Prison Population Research Articles

ABSTRACT We investigated the existence of a “ deception‐general ” ability (association between the ability to produce and detect lies) in 140 individuals (80 from prison and 60 from the general community) using the Deceptive Interaction Task (DeceIT). Deception production ( d' Sender) and detection ( d' Receiver) indexes were comparatively analyzed within Signal Detection Theory. Results revealed weak evidence for a deception‐general ability in the community sample, but not in the prison sample. Both groups exhibited similar truth biases. In the prison sample, lie detection accuracy was negatively correlated with the Dark Factor (and its themes), lie acceptability, and additional aversive traits (Psychopathy, Aggression, Alexithymia), measured only in prison. Lie production only showed a negative correlation with Alexithymia (Difficulties Describing Feelings), measured only in the prison sample. These findings suggest limited evidence for a deception‐general ability in the community, while in prison, aversive traits may undermine accurate lie detection. Implications for interrogation and rehabilitation are discussed.

This study aims to analyze the predictors of anxiety and depression symptoms among prisoners in Ceará, Brazil, comparing the LGBTQIA+ and cisgender heterosexual groups. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in all prison units in the state of Ceará, Brazil, from May to September 2022 with 2,097 participants, of which 1,756 were cisgender heterosexuals and 341 LGBTQIA+ individuals. Predictor variables were categorized into individual, social, and programmatic vulnerabilities based on a framework and the outcome were measured with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Data were analyzed using the JAMOVI statistical software. The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee under protocol number 5.379.780. Anxiety symptoms were higher (74.5% vs. 73.2%) among the cisgender heterosexual prisoners and depressive symptoms higher (76.7% vs. 75.3%) in the LGBTQIA+ prison population, with no statistical difference between the two groups. Significant associations were found between anxiety, depression, and individual, social, and programmatic vulnerabilities in the incarcerated population. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the vulnerabilities which the prison population is exposed, identifying factors that may influence mental health-related outcomes in this population. Such insights aim to support interventions to improve these groups' mental health indicators.

The female prison population in Brazil has increased in recent decades, highlighting the weaknesses of the penitentiary system and the challenges of rehabilitation. Marked by overcrowding, poor infrastructure, and the lack of effective reintegration policies, female prisons reflect historical inequalities of gender, class, and race. Although the law recognizes the need for differentiated treatment for women, in practice, inmates suffer a double punishment: for the crime committed and for violating social norms imposed by patriarchy. This bibliographic study analyzes the profile of incarcerated women, living conditions in prisons, and the shortcomings of the Brazilian penal system in promoting rehabilitation, offering reflections on public policies that prioritize dignity, education, health, and social reintegration. Furthermore, it seeks to understand how factors such as motherhood, family abandonment and lack of opportunities reduce the cycle of criminal recidivism, highlighting the urgency of integrated actions between the State and civil society to implement human rights and guarantee true post-prison inclusion.

Prison was born in modern times in order to humanize the State’s list of sanctions. In Brazil, however, custodial institutions have historically coexisted with human rights violations. Given the current relevance of this theme, this article seeks to answer the following research problem: to what extent does the Brazilian prison population configure itself as a sovereign flock in light of the biopolitical perspective unveiled by Foucauldian and Agambenian philosophies? The hypothesis, finally corroborated, identifies prison as a mechanism of deprivation of human rights by subjecting bodies and lives to the relation of the sovereign flock. The text is structured in two sections and aims, respectively, to analyze the sovereign flock in the Brazilian prison system as a portrayal of the banality of evil; and to reflect on the institutional and social affirmation and enforcement of human rights through the profanation of human nakedness resulting from sovereign abandonment. The methodology contemplates the phenomenological-hermeneutic method, the qualitative approach, the basic nature, the exploratory objective and the bibliographical and documental procedures. Keywords: biopolitics; human rights; unconstitutional state of affairs; prison; criminal justice system.

Abstract Cash bail has traditionally been used in the United States to prevent defendants from failing to appear in court and from committing additional crimes prior to their hearing. Yet, the inability to afford cash bail has contributed to the expansion of the jail and prison population in the United States. Meanwhile, activists continue to question the efficacy of cash bail to achieve the goals of reducing failure to appear and re-arrest rates. Activists also have suggested that cash bail may negatively impact the health and well-being of defendants and may disproportionately affect individuals based on their race, ethnicity, and gender. The present study synthesized recent empirical literature on cash bail to help determine the effects of cash bail. Results indicate cash bail is mostly ineffective at reducing failure to appear and re-arrest rates. Based on results from the included studies, cash bail also has harsher consequences for Black, Hispanic, and male defendants than White and female defendants. Further, early evidence suggests cash bail negatively harms the health and well-being of defendants. Implications for the future of cash bail and possible alternatives are discussed.

Introduction: Health is a right for everyone and a duty of the State, also ensured for people deprived of liberty. In the prison system, nursing plays a central role in health promotion and prevention, facing challenges such as overcrowding, inadequate infrastructure, and the social vulnerability of the incarcerated population. Objective: To analyze the role of the nurse in the prison system, highlighting care practices, health promotion and prevention, as well as the ethical and social challenges encountered in this context. Methodology: An integrative literature review was carried out using scientific articles published between 2020 and 2025 in the BVS, MEDLINE, LILACS, and BDENF databases, selecting studies that addressed nursing care for the prison population. Results: It is expected to identify effective health promotion and prevention practices, understand the structural and ethical limitations faced, and propose strategies for comprehensive, humane, and safe care for the incarcerated population. Conclusion: The analysis shows that nursing in the prison system plays an indispensable role in ensuring the right to health through promotion, prevention, and comprehensive care actions. However, the structural and ethical challenges present in this context require strategies that strengthen professional performance and consolidate humane, safe practices aligned with the principles of equity.

Prison population and digital participation can be a controversial topic. However, inmates that genuinely try to be reformed are rarely considered by the public in this debate. In Denmark the prison system has been singled out for the exemplary humane treatment of inmates and the focus on rehabilitation. Yet, despite the efforts for meaningful reform, digital infrastructure is not yet considered a crucial aspect of the reform process. In this paper, we have conducted interviews with 19 people: inmates, prison personnel and NGO representatives, and have carried out fieldwork in the Storstrøm and Nyborg closed prisons of Denmark. Based on this dataset, we have examined the current digital infrastructure of the prisons, showcased the prison teachers' work as infrastructural bricolage for the utilization of the digital infrastructure, and presented the relationship of the digital infrastructure with the physical and with security. Using the insights from this work we aspire to set the premise for future research towards a more purposeful prison reform.

Since the 1990s Uruguay has adopted a more repressive penal policy, which has led to a threefold increase in the prison population, with punitive measures taking precedence over alleged rehabilitation in a prison system in crisis, where overcrowding, violence and lockdown seem to be the norm. However, between 2012 and 2020, within this system, Penitentiary Unit No. 6 proposed a different concept of prison, aiming to make life behind bars as similar as possible to life in the neighbourhoods of Montevideo. More than simply allowing prisoners to circulate within the institution or creating their own productive businesses, this experience, through its ideological conception of social life, represents a resistance to the punitive prison system. In order to ‘look like the outside’, the institutional project does not rely on a specific architectural design but rather seeks to promote the construction of social life from a daily perspective, based on the constant interaction and negotiation between its inhabitants. Far from seeking to follow an imported model of a highly controlled, sanitised and standardised city, Unit 6 is based on a more local conception of the urban social life. Based on an ethnographic study in which the daily life of the Unit is examined, this article seeks to analyse why this experience, in terms of its ideological conception of social and urban life, represents an alternative to the punitive pattern of prison management and challenges the capitalist model of society that segregates and exploits the most disadvantaged populations.

Women and gender-diverse people are a fast-growing population in prisons in Australia. Incarceration can create barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive healthcare. The objective of this scoping review was to identify what is known about the sexual and reproductive health experiences, needs and outcomes of women and gender-diverse people incarcerated in Australia. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic scoping reviews. Databases searched included PsycINFO, Gender Studies Database, MEDLINE and CINAHL. The search yielded 658 titles and abstracts of which 17 met the criteria for inclusion. We identified 17 studies published between 2000 and 2023 across three states. The studies included qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods designs. The main outcomes of interest included: pregnancy and maternal health, contraception, sexually transmitted infections, experiences of sexual violence, and cervical health screening and outcomes. Evidence indicates that women and gender-diverse populations in prison in Australia experience high rates of sexually transmitted infections, poor perinatal health outcomes, and unmet needs related to contraception access and perinatal health services and programmes. The negative health impacts of incarceration are especially pronounced for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander women, who face additional discriminatory institutional barriers to participating in health programmes and experience a lack of culturally safe and appropriate care.

BackgroundPrisoners are considered a vulnerable group in terms of health risks and limited access to health services. This study aimed to determine the health perceptions and health-promoting behaviors of Turkish prisoners, examine the relationship between these factors, and identify the predictors of health perceptions and health-promoting behaviors as a cross-sectional design.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2023 and January 2024 with 234 prisoners convicted of criminal offenses in two open penal institutions in Eskişehir, Turkey. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, the Health Perception Scale, and the Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors Scale II. Statistical analyses included Independent Samples t-test, One-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression analysis to identify the predictors of health perceptions and health-promoting behaviors.ResultsThe mean score of health perception among the prisoners was 51.43 ± 7.66, and the mean score of healthy lifestyle behaviors was 130.41 ± 26.90. A positive but weak correlation was found between health perception and healthy lifestyle behaviors (r = .319; p < .001).ConclusionsThe findings highlight the importance of evaluating prisoners’ health perceptions and health-related behaviors. Prison nurses are recommended to routinely assess these factors and implement targeted interventions to support healthy lifestyle changes in prison populations.

ntroduction: This study aimed to explore the policies and institutional factors influencing the fulfillment of prisoners’ sexual needs in Indonesia, particularly within the context of correctional health. With overcrowding in Indonesian prisons reaching as high as 370%, such as in the Class IIA Jember Penitentiary, and the lack of clear regulations addressing sexual rights, the objective was to examine behavioral drivers and systemic gaps using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) framework to address unmet needs and prevent deviant sexual behavior. The TPB guided a deductive thematic analysis. Attitudes were operationalized as participants’ beliefs about outcomes, subjective norms as perceived social approval or pressure, and perceived behavioral control as perceived capacity/resources to enact or resist sexual behavior. Methods: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted at the Class IIA Jember Correctional Facility in 2022. A total of 15 informants were recruited using a snowball sampling technique, including the Head of the Correctional Facility, prison officers, health workers, and inmates. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed thematically with deductive approach. Transcripts underwent verbatim transcription, TPB-focused line-by-line coding, coding matrices, and credibility checks (independent double-coding and member validation).Ethical approval was obtained from 173/KEPK/FKM-UNEJ/IV/2022 and both verbal and written informed consent were secured from all participants. Results: The primary findings indicated that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control significantly influenced prisoners' intentions to engage in risky sexual behavior. Contributing factors included ambiguous regulations on sexual health education and inmate guidance, the suboptimal implementation of assimilation and reintegration policies, and the absence of a formal conjugal visit program. These regulatory shortcomings may increase the risk of sexually transmitted disease transmission within the prison environment. Conclusion: This study contributes to the understanding of sexual health policy implementation within Indonesian correctional institutions by identifying key regulatory and systemic deficiencies. It offers critical insights into how institutional support, or its absence, influences inmates’ health-related behaviors. Future research should focus on developing and implementing policies that safeguard prisoners’ sexual health rights, thereby advancing knowledge in the fields of correctional health and human rights.

Judicial activism has generated intense debates about its scope and limits within constitutional democracies, especially in Latin America. This article examines the Peruvian experience, where the Constitutional Court has developed a practice that directly influences the configuration and reform of public policies. Through the analysis of five emblematic judgments – on prison overcrowding, the right to identity, public health, family planning and a gender perspective – the ways in which judicial activism has operated as a corrective mechanism in the face of legislative and administrative omissions are evidenced. The study, with a qualitative and hermeneutical approach, argues that the judicial action has had a positive impact, contributing to the effective guarantee of fundamental rights. Likewise, a comparative analysis is carried out with the cases of Colombia, Spain and the European Court of Human Rights, with the aim of identifying criteria that guide legitimate judicial activism that respects the democratic principle.

Aggression in prison populations by gender and security Level: An analysis using the personality assessment Inventory.

Abstract Background Mental health (MH) and substance use (SU) problems are prevalent in the prison population. People released have high rates of emergency service use, suicide, and SU-related deaths. Healthcare contacts are opportunities to provide MH/SU support that prevents more severe outcomes, but little is known about post-release contacts for MH/SU in Scotland. We aimed to compare post-release MH/SU contact rates to general population rates in a range of services. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study using Scottish linked administrative data. The cohort included all people released from Scottish prisons in 2015, and a randomly selected general population sample who were not in prison in the five years prior, and were matched on age, sex, postcode and area deprivation level. We used fixed-effects Poisson models with cluster-robust standard errors to estimate adjusted incidence rate ratios (aIRRs) for MH/SU contacts with community prescribing, outpatient, inpatient, and emergency services. We stratified models by MH, SU and dual-diagnosis (DD) and adjusted a 4-year follow-up for time-in-community and deaths. Models controlled for time-in-community pre/post-index date, pre-index MH/SU service contacts, and comorbidities. Results Post-release contact rates were higher in all services for MH, SU and DD compared to general population. aIRRs increased as services addressed more serious or urgent needs. Lowest aIRRs were community prescriptions (MH: 1.80[95% CI = 1.67-1.94], SU: 5.95[95% CI = 4.83-7.32], DD: 5.33[95% CI = 3.70-7.68]). The highest aIRR for MH was ambulance callouts (7.75[95% CI = 5.76-10.42]); SU was psychiatric inpatient care (10.64 [95% CI = 6.12-18.84]); and DD was general inpatient care (13.11[95% CI = 7.95-21.61]). Conclusions Despite elevated community contact rates, people released from prison had far higher emergency MH/SU contact rates. Enhanced access to appropriate post-release MH/SU care is urgently needed to improve individual and public health. Key messages • Imprisonment does nothing to reduce the health inequalities that drive a disproportionate contribution to population preventable death rates by people released from prison. • Post-imprisonment mental health and substance use services require urgent attention to increase access to effective early intervention.

BackgroundResearch consistently demonstrates significantly higher rates of mental health disorders among incarcerated individuals compared to the general population. This paper examines the prevalence of mental health disorders among all individuals serving preventive detention in Norway between 2009 and 2022, and compares the prevalence of mental health disorders in this group with a comparison group of individuals convicted of serious violent and sexual offences, and with the total prison population.MethodsWe conducted a registry-based study to investigate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity within this population in Norwegian prisons, using a subset of the data from the nPRIS-cohort including all people imprisoned in Norway between January 1st, 2000, and December 31st, 2022 (n = 112,877). The cohort, including 202 individuals serving preventive detention in the period 2009–2022, were linked to the Norwegian Patient Registry (NPR) and socio-economic data from Statistics Norway.ResultsThe prevalence of mental health disorders was high across all three comparison groups. However, of the preventive detention population (n = 202) almost all (95.0%) had at least one mental health diagnosis during the study period. In addition, 73.8% of the preventive detention population had received a severe mental health disorder diagnosis during the observation period (compared to 23.7% for the comparison group and 28.3% for the total prison population). Approximately one third of the preventive detention population had a combination of three or more of the five most common diagnoses.ConclusionThe preventive detention population in Norway is clearly a group with significant mental health treatment needs – even when compared to a prison population that is itself showing increasing prevalence of mental health disorders, indicating that they represent a particularly vulnerable population within the prison system.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12888-025-07357-3.

Introduction: Although the US prison population had remained stable throughout the early and mid-1900s, from 1978 to 2010, it suddenly exploded, growing over 500%. Approximately 10 years before this incarceration epidemic, an epidemic of US single-parent homes commenced, though this statistic had likewise remained stable throughout the first half of the 1900s. We aimed to determine if there was a significant correlation between the rise in US single-parent homes and incarceration rates. Methods: We utilized the US Bureau of Prisons data and US Census Bureau data to calculate the annual rates of incarceration and single-parent families. Multiple regressions were conducted on data subsets, and locally estimated scatterplot smoothing plots of incarceration were generated to assess differences across demographics. Results: From 1978 to 2016, there was an increase in the number of people incarcerated each year per 100,000 US citizens – 7.9 additional American Whites (AWs), 99.8 American Blacks (ABs), 38.3 males, and 5.0 females. Furthermore, for every additional single-parent family per 100,000 US citizens, an additional 0.2 AW individuals, 0.5 ABs, and 0.8 males were incarcerated. Conclusion: In recent decades, the rise in the percentage of single-parent homes in the US was significantly correlated with the rise in US incarcerations.

This study aims to explore the nutritional adequacy of food served in Lebanese prisons. A mixed-method approach, using both qualitative and quantitative instruments, was used. Diet plans provided by Roumieh Central Prison in 2019 and 2021 were analyzed using Nutritionist Pro™ software for a comprehensive nutritional assessment. Additionally, articles pertaining to food and nutrition policy within Lebanese prison law were carefully reviewed and compared to international standards and findings from other countries. The findings of this study reveal significant gaps in both the nutritional quality and quantity of various nutrients in the food provided to inmates. This study is limited to diet plans from one central prison and may not fully represent the nutritional situation across all Lebanese prisons. The findings underscore the need for reform in the nutrition policy within Lebanese prison law, advocating for a more nutritious diet that considers the quantity, quality, macronutrient and micronutrient content and food choices that reflect the needs and dietary habits of all prisoners, including migrants and refugees. This research highlights opportunities for improvement in the food provision system within Lebanese prisons. This study provides evidence for health experts and policymakers to advocate for and implement changes in nutrition policy to ensure the overall well-being of inmates. Ensuring adequate nutrition for prisoners, a marginalized population, aligns with international human rights standards and contributes to their overall well-being. Addressing the dietary needs of all prisoners, including migrants and refugees, promotes inclusivity and equity within the prison system. This research provides an original analysis of the nutritional adequacy of food in Lebanese prisons, comparing it to both national policy and international standards and highlighting the nutritional needs of a diverse prison population.

Impulsivity and compulsivity are key transdiagnostic constructs implicated in addictive and criminal behaviors, often overlapping under the broader concept of behavioral dysregulation. While impulsivity has been widely assessed using experimental tasks and self-report measures, few tools specifically target compulsivity in forensic populations. This study aimed to adapt and validate the Spanish version of the Impulsive-Compulsive Behaviours Checklist (ICB) in a prison sample. The ICB was administered to 700 incarcerated men (mean age = 37.33 years) following a rigorous translation and back-translation procedure, along with pilot testing for clarity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses revealed a stable two-factor structure consistent with theoretical expectations. Internal consistency was satisfactory (McDonald’s omega and Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79–0.80), and convergent validity was supported by significant correlations with the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale, the Obsessive Beliefs Questionnaire (OBQ-44), the European Addiction Severity Index (EuropASI), and the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). These findings support the Spanish ICB as a valid and reliable tool for assessing impulsive and compulsive traits in forensic contexts. Its use may enhance the identification of differentiated clinical profiles and inform targeted interventions for mental health and reintegration in prison populations.

This article examines the effectiveness of short-term imprisonment in Indonesia, focusing on its inherent limitations such as prisonisation, overcrowding, and persistent recidivism. Employing a normative juridical approach supported by correctional statistics, the study evaluates whether short custodial sentences fulfil the intended purposes of punishment. The findings indicate that such sanctions rarely deter offenders, fail to support rehabilitation, and hinder social reintegration, thereby exposing a significant gap between the theoretical aims of criminal law and the realities of correctional practice. The analysis highlights how reliance on short-term imprisonment exacerbates systemic challenges in correctional institutions while offering minimal contributions to offender reform or public safety. In response, this article argues for the adoption of alternative sanctions, particularly community service sentencing and judicial pardon, which better align with modern principles of criminal justice. These alternatives are considered more effective in reducing prison overcrowding, alleviating correctional burdens, and fostering restorative approaches that prioritise reintegration and societal well-being. By encouraging a shift from punitive measures to constructive sanctions, the research underscores the need for policy reform that balances deterrence, justice, and humanity in Indonesia’s penal system.

Introduction Prison population is particularly vulnerable to communicable diseases, including vaccine-preventable infections [1], due to various factors such as low social distancing, high turnover rates, and a high proportion of migrants [2]. However, vaccination coverage among people living in prison (PLP) remains low, largely due to limited access to healthcare services, low levels of vaccine literacy and general health literacy [3]. Additional challenges include persistent vaccine hesitancy and widespread distrust in institutions. Objectives As part of the RISE-Vac project—co-funded by the 3rd EU Health Program—we developed and implemented an evidence-based educational program aimed at boosting vaccination rates in both PLP and prison staff (PS) and evaluated the effect of the intervention on vaccine hesitancy, vaccine literacy and vaccine attitude. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional non-randomised study in 24 prisons of 6 European countries. The sample included 782 PLP and 717 PS members. In participant prisons, an educational program about vaccination for preventable infection diseases was implemented; for PLP, the program consisted in the distribution of educational material (leaflet and a short video) and/or an educational event; for PS, it consisted in a 4-hours online course. Within the study sample, 387 from PLP (49%) and 285 from PS (40%) undertook the intervention. Vaccine hesitancy was measured through a scale previously validated in a sub-cohort of participants – in the following referred to as pre-test [4]. A structured questionnaire was administered to measure vaccine literacy, general health literacy and socio-demographic characteristics of participants. Vaccine attitude was determined as the willingness to accept a vaccine if offered. Linear regression model was applied to assess the effect of the intervention and pre-test on vaccine and general health literacy and vaccine hesitancy. Logistic regression was applied to assess the association between the intervention and pre-test on vaccine attitude. All analyses were stratified by group (PLP and PS) and adjusted for socio-demographic variables. Mediation analysis was conducted to quantify the proportion of the effect of the intervention on vaccine attitude mediated by vaccine hesitancy, adjusting for pre-test and socio-demographic variables. Results In both PLP and PS, the intervention was associated with higher levels of vaccine literacy and stronger associations were observed among those who undertook the pre-test (PLP: interaction between pre-test and intervention, p=0.03; intervention, p=0.005 and p&lt;0.001 in the non-pre-test and pre-test group respectively; PS: interaction, p&lt;0.001; intervention, p=0.02 and p&lt;0.001 in the non-pre-test and pre-test group respectively). In PLP, the intervention was inversely associated with vaccine hesitancy only in those who did not take part of the pre-test but not in the others (interaction, p=0.02; intervention, p&lt;0.001 and p=0.22 in the non-pre-test and pre-test group respectively). In PS, no significant interaction was observed between the intervention and pre-test (p=0.11); the intervention was significantly associated with lower vaccine hesitancy (p=0.002). In both PLP and PS, the intervention was significantly associated with a positive vaccine attitude toward vaccination with no significant interaction with pre-test: in PLP, OR=5.21 (95% CI: 2.74 to 9.91); in PS OR=2.52 (95% CI: 1.54 to 4.13). Finally, mediation analysis showed that less than 30% of the effect of the intervention on vaccination attitude was mediated by a reduction in vaccine hesitancy (24% with p&lt;0.001 and 28% with p=0.002 in PLP and PS respectively). Conclusion Evidence-based educational interventions are effective in improving vaccine hesitancy and vaccine literacy among PLP and PS. Also, they enhance the willingness of participants to be vaccinated, through a mechanism that is only partially explained by their effect on vaccine hesitancy. Further research should be conducted to quantify the real impact of this kind of intervention on vaccine uptake in prison population.