Prison Environment Research Articles

The meaning and use of weapons in an English remand prison

Purpose Weapon use is as risky in prison as it is in the community, but the type, use and meaning of weapons differ between these settings. Consequently, knowledge about community-based weapon violence may not generalise to prison contexts. The purpose of this study is to understand the meaning and use of weapons in a prison setting. Design/methodology/approach Using a framework for understanding weapon selection derived from a community setting, six prisoners in a remand setting in England who had a history of weapon possession and use in prison discussed their selection and use of weapons in prison. Findings Respondents described a hyperviolent milieu for some in which access to weapons was essential and wherein the official consequences of weapon carrying were outweighed by the potential costs of victimisation. Weapons served a variety of purposes for prisoners. At the individual level, they reduced the uncertainty of a hyperviolent environment, and they were used to construct and manage a violent identity as an aggressive precaution against victimisation. Originality/value This study develops the literature on weapon decision-making, extending it into a novel setting and addresses a significant gap in the prison research literature about the meaning and utility of weapons in a custodial setting. The use of a community-derived framework for understanding weapon carrying translated well into a prison environment and offers support for the synthesis of community and prison models of violence but distinctive features of the prison environment, such as how weapons are acquired, limits the fit of the model to a prison setting.

English

Introduction: Addressing the health problems of prison inmates is a major challenge for public administrations, which are responsible for guaranteeing the necessary services to deal with them. It is therefore essential to know which are the chronic pathologies that affect them most frequently, what impact they have on the oral cavity and what type of treatments are required. The aim of this study is to shed further light on these questions. Material and method: Articles in PubMed on chronic and oral pathologies and treatment needs were reviewed. Results: The most prevalent chronic pathologies are heart disease, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes and cancer. Anxiety and depression are also highly prevalent among the prison population, along with the consumption of tobacco, alcohol and drugs of abuse. They are responsible for the appearance of caries and periodontal diseases, the treatment of which should be carried out in the prison environment. Conclusions: The level of dental care among the prison population is very low. Therefore, it is necessary to implement preventive and therapeutic measures among inmates to improve their oral health and, consequently, their general health.

Custodial Shadows: Lived Experiences of Postpartum Mothers Deprived of Liberty

Postpartum care is critical for women, particularly for those who are incarcerated, as they navigate both physical recovery and the unique challenges of their circumstances. Access to adequate healthcare within correctional systems remains severely limited, impacting the well-being of these women. While existing research has examined various prison-based programs—such as parenting classes, prison nurseries, and health initiatives—the voices and experiences of Postpartum Mothers Deprived of Liberty (PMDL) raising infants while imprisoned are often overlooked. This study aims to illuminate these experiences and how the prison environment influences their roles as mothers. Employing a descriptive phenomenological approach, this research involved a comprehensive literature review and purposive sampling to gather a targeted research sample. Specific criteria were established to identify eligible primary data sources. Data collection primarily utilized semi-structured interviews, allowing for open dialogue that facilitated a deep exploration of the informants' thoughts, beliefs, and experiences. Data analysis followed Colaizzi’s descriptive phenomenological method, ensuring credibility and trustworthiness through triangulation techniques, including audio recordings, field notes, pilot testing, and consultations with a research expert and psychometrician. Member checking was also conducted to verify the accuracy of the findings based on the informants' experiences. The analysis revealed five key themes: "Accepting the Inevitable: The Problems Arise After Birth," "Amusement Amidst Dilemma," "Supporting the Unsung: Building Bridges for Mothers Behind Bars," "Resilient Solitude: Embracing Inner Peace Amidst Maternal Separation," and "Maternal Bonds in Confinement: Underdeveloped Maternal Identity." The study concludes that while PMDLs engage in livelihood initiatives, skill development, and support networks, their separation from their infants significantly hampers their ability to fulfill maternal obligations and undermines their identity as mothers.

Prison Reform and Persistent Risks to Prison Living Conditions: Evidence from Romania

In recent years, some European countries have implemented prison reform to align prison environments with international human rights standards. However, some countries, such as Romania, have systematically failed to meet these standards and faced sanctions. This study explores the aspects of the Romanian prison environment frequently identified as non-compliant during two decades of reform. Characteristics of the living space, hygiene, social density, and relationships were observed in a survey in four large penitentiary units. The units varied in detention regimes, building characteristics, and monitoring frequency. Two aspects emerged as very important for the quality of prison life: the need to improve the built environment (as it can be aged, degraded and not up to the required standards) and the importance of its governance.

10.P. Scientific session: Improving health security and preparedness: are we leaving someone behind?

Abstract Prisons are unique, high-risk, high-security, complex settings; however, the impact of emergencies on prisons is a concern not only to the prison but also to the functioning of, for example, the criminal justice system, policing and courts, as well as to the general public. Prison environments can amplify infectious diseases. In the context of emerging health threats, this risk could be made into an asset through early warning surveillance and epidemiological studies. Many global and public health actors advocated for the inclusion of prisons and custodial settings in a comprehensive response to emerging threats since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and again during the Mpox epidemic. The increase in risk in closed environments and the vulnerability of people living in prisons make prisons and other custodial settings potential hotspots for transmission of infectious diseases and for excess morbidity and mortality. Yet, as mentioned above, prisons have been included to only a limited extent in national preparedness and response plans. Similarly, prisons are not always explicitly mentioned in international guidance on the preparation of national plans or in measures taken in the absence of such guidance. Preventing, predicting and responding to threats to the health of prison populations require scientifically valid, evidence-based interventions and assessment of the positive and negative impact of control measures on the population, especially in view of the unequal distribution of harm and disease among people living in prison and unequal access to mitigation or therapeutic interventions. Because of a general lack of timely, good-quality, translatable evidence on prison health, guidance for the management of health threats in prisons is often based on adapting other sources to the prison setting (so-called “prisonification” of guidelines), rather than on evidence specific to prisons. Prisons and custodial settings may also be affected by other biological, chemical, radionuclear and environmental hazards, all of which must be catered for in comprehensive preparedness and response plans. Timely collection of information is essential for national preparedness and response capacity to ensure rapid identification and response to threats. Again, however, the prison population is often excluded from or not explicitly identified in national surveillance systems. As a result, cases or outbreaks may not be identified or not receive an effective response, due to lack of collaborative structures between prison and public health authorities. Inclusion of prisons in local, regional, national and international emergency planning is therefore essential to test plans and revise guidance on the basis of evidence, exercises and/or real events. This workshop aims at exploring the current landscape and deriving implications for preparedness and health security in Europe and beyond. Key messages • Prison authorities should be included as stakeholders in the development of national preparedness and contingency plans according to good governance approach. • Explicit inclusion of prisons and other custodial settings in international and national plans for preparedness and response to emerging health threats is needed.

New admissions and asymptomatic TB cases seem to fuel TB epidemic in prisons, a cross sectional survey in Tanzania.

There is an increased risk for tuberculosis (TB) infection and disease progression in prison settings. TB prevalence in prisons in low- and middle-income countries have been measured to be up to 50 -times higher than in the general population. The aim of the study was to perform active TB screening and estimate the burden of TB in central prisons in Tanzania mainland. We performed TB active case finding in five central prisons, Keko, Segerea, Ukonga, Butimba and Ruanda prison in Tanzania, using the Xpert on early morning or spot sputum sample from inmates and new entries between April 2014 and July 2015. A questionnaire that asked about the symptoms and risk factors for TB was administered before a sputum sample was collected. Out of 13,868 incarcerated individuals tested, 13,763 had valid results. TB prevalence among tested was 1550 per 100,000 population (214/13,763); new admissions contributed to the majority (61.68%) of TB cases, but prevalence was higher among inmates (1.75%) compared to new admissions (1.45%). Ukonga, an urban prison which incarcerates long-term convicted inmates had the highest prevalence of 4.02%. Male gender (OR = 2.51, p<0.001), repeated incarcerations (OR = 2.85, p<0.001), history of TB treatment (OR = 1.78, p = 0.002), TB symptoms (OR = 2.78, p = 0.006) and HIV infection (OR = 2.86, p = 0.002) were associated with positive TB results. New admissions could be the driving force of the TB epidemic in the penitentiary system. However, prison environments remain a major risk factor for developing active TB disease.

A Copper-Based Coating for the Control of Airborne Viable Bacteria in a Prison Environment

Infections in confined environments can spread by direct contact, contaminated surfaces, and airborne transmission. This is critical in prison facilities, where cleaning and sanitary conditions are inadequate. An alternative is the development of antimicrobial surfaces. A new antimicrobial coating was developed by incorporating copper microparticles into a standard commercial paint, aiming to reduce the concentration of bacteria on surfaces by granting antimicrobial properties to surfaces. The copper additive comprised Cu2Cl(OH)3 deposited on polyhedral zeolite. The efficacy of this coating was evaluated in detention cells in a police station, which are temporary prisons and inherently dirty environments. The experiment compared a cell painted with the copper additive coating and a control cell with the standard paint. Viable coliforms were measured on different surfaces and in the air for five months under normal usage. Bacterial load was reduced by ca. 68% by the copper-amended paint on cement surfaces. Surprisingly, airborne viable coliforms were reduced by ca. 87% in the detention cell treated with the copper coating. This research highlights the potential of antimicrobial coatings in controlling the spread of infections through contact with contaminated surfaces and emphasizes the significant reduction in airborne bacterial load. It is especially relevant for controlling infections where sanitization is limited but can be extended to other built environments, such as healthcare facilities.

Enhancing Offender Rehabilitation Through Co-Designed Controlled-Environment Agriculture in an Australian Maximum Security Prison

This research explores the application of controlled-environment agriculture (CEA) in an Australian maximum security prison, aiming to enhance inmate health and wellbeing through improved diet. The implementation of a medium-scale greenhouse demonstrates how CEA can effectively increase the availability of fresh produce in prison settings. By engaging inmates and correctional staff in a co-design process, the project not only promotes better nutrition but also fosters community involvement and empowerment among the participants. This inclusive approach facilitates the development of innovative and practical solutions, transforming the prison environment and encouraging rehabilitation through active participation and skills development.

A protocol for identifying the needs related to drug use, health and social (re)integration of people living in prison within five European countries

BackgroundCompared to the general population, people living in prison are at an increased risk to experience negative (mental) health outcomes. Moreover, delinquency and drug use have many risk factors in common. A need exists for increasing the knowledge about health needs, drug use patterns and the coverage of drug-related interventions in prison within Europe. The current protocol describes the design of a study about wellbeing, drug use and related care in prison.Methods/designA multicentre mixed method design is implemented in five European countries (Belgium, Cyprus, Greece, Lithuania and Luxembourg). Qualitative and quantitative data collection tools are combined in order to generate complementary and comprehensive results. First, a cross-sectional survey among people living in prison is conducted. This survey is based on a model questionnaire, the European Questionnaire on Drug use among people living in Prison, developed by the European Monitoring Centre for Drug and Drugs Addiction. Second, people living in prison and people who have been recently released from prison are involved in qualitative semi-structured face-to-face interviews. The main topics of interest are the use of drugs and other health related topics such as loneliness, anxiety, depression, infectious diseases, suicide and treatment. Third, data regarding health and social reintegration measures in prison is collected through a quantitative survey addressed to the prison authorities.DiscussionThis study protocol presentes a European study which aims to assess drug use among people living in prison and recently released people who use drugs as well as the existing care services in prisons. Hereby, factors related to the prison environment and their needs, both inside and outside prison are taken into account. Importantly, this study protocol describes a methodology which is developed to be executed in different prison settings within different countries simultaneously. Accordingly, for each country the protocol is adjustable to specific national legal requirements, regional differences and distinct local regulations of prison administrations. However, extensive modularity inevitably comes with significant limitations of comparability and generalizability of the results.

Facilitators and barriers to the implementation of the biobehavioral survey among incarcerated individuals and correctional personnel in Mozambique, 2021- a descriptive study.

Mozambique implemented in 2021 a formative assessment in 22 prisons to identify the operational and logistical needs for the second round of the Biobehavioral Survey (BBS). Barriers and facilitators that could be anticipated in conducting BBS in prisons, in preparation for implementation, was evaluated using semi-structured questionnaires administered to key informants (directors and other kind of managers staff). The data were cleaned and analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and the categorical variables were summarized by means of simple frequencies and percentages. In most prisons the current prison capacity far exceeds the theoretical capacity, 40.9% have a theoretical capacity of ≥ 50 inmates, 81.8% have inmates who exceed their theoretical capacity. In the country half of the prisons receive only male inmates, and only one female, 54.5% of the prisons visited have inmates under 18 years of age, 72.7% of the prisons had a private space available for the survey, the penitentiary establishments have the physical space for study; ensuring the safety of staff within the facilities; involvement of correctional officers and a clinical focal point. However, barriers such as time management due to prison opening hours, prison laws, restrictions, or permits for research may change without notice due to security, lockdowns, riots, or other situations that may hinder the implementation of research. The implementation of successive and regular rounds of BBS in different environments, contexts and populations constitute opportunities for generating information and indicators not always captured by programmatic data and not only as an opportunity for offering and making healthcare available in prison environments that in a routine context, but these populations normally have also not had equal opportunities. Currently, little is known about the implementation of a BBS in a correctional environment and only a few barriers can be anticipated, for Mozambique's context, these challenges and obstacles can be overcome through clear communication and collaboration with officials at all levels.

Can you get “clean” in dirty water?: A qualitative case study exploring the prison environment, basic needs, and the barriers to substance use rehabilitation

The prison environment has been synonymous with criminality, brutality, and drug activity. Yet, incarcerated individuals are expected to be released from prison clean from drugs and rehabilitated, with little to no access to the basic needs necessary to successfully rehabilitate. This single, qualitative case study explored the prison environment, basic needs, and the barriers to substance use rehabilitation. Data revealed that when basic needs were met, incarcerated individuals had the motivation to reach higher-order needs to aid in their recovery from substance use during treatment and that a negative or drug-infested environment and an unwillingness to change were barriers to sobriety.

Explorando la salud mental en prisión: un análisis en el Programa de Atención Integral al Enfermo Mental (PAIEM)

Around 3.6% of the 11 million people incarcerated worldwide suffer from psychotic disorders, representing a prevalence four times higher compared to the general population. This phenomenon is linked to high rates of suicide among inmates, an increased risk of premature death after release, and a heightened likelihood of reoffending. In response to this reality, Spanish Penitentiary Institutions initiated a program in 2009 aimed at the comprehensive care of inmates with Severe Mental Disorders. The objective of this pilot study is to explore how anxiety, depression, and trauma-related disorders can affect inmates in two prisons in Lugo, gathering initial data to better understand the mental health challenges facing this population. The results revealed significant differences in the variables of anxiety, depression, and experiences of abuse, highlighting the importance of considering these factors in mental health care within the prison environment. These findings lay the groundwork for future research and advocate for more effective policies and programs to ensure adequate care in prisons.

Outreach of HIV/AIDS Disease on Prisoners at Women Prison of Class IIA Jakarta Timur

This program aims to enhance the knowledge and understanding of inmates regarding HIV/AIDS while also reducing stigma and discrimination within the prison environment. This program is based on data indicating a higher prevalence of HIV among prisoners compared to the general population. The primary challenges faced include a lack of information and education about HIV/AIDS and limited access to healthcare services within the prison. The program’s methodology includes planning activities with clearly defined goals and targets, forming a working team, and developing educational materials. The program’s implementation involves an initial outreach phase, followed by an educational session consisting of lectures and interactive discussions. Monitoring and evaluation are conducted by collecting data and assessing the activities to measure the program’s effectiveness using interview with prisoner and checklist. A total of 25 participants, aged between 21 and 50 years, participated in this program. The results demonstrated active participation and enthusiasm from the inmates (100%), indicating the program’s success in bridging knowledge gaps and reducing stigma. This program has fostered a healthier, safer prison environment and better-prepared inmates for social reintegration with improved health knowledge. It is hoped that this program can serve as a model for other prisons in Indonesia in the efforts to prevent and combat HIV/AIDS.

Using a Community-Engaged Survey to Describe Prison Environments and Measure the Mental Health Status of Correctional Staff and Incarcerated Individuals

The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Incarceration is associated with significant negative mental health implications for both the corrections staff who work in prisons and the individuals incarcerated in them. Despite their scale and impacts, prisons are one of the country’s least transparent and most understudied public institutions. Where research on prisons does exist, it is often focused on either the corrections staff population or the incarcerated population. Moreover, the perspectives of those most directly affected, incarcerated populations and correctional staff are rarely included in the process. In this study, we sought to focus on understanding the entire prison ecosystem, measuring the mental health status of corrections staff and incarcerated individuals, and describing potential interrelated factors in the prison environment that may affect these outcomes. We used a community-engaged process to develop a prison survey to measure the prison environment in a pilot facility in rural Vermont, incorporating the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Global Mental Health 2a instrument to measure the mental health status of the corrections staff and incarcerated individuals. Focus groups and interviews were conducted to inform survey development and understand factors affecting the mental health of these populations. Surveys were administered at three time points.

Punishment and survival – incarcerated persons' experiences with extreme heat in Texas prisons

PurposeThe impact of extreme heat on prisons and carceral facilities is becoming increasingly visible, yet remains overlooked by scholars, practitioners and policymakers. Prisons are a unique type of infrastructure designed to severely limit and control the movement of hundreds and even thousands of individuals as a form of punishment. This leads to many significant challenges to mitigating the risk of heat-related illness in prisons and other carceral spaces that have remained overlooked across many disciplines including emergency management, disasters, corrections and public health.Design/methodology/approachFor this study, we analyzed 192 surveys from incarcerated persons in state prisons throughout Texas to understand how incarceration and the punitive prison environment create challenges to managing extreme heat in prisons.FindingsWe found that characteristics of modern incarceration, including communal distribution of resources, crowded conditions and a lack of agency for incarcerated people, create barriers to accessing resources during periods of extreme heat. Furthermore, the punitive nature of the prison environment as manifested in the relationship between staff and incarcerated persons and certain prison policies also create barriers to incarcerated persons accessing resources to reduce their risk of heat-related illness and death.Social implicationsThese issues are particularly relevant to the health and safety of incarcerated persons during periods of extreme temperatures but also speak broadly to the implications of incarceration, disaster risk, and the advancement of human rights for incarcerated people.Originality/valueThis article addresses a gap in the literature by including the perspectives of persons incarcerated in Texas prisons experiencing extreme heat and implicates the characteristics of incarceration and punishment in the production of disaster risk.

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.

Overcrowding, Drugs Abuse and Violence vs. Rehabilitation Interviews and Perceptions of a Sample of Prisoners

Based on the interviews collected and conducted during the data gathering process for the documentary "11 days: within the prison walls”, some inmates from the prison of Nerio Fischione based in Brescia (Italy) decide to share their stories to a microphone and storytellers. The voices provide a sincere look, suitable for investigating the subjective perceptions that inmates have regarding the prison environment, exploring the complexities of their experiences. What emerges from the stories is a place that is far away from the rehabilitation purpose that it should have. The enormous issue of overcrowding, drug pills treatment abuse, and, above all, the pervasive violence within the corridors of the facility. The punitive function seems to prevail and is doubly enacted: firstly, through the nature of the prison itself, and secondly, through the prison conditions that prevent from any possibility to start a positive path. This article aims to contribute to the existing academic debate providing an insight from the prisoners’ perception about their personal experience, focusing on the issues that most frequently emerge from their testimonies: the lack of significance that they experience on a daily basis.

Examining the link between perceived prison conditions and probability of recidivism among women convicts in Tihar Jail: insight on incarceration

Purpose The purpose of this study is to fill the research gap that exists with respect to availability of research on correctional facilities in India, which restricts one’s ability to comprehend the prison environment and recidivism from the perspective of the inmates. By examining inmates’ perception of their environment within correctional facilities, researchers and policymakers can identify specific aspects of the prison climate that may contribute to increased risks of reoffending. This understanding would not only help to improve prison conditions and encourage humane treatment, but it is also essential to support the inmates in their efforts to find and retain employment, achieve self-sufficiency and personal growth. It is also necessary to encourage the inmates to participate in a variety of therapeutic and prison programmes both inside and outside of prison to help them reintegrate into the community. Design/methodology/approach The present research investigated the association between negative perceptions of prison climate and the heightened probability of recidivism among a sample of 37 adult women convicts incarcerated in Tihar Prisons, Delhi. Data were obtained by administering CSS-M Hindi version and PCQ Hindi version to the convicts in person in the prison premises. Furthermore, the collected data were subjected to Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient to analyse the correlation between the probability of recidivism and the dimensions of prison climate. Findings Results suggested that negative perceptions of relationships in prison (staff–inmate relationship, inmate–inmate relationship), safety, facilities (cell conditions, food quality, etc.), meaningful activities (recreation, education, yard time, etc.) and autonomy in prison were inversely associated with a higher probability of recidivism. The results from the current study demonstrated that recognising and taking cognisance of the inmates’ perceptions of prison environment on their well-being and their probability of recidivism is crucial for the successful implementation of interventions and policies within correctional systems. Research limitations/implications The sample size procured for the research was relatively small, as the number of available women convicts in Tihar Prison at the time of the research was limited, making it difficult to generalise the findings. In addition, this investigation included solely women convicts, while undertrials and detenues were excluded, and thus does not represent all the individuals in conflict with the law. Practical implications The findings of the current investigation allow for the formulation of potential policy recommendations for improving the prison climate, which in turn might consequently impact future criminality. Social implications Policymakers may use these findings when developing policies that foster a rehabilitative prison environment, as it can help in reducing the incidence of recidivism. Originality/value This study is unprecedented in its approach, especially with respect to the Indian context, as it sheds light on the relatively understudied association between the variables of perceived prison climate and the probability of recidivism among women convicts in India. The findings of this study add to the current body of research indicating that subjective experience and perception of prison climate have a substantial influence on the likelihood of recidivism.

Service Learning in non-formal education in a penitentiary center

Introduction: Prisons should promote educational activities in formal and non-formal settings in accordance with the educational model that is carried out in educational contexts other than prisons. Methodology: The aim of this proposal is to promote social commitment and the development of skills, values and attitudes necessary for social reintegration. To this end, the aim is to develop this activity in the context of non-formal education within the prison environment, through the application of a service-learning methodology. Results and Discussion: Over the course of ten sessions, inmates will be able to work with young people at risk of social exclusion by telling their life stories. In this way, the prisoners will have to work on personal introspection and develop strategies to help prevent delinquency in these young people. Conclusions: All this will favour the development of a social commitment in the persons deprived of liberty and therefore, a series of skills and attitudes that will be necessary for their future reintegration.

How to Listen Through a Wall: Lessons From Conducting Participatory Action Research in an Urban Prison

This project sought to understand the present-day experiences of individuals housed in prisons by utilizing Participatory Action Research (PAR) methods that partnered a university research team with individuals incarcerated in an urban correctional facility. The team assessed perceptions of the current environment by surveying people incarcerated in an urban prison. This article discusses the role of PAR methodologies from project initiation to finalization, explicitly focusing on coordination with prison and Department of Correction (DOC) administrative leadership and the value of including incarcerated individuals on the research team for successful change. Throughout the process, the team identified areas for improvement and innovations to improve the prison environment. This article provides a road map, lessons learned from conducting PAR in prison environments, and the power of partnering researchers and members of the researched population on one collaborative research team.