prediction models and their connection with treatment recommendations. Our primary objective was to develop predictive models for assessing the likelihood of recidivism among prisoners released from their index incarceration within 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year timeframes. We aimed to enhance interpretability using SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). We collected data from 20,457 in-prison records from February 10, 2005, to August 25, 2021, sourced from a Southwestern China prison’s data management system. Recidivism records were officially determined through data mining from an official website and combined identification data from neighboring prisons. We employed five machine learning algorithms, considering sociodemographic, physical health, psychological assessments, criminological characteristics, crime history, social support, and in-prison behaviors as factors. For interpretability, SHAP was applied to reveal feature contributions. Findings indicated that young prisoners accused of larceny, previous convictions, lower fines, and limited family support faced higher reoffending risk. Conversely, middle-aged and senior prisoners with no prior convictions, lower monthly supermarket expenses, and positive psychological test results had lower reoffending risk. We also explored interactions between significant predictive features, such as prisoner age at incarceration initiation and primary accusation, and the duration of current incarceration and cumulative prior incarcerations. Notably, our models consistently exhibited high performance, as shown by AUC on the test dataset across time windows. Interpretability results provided insights into evolving risk factors over time, valuable for intervention with high-risk individuals. These insights, with additional validation, could offer dynamic prisoner information for stakeholders. Moreover, interpretability results can be seamlessly integrated into prison and court management systems as a valuable risk assessment tool.

Measuring criminal thinking among convicts imprisoned in Punjab prisons of Pakistan

PurposeThis study aims to differentiate crime-related characteristics (such as the number of cases filed against current convictions and criminal history) based on the criminal thinking prevailing among convicts. However, because of the low reliability of subscales and poor structural validity of indigenous and translated versions of international instruments, a new instrument criminal attitude measure (CAM) was extracted to measure criminal thinking patterns among convicts incarcerated in central prisons of Punjab.Design/methodology/approachA cross-sectional research design was used. Data was collected from 1,949 male convicts (extracting mutually exclusive data from 649 respondents for EFA and 1,300 respondents for confirmatory factor analysis [CFA]). Both data samples were collected from convicts incarcerated in the nine (all) central jails of Punjab, Pakistan.FindingsThe results of this study showed poor model fit for both the indigenous criminal thinking scale and the translated version of criminogenic cognition scale. CAM was extracted through principal component analysis and proposed as a 15-item questionnaire with five factors extracted through varimax rotation. Those five factors are power orientation, mollification, entitlement, mistrust toward authorities and short-term orientation. The results of CFA for CAM confirmed the proposed five-factor structure for the construct. Findings based on MANOVA further found that CAM differentiates between the thinking patterns of recidivists, convicts with multiple charges filed against them in current convictions and convicts with a familial criminal record. The findings of this study showed that CAM is a practical, valid and reliable instrument for measuring criminal thinking among convicts.Research limitations/implicationsIn this study, using the survey method was inevitable because of the restrictions imposed by the granted permission. However, this time duration was extended because of the courtesy of the Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent of each jail. This study is focused on a male sample only, and the findings cannot be generalized to females. The phenomena proposed (based on large data sets) in this study can further be elaborated using qualitative research designs and methods (using a small sample with an in-depth study). So, it is also suggested to test this new instrument on a comparative study between prisoners and non-prisoners to explore whether scale can differentiate between these two groups.Practical implicationsA short-scale and easy-to-administer instrument was developed for assessing major criminogenic needs among convicts for prison management, i.e. assigning barracks, allocating treatment and also detecting changes in attitude after imprisonment.Originality/valueTo the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first study to explore and validate the construct of criminal attitudes among convicts using both the EFA and CFA. A small and valid instrument facilitates the measurement of criminogenic needs among prisoners. Data was collected from all central jails in Punjab. This study explored comparatively less researched crime characteristics in a relatively large sample.

Integrated Management Systems: The Case of a Penitentiary in the State of Paraíba

Objective: The objective of this article is to evaluate how the Procurador Romero Nóbrega Penitentiary, in Patos - PB, has internalized in its administration practices an integrated perspective of its ISO 14001 environmental management, ISO 9001 quality and OHSAS 18001 occupational health and safety systems. Theoretical reference: An Integrated Management System (IMS) acts in the interconnection of other systems, aiming to achieve planned management of the execution of services in order to satisfy the internal and external needs of organizations, bringing together information and experiences from different areas in a single environment of work. This integration comprises a tool capable of discovering specific paths to be followed to achieve the desired objectives, in addition to creating an organizational culture of permanent or continuous improvement in its activities. Method: As a methodology, a qualitative, exploratory and descriptive approach was used to understand how prison management occurs in terms of the incorporation of management systems. Results and conclusion: The study showed that the penitentiary does not comply with the penal executive norm and, with regard to the management system models studied, the unit internally needs investment in its structure, in its human capital and, in the external context, more public policies to achieve sustainable management. Implications of the research: The research is of great relevance to the prison system and the academic world, showing the possibility of making penal units sustainable, aggregating management systems and enhancing the achievement of prison sustainability. Originality/value: Scientific production in Brazil on the implementation of sustainable prisons is incipient, therefore, the research seeks to contribute to helping gaps in the thematic literature, as well as drawing the State's attention to alternatives for the prison system by integrating systems with sustainability goals, respecting environmental, social, economic and human values.

The Management of Adult Male Prisoners with Substance Use Disorders Presenting with Suspected Internal Concealment of Illicit Drugs: Challenges, Clinical Implications, and Best Practice Response

Purpose: Internal concealment as a means of trafficking illicit drugs into prison is common and exposes internal concealers to risk of intoxication and overdose death. The management of internal drug concealment is a medical emergency that remains a challenge to healthcare professionals and custodial officers in prison settings

Human immunodeficiency virus care and management in incarcerated populations in Sub-Saharan Africa between 2010 and 2022: A narrative review.

Different countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have established guidelines to reduce HIV transmission and improve its management in prisons. This narrative review aimed to examine established literature on HIV care and management among incarcerated persons in SSA to identify successful interventions that could inform improved guidelines, policies, and practices related to the clinical care of this population. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, and TRIP Medical Databases in August 2022 for articles published between 1st January 2010 and 30th June 2022. We identified 27 eligible articles based on the Population/Concept/Context framework. HIV screening primarily involved mass campaigns rather than formal prison programmes, with limited implementation of universal testing and treatment. Although a few studies reported on access to antiretrovirals (ARVs), prisoners in urban areas and females had disproportionate access. Barriers identified include poor living conditions, high levels of stigma, and resource constraints. Inter-prison transfers, release from prison, and lack of established programmes hindered follow-up and linkage to care. The implementation of strategies such as universal testing and treatment, human resource strengthening, financing plans for testing, ARV care, and frequent assessment of risk could improve HIV care and management in prisons in SSA.

Organizational citizenship behavior among prison managers: An empirical study in Indonesian Nusakambangan correctional institutions

Organizational citizenship behavior among prison managers: An empirical study in Indonesian Nusakambangan correctional institutions