Prison Management Research Articles

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

Paws for thought? Developing dog projects for older people in prison

PurposeThis study aims to assess the nature and scope of dog-based programmes in prisons, assessing critically the potential opportunities, benefits, challenges and risks of developing innovative dog-based programmes for older prisoners in England and Wales. This paper outlines the potential benefits and challenges of developing dog-based programmes for older prisoners and sets out next steps for future research and practice.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on a scoping review of published research literature on prison dog programmes (PDPs) in the USA, the UK and other countries, with particular reference to older people in prison, followed by semi-structured interviews with six members of an expert advisory group. The literature review and data from the qualitative interviews were analysed thematically.FindingsThere is a substantial body of published research literature which supports PDPs as having identifiable positive impacts for people and also dogs, and also published research which highlights the benefits to older people of dog ownership or participation in dog-based activities. However, much of this research is small-scale and qualitative, and it has been argued that there is a lack of a quantitative evidence base. This research concludes that findings from the literature review and the semi-structured interviews support further research and the creation of pilot projects to develop dog-based projects for older people in prison.Research limitations/implicationsThis study was small-scale, and the findings need to be approached with caution. The literature review searched a small number of databases and filtered out articles published in languages other than English, and the review of the grey literature focused on reports from the UK. The number of experts interviewed was small and there was no direct consultation with older people in prison nor with older people with recent personal lived experience of imprisonment and community resettlement. A more extensive future study would benefit from a more extensive literature review, a larger group of participants and the inclusion of service users, prison managers and government policymakers, subject to the appropriate ethical and security approvals. At the time the research took place, ongoing COVID-19 restrictions on prison research meant that research with current prisoners and prison managers would not have been approved by the HMPPS NRC.Practical implicationsThis research provides a research-based justification for future dog projects for older prisoners, leading potentially to improved well-being for older people in prison.Originality/valueThis study brings together the published research literature on PDPs with the research literature on the needs and experiences of older people in prison for the first time, and identifies potential directions for future research.

Security Imperative, Reformation and Compliance: Understanding the Prison System in China

This article reviews the evolution of the legal framework and policy basis of the prison system in socialist China. The discussion will also trace the dual goals in the implementation of prison sentences, i.e., punishment and reformation. Stability and security have been the top priority in China’s prison management. Commensurate with the scheme, recent prison reform initiatives include several legal and policy reforms to institutionalise and professionalise prison management. On the one hand, reforms set out to separate the administration of prison finances from prison-run enterprises. On the other hand, the Ministry of Justice reconfigures the reformation programs to encourage the attitudinal compliance of inmates. However, the inextricable links between security and compliance might inflame tensions over the preservation of stability/security and the cultivation of inmates’ autonomy/independence.

Policies & Practices to Address Stress & Trauma Among Jail & Prison Workers: Results From a National Survey

Abstract Date Presented 04/22/2023 This poster presents national survey results among jail and prison management on perceptions of stress and trauma policies and practices that fit the needs of correctional officers and worker perspectives that can further inform mental health resources. Primary Author and Speaker: Sarah Jaworski Additional Authors and Speakers: Lisa Jaegers Contributing Authors: Natalie Schur, Pranali Patel, Mazen El Ghaziri, Pamela Fallon, Martin Cherniack

Behaviors and practices of incarcerated women towards menstrual hygiene in a large urban prison in Uganda: a phenomenological qualitative study

BackgroundDeplorable and unconducive conditions in prisons present serious challenges to menstrual hygiene management. However, little is known about menstrual hygiene among incarcerated women in Uganda. Our study explored the behaviors and practices of incarcerated women regarding menstrual hygiene management in a large government prison in Uganda. In addition, we explored the barriers to menstrual hygiene management in this population.MethodsIn this phenomenological qualitative study, we conducted in-depth interviews with incarcerated women aged 20–49 years and key informant interviews with female prison officers (wardresses) at Luzira Prison in Kampala, Uganda. The data were analyzed using content analysis and the findings were presented using themes/sub-themes along with participant quotes.ResultsWe interviewed 15 incarcerated women aged 20–49 years (mean age, 29.5 ± 8.7 years) and five key informants aged 30–50 years (mean, 42.6 ± 4.9) about menstrual hygiene behaviors and practices, including barriers to menstrual hygiene. Five sub-themes emerged concerning behaviors and practices of menstrual hygiene among incarcerated women. Findings reveal the behaviors and practices of menstrual hygiene management were characterized by infrequent change of menstrual pads, lack of privacy during menstrual hygiene practices, use of poor-quality menstrual hygiene materials, and improper disposal of used sanitary products. However, bathing with soap and water during menstruation was frequent and non-restricted. Three sub-themes emerged as barriers to menstrual hygiene practices, largely at the institutional level, and they included unhygienic sanitary facilities, unreliable access to clean water, and insufficient sanitary products.ConclusionsBehaviors and practices of incarcerated women fall short of desired standards and they face several barriers to practicing menstrual hygiene. The prison authorities should provide sufficient sanitary products like pads, and knickers including soap, construct more sanitary facilities, educate about the safe disposal of used sanitary products, and provide sufficient clean water to promote good menstrual hygiene management among incarcerated women.

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors among Prisoners in North Wollo Zone, Northeastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Depression is a psychiatric disorder that is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding and enjoyable activities. It is one of the leading mental disorders among prisoners worldwide. However, little attention is given to this condition, especially in developing countries. Hence, this study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among prisoners in North Wollo Zone Correctional Institutions, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 407 prisoners from November 20 to December 20, 2020. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select the study participants, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was utilized to measure the prevalence of depression among prisoners. Data analyses were done using SPSS version 20 software program. Descriptive and inferential statistics including bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were run to assess the association between depression and the independent variables, and a p value of less than 0.05 was taken to declare statistically significant values. A total of 407 prisoners participated in the study, making the response rate 96.9%. The mean age of the participants was 31.7 ± 12.83. Forty-one percent of them were between the ages of 18 and 27 years. In this study, the prevalence of depression was 55.5%. Age 38-47 (AOR = 4.29; 95%CI = 1.51, 12.20), having children (AOR = 2.75; 95%CI = 1.40, 5.42), sentences for 5-10 years and over 10 years (AOR = 6.26; 95%CI = 3.19, 12.30 and AOR = 7.71; 95%CI = 3.47, 17.17, respectively), having a history of mental illness (AOR = 5.22; 95%CI = 2.39, 11.36), having two or more stressful life events (AOR = 6.61; 95%CI = 2.73, 15.96), and poor social support (AOR = 8.13; 95%CI = 3.43, 19.27) were significantly associated with depression. In this study, more than half of the study participants were found having depression which is relatively higher compared with other previous studies across the globe. Moreover, different variables including the inmate's age of 38-47 years, having children, a sentence of 5-10 and over 10 years, history of mental illness, having two or more stressful life events, and poor social support were factors significantly associated with depression. Thus, awareness creation for police officers and prison managers about depression screening in prison and treatment programs including psychological counseling and cognitive behavioral therapy for prisoners are recommended.

Perlakuan terhadap Tawanan Perang dalam Hukum Humaniter Internasional dan Hukum Islam

In war, those who become prisoners of war must act as individuals as referred to in the 1949 Geneva Convention III. Meanwhile, according to Article 5, if there is doubt about the status of someone who is at war and falls into his hands. Enemy, that person must remain in custody until his status is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction. In Islam, the rules of Islamic warfare refer to what the Islamic scholars accept in sharia (Islamic law) and fiqh (Islamic law) as laws in Islam that Muslims must follow when fighting each other. Especially in the treatment of prisoners of war and the process of protecting their rights through law. This study uses the standard legal method in which the author examines the provisions of international law and examines all crimes committed by the military against war prisoners of enemy countries. Outside the Abu Ghraib prison, Iraq, which is currently associated with the rights contained in Islamic law. The data collection method in this study uses survey data. There are similarities and principles in the treatment and protection of prisoners of war according to humanitarian law and Islamic law, namely the provisions regarding prisoners of war in Islamic law are in line with the Geneva Convention III of 1949 and Additional Convention I of 1977 which recognize that respect, security guarantees for prisoners of war, and medical care for prisoners of war. According to the principles of management of prisoners of war in the Qur'an, particularly in sura al-Baqarah verse (190) as three principles of international humanitarian law.

STUDY OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT IN CORRECTIONAL ASSISTED CITIZENS (WBP) AT LAPAS NARKOTIKA KELAS IIA MUARA BELITI

This research is entitled The study of the development of nutritional status applications in inmates penitentiary (wbp) in Class IIa Prison Narcotics Muara Beliti. The purpose of the research This is to determine the nutritional status of the food consumed by the inmates penitentiary (wbp) in Class IIa Prison Narcotics Muara Beliti. This research using research and development methods, according to Borg and Gall quoted by (Sari, Farida, & Syazali, 2016) research and development is a process used to develop products such as software (devices software) Computers in the form of applications. So, it can be concluded research and Development is a process in creating new products as well as new products developing and validating an existing product. Meanwhile according to (Putra, 2013) Research And Development is a research method that intentionally, systematically, aiming/directed to find, formulate, improve, develop, produce, test the effectiveness of products, models, methods/strategies/methods, services, certain procedures that are superior, new, effective, efficient,productive and meaningful. From the results of anthropometric measurements which include age, height and weight, from 100 inmates who were sampled or the subject of this study, the results can already be stated to meet nutritional standards balanced .. The implications expected from this research prison managers can concerned about the quality of the food they will eat.

Crime and Punishment: A Rethink

Incarceration remains the foremost form of sentence for serious crimes in Western democracies. At the same time, the management of prisons and of the prison population has become a major real-world challenge, with growing concerns about overcrowding, the offenders’ well-being, and the failure of achieving the distal desideratum of reduced criminality, all of which have a moral dimension. In no small part motivated by these practical problems, the focus of the present article is on the ethical framework that we use in thinking about and administering criminal justice. I start with an analysis of imprisonment and its permissibility as a punitive tool of justice. In particular, I present a novel argument against punitive imprisonment, showing it to fall short in meeting two key criteria of just punishment, namely (i) that the appropriate individual is being punished, and (ii) that the punishment can be adequately moderated to reflect the seriousness of the crime. The principles I argue for and that the aforementioned analysis brings to the fore, rooted in the sentient experience, firstly of victims, and not only of victims but also of the offenders as well as the society at large, then lead me to elucidate the broader framework of jurisprudence that I then apply more widely. Hence, while rejecting punitive imprisonment, I use its identified shortcomings to argue for the reinstitution of forms of punishment that are, incongruently, presently not seen as permissible, such as corporal punishment and punishments dismissed on the basis of being seen as humiliating. I also present a novel view of capital punishment, which, in contradiction to its name, I reject for punitive aims, but which I argue is permissible on compassionate grounds.

Separate units for incarcerated people who committed sexual offenses: luxury or necessity?

The policy on treatment of people who commit sexual offenses (PSOs) varies greatly across countries, creating different treatment environments. This study was conducted in Flanders (i.e., the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium) where PSOs receive their treatment in the community. Before this transfer takes place, many PSOs spend time inside prison together with other offenders. This raises the question to what extent PSOs are safe in prison and whether this period would benefit from an integrated therapeutic program. This qualitative research study focuses on the possibility of separate housing for PSOs by examining the current experiences of incarcerated PSOs and contextualizing those with the professional experience of national and international experts in the field. Between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022, 22 semi-structured interviews and six focus groups took place. Participants were comprised of 9 imprisoned PSOs, 7 international experts on prison-based PSO treatment, 6 prison officer supervisors, 2 prison management delegates, 21 healthcare workers (both inside and outside prison), 6 prison policy coordinators, and 10 psychosocial service staff members. Nearly all interviewed PSOs reported suffering at the hands of fellow inmates or prison staff because of the nature of their offenses, varying from exclusion and bullying to physical violence. These experiences were corroborated by the Flemish professionals. Consistent with scientific research, the international experts all reported working with incarcerated PSOs who reside in living units separate from other offenders and the therapeutic benefits to this approach. Despite this growing evidence, the Flemish professionals remained reluctant to implement separate living units for PSOs in prisons because of the perceived risk of increased cognitive distortions and further isolation of this already stigmatized group. The Belgian prison system is not currently organized to create separate living units for PSOs, which has important ramifications for the safety and therapeutic opportunities of these vulnerable prisoners. International experts emphasize a clear benefit for introducing separate living units where a therapeutic environment can be created. Although this would have significant organizational and policy-oriented implications, it would be useful to explore whether these practices could be implemented in Belgian prisons as well.

Risk management in open prisons: A critical analysis and research agenda

Open prisons offer a unique contribution to the community resettlement of those serving custodial sentences. However, the evidence base for the efficacy of open prisons is limited and their existence is frequently scrutinised following adverse events including prisoner absconding and re-offending. This paper critically evaluates open prisons’ efficacy and the effective management of risk in this environment. We present a research agenda which aims to delineate the potential mechanisms of open prisons that rehabilitate offenders, while maintaining the safety of these environments. We emphasise the importance of an improved understanding of risk manifestation, and the need to evaluate existing risk management protocols.

God moves in mysterious ways: Faith units and their influence on prison governance in Argentina and Sweden

Faith-based units are prison spaces centred on the performance of religious practices that can nowadays be found in prisons in several countries. These faith-based practices have usually been explored in relation to the effects they have on inmates, but there are few studies that have explored how their presence affects prison life and how they can influence prison governance. This article will compare two different faith-based prison experiences located in two very different social and penitentiary contexts, Argentina and Sweden, in order to explore how the presence of these units affects prison management. To do so, we will analyse semi-structured interviews with 55 individuals conducted in prisons in both countries.

Prison-Based Economic Development: What the Evidence Tells Us

Since the late 1970s, there have been significant increases in the number of prisons and prisoners held in small towns and rural areas in the United States. Rural small towns have used prison construction and management as an economic development strategy. Although prisons were once seen as misfortune and disappointment to residents, since the 1980s, prison hosting has become a last resort for impoverished rural towns with desperate need of jobs. Prisons have been expected to fill the void when local industries and businesses closed down their operations in the 1980s economic crisis. While mass imprisonment and the prison boom in the United States have been important topics of research in the criminal justice field, less is known about prison-based economic development and its effects on local economies. This study conducts a literature review of U.S. studies, discusses theoretical and empirical limitations in the literature, and offers implications for research and policy development.

Predicting Prison Misconduct: Role of Criminogenic Cognitions of Adult Convicted Prisoners

Prison misconduct is violation of prison rules through which prisoners are governed to regulate their behavior by the prison authorities. The aim of present study was to examine relationship between criminogenic cognitions of prisoners and prison misconduct in the Punjab, Pakistan. Conducting a survey of 363 adult convicted prisoners from the Punjab prisons, data were collected by using structured questionnaires and analyzed in SPSS-26. The study concluded that the relationship between criminogenic cognitions of prisoners and prison misconduct was found strong and positive. On the basis of these findings, criminogenic cognitions—dynamic risk factors of the prisoners may be assessed by the prison authorities at the time of prisoners’ entry into custody which would help them in an appropriate and scientifically based classification. This classification would clearly distinguish the high, medium, and low risk offenders and their probability in engaging in future criminal activities inside the prisons and after their transition into society. Policies based on these conclusions derived from the classification would reduce prison misconduct as well as enhance the chances of institutional adjustment which would provide a conducive environment for prison management to run rehabilitation programs for prisoners. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that prison authorities in Punjab, Pakistan, incorporate assessments of criminogenic cognitions as part of the intake process for convicted prisoners.

Consensus recommendations on the management of hepatitis C in Australia's prisons.

Prison settings represent the highest concentration of prevalent hepatitis C cases in Australia due to the high rates of incarceration among people who inject drugs. Highly effective direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are available to people incarcerated in Australian prisons. However, multiple challenges to health care implementation in the prison sector present barriers to people in prison reliably accessing hepatitis C testing, treatment, and prevention measures. This Consensus statement highlights important considerations for the management of hepatitis C in Australian prisons. High coverage testing, scale-up of streamlined DAA treatment pathways, improved coverage of opioid agonist therapy, and implementation and evaluation of regulated provision of prison needle and syringe programs to reduce HCV infection and reinfection are needed. The recommendations set current best practice standards in hepatitis C diagnosis, treatment and prevention in the Australian prison sector based on available evidence. Prison-based health services should strive to simplify and improve efficiency in the provision of the hepatitis C care cascade, including strategies such as universal opt-out testing, point-of-care testing, simplified assessment protocols, and earlier confirmation of cure. Optimising hepatitis C management in prisons is essential to prevent long term adverse outcomes for a marginalised population living with HCV. Scale-up of testing and treatment in prisons will make a major contribution towards Australia's efforts to eliminate hepatitis C as a public health threat by 2030.

Of Ants and Men

Of Ants and Men

Salud en cárceles del Uruguay Reflexiones y propuestas de intervención en gestión y política sanitaria

The Prison Parliamentary Office of Uruguay is the one that, according to the law, supervises and advises the adult penitentiary system. At the end of April 2022, it presented its preliminary report for the year 2021 on the situation of the prison system in our country. Although the report covers multiple thematic areas, ranging from prison administration to the role of external organizations that affect the institute, the purpose of this article is to focus on the health aspects of the report, analyze them, present some reflections, and propose where a policy of prison health care and management should be directed in the country. The report shows a prison system that does not meet the minimum level established by international standards. So far, the Ministry of Health has not yet created a specific area that directs and regulates a prison health strategy in the country. Assistance is fragmented and weak, affecting prisoners, their families and the community. A unified policy led by an area defined in the Ministry of Health, based on primary care, with the participation of all actors involved in the prison system, promoting campaigns that include prisoners as active users, in added a protect and train staff, are some of the aspects that a national health strategy in prisons should consider to guarantee universal and quality access.

EXPLORING THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE CIVIL SERVANTS WITH SPECIAL STATUS IN THE DETENTION UNITS IN ROMANIA. RECRUITMENT, TRAINING AND EVALUATION OF PRISON POLICE OFFICERS BETWEEN 2009-2021

In this article, we analyze the regulation of the special status of the civil servant in the penitentiary system in relation to the dynamics of recruitment, training, evaluation, and research of the human resource in the detention units in Romania between 2009-2021. With the help of the case study analysis and the empirical research carried out in 22 penitentiaries, on which occasion we interacted and interviewed a number of 74 penitentiary police officers (directors, surveillance officers, educators, psychologists, priests), we identified the representations of the prison police officers regarding the life in the detention units. This research highlights the staff shortages and the low level of training, evaluation, and research of civil servants with special status, an aspect that indicates a strong tendency to preserve roles and statuses in the penitentiary system. The prison management remains anchored in the objectives of reducing overcrowding and improving working conditions and deprivation of liberty, while the objective of mode