Prison Population Research Articles

U.S. corrections officers’ discourse about dementia

The United States has more prisoners than any other country in the world: more than 1.5 million persons were housed in state and federal prisons in 2020. A sizeable percentage are ageing; Physician’s Weekly estimates that by 2030, people aged over 50, the age at which the incarcerated are considered to be ‘old’, will make up one-third of the U.S. prison population. That group will include a great many persons who have or are developing dementia and who are guarded by correctional officers. We can, then, consider that correctional staff as well as prisoners form an overlooked dementia care minority. Using conversation and discourse analysis, we focus on epistemic modal adverbs as discourse markers in spoken commentary by current correctional officers about prisoners with dementia, as some markers can signal an uneasiness with which they position themselves as knowledgeable about rights and duties in ageing and dementia. Officers frame their discourse to identify concerns about a prison system that deals poorly with inmate losses of cognitive ability and memory and suggest a need for additional training and support in communicating with incarcerated older prisoners who may have dementia.

The changing socioeconomic composition of the Finnish prison population

The changing socioeconomic composition of the Finnish prison population

Predicting Physical Violence Against Corrections Officers Across Three Levels of Severity Using Individual and Environmental Characteristics.

Working in prisons can be a challenging job, managing a population of incarcerated people while keeping oneself, one's colleagues, and the people themselves safe. Some corrections officers may expect violence in the workplace, yet being a victim of violence is no trivial experience. In prison, violent incidents are categorized according to the severity of the violence perpetrated. However, we do not know how characteristics of a violent incident may contribute to the severity of violence perpetrated toward corrections staff. To begin to address this gap, we examined characteristics of physical assault incidents in New Zealand prisons between 2016 and 2020, in which the perpetrator of the incident was a male prisoner and the victim was a corrections officer. We examined the prediction of incidents across three levels of severity using individual and environmental characteristics. Perpetrators of serious violence tended to be already segregated from the general population at the time of the assault. We also found that perpetrators of assault against staff were different from the general prison population: prisoners who assaulted staff were more likely to be younger, gang affiliated, and had higher security classifications compared to prisoners who did not assault staff. Research suggests that characteristics of perpetrators can contribute to their risk of perpetrating violence; we found that characteristics of perpetrators (i.e., being segregated) can also contribute to the severity of violence perpetrated. Furthermore, we offer a direct comparison between prisoners who assaulted staff and prisoners who did not, therefore cementing research that prisoners who assaulted staff are different from the rest of the prison population.

Examining problem gambling, substance use disorders and cluster B personality traits among incarcerated individuals

Prison populations face heightened rates of addictive behaviors and significant stressors, including health challenges and social disparities. Although problem gambling is prevalent in criminal justice settings, its distinctiveness compared to other addictions among incarcerated individuals remains uncertain. This study examines risk factors associated with problem gambling in Finnish prisoners and explores differences compared to other forms of addiction.Covariates from a questionnaire (N = 527) included gender, age, education, offender status, involvement in theft or property crime, Trauma Screening Questionnaire (TSQ), Depression Scale (DEPS), and lifetime abuse experiences. Of the 527 participants, 330 were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview (SCID-II) to assess personality disorders. Multiple logistic regression models were utilized, with separate models for problem gambling (PG), lifetime substance use disorder, and lifetime alcohol disorder.Crime type was not significantly associated with alcohol or substance use problems, but PG was associated with property crime or theft convictions. Borderline personality traits were linked to probable PG, while antisocial traits were linked to drug use, and both traits predicted alcohol misuse. Age and gender were significant only in relation to alcohol use problems, with older age and male gender indicating higher risk.The association between problem gambling and criminal behavior underscores the vulnerability of incarcerated individuals across various domains. Detailed assessments, considering the nature of criminal activity and personality disorders, especially borderline traits and comorbid conditions, are crucial for tailoring rehabilitation and treatment strategies to prevent recidivism. These findings provide valuable insights for clinicians managing addiction and mental health issues within correctional settings.

O SISTEMA PRISIONAL NO BRASIL: UMA ANÁLISE DOS DESAFIOS E PERSPECTIVAS DE REFORMA

The Brazilian prison system is a complex and challenging issue that has raised heated debates over the years. With a growing prison population and precarious conditions in prisons, the reality of penitentiary institutions in the country presents a worrying picture. The purpose of prisons, which should be the rehabilitation of inmates, is often distorted by overcrowding, violence and lack of opportunities for social reintegration. In this context, this work aims to analyze the challenges faced by the Brazilian prison system and explore the reform perspectives that can be adopted to face such problems. It is crucial to understand the historical roots of this system, as well as the contemporary factors that have contributed to its current situation. Throughout this study, a comprehensive bibliographical review will be carried out, gathering data and analyzes from research, government reports and academic studies that focus on the subject. It is essential to emphasize that an effective reform of the prison system does not only imply improving the physical conditions of prisons, but also promoting actions that favor social reintegration and the reduction of criminal recidivism. In addition, civil society participation and dialogue between the various actors involved are crucial elements for building sustainable and humanized solutions.

Vaccines and vaccination in prison settings: availability and model of service delivery in 20 European countries.

Prisons, due to various risk factors, are environments that are conducive to infectious disease transmission, with significantly higher prevalence of infectious diseases within prisons compared to the general population. This underscores the importance of preventive measures, particularly vaccination. As part of the international project "Reaching the hard-to-reach: Increasing access and vaccine uptake among the prison population in Europe" (RISE-Vac), this study aimed to map the availability and delivery framework of vaccination services in prisons across Europe and beyond. A questionnaire designed to collect data on the availability and delivery model of vaccination services in prisons was validated and uploaded in SurveyMonkey in July 2023. Then, it was submitted to potential participants, with at least one representative from each European country. Potential participants emailed an invitation letter by the RISE-Vac partners and by the European Organization of Prison and Correctional Services (EUROPRIS). Twenty European countries responded. Vaccines are available in European countries, although their availability differs by country and type of vaccine. The first dose is offered to people living in prisons (PLP), mostly within one month, COVID-19 is the most widely offered vaccine. In all countries, vaccines are actively offered by healthcare workers; in most countries, there is no evaluation of vaccination status among people who work in prison. The survey shows variance in vaccine availability for PLP and staff across countries and vaccine types. Quality healthcare in prisons is not only a matter of the right to health but also a critical public health investment: enhancing vaccine uptake consistently among PLP and staff should be prioritized.

A Review of Official Documents and Literature on the Forgotten Victims of Parental Incarceration in South Africa

This article is a literature synthesis of the living conditions of black children after their parent's imprisonment. In Africa, the prison population currently stands at 1,194,497, while in South Africa, 147,922 people were being held in correctional facilities as of January 2021. Parental incarceration has affected all children, regardless of race, age, or cultural background. An increasing amount of research indicates that children with incarcerated parents are prone to internalized behaviors such as depression, anxiety, and withdrawal, as well as externalized behaviors including criminality and substance use. They may also experience cognitive delays, academic struggles, and insecure attachments in their relationships with both their imprisoned parents and primary caregivers. The term "caregiver" denotes the individual who assumes the role of the child's main caregiver while the parents are incarcerated. It is important to note that the literature focusing on child-headed households in South African informal settlements and townships may be limited. This paper is a narrative synthesis of the literature review and uses secondary sources.

Reforming Indonesia’s Approach to Narcotics Offenses: A Call for Rehabilitation over Incarceration

This study examines the issue of prison overcrowding in Indonesia, with a particular focus on the impact of current penal policies related to drug-related offenses. The over-reliance on incarceration, especially for minor drug crimes, is identified as a significant contributor to the overcrowding crisis in correctional institutions. Despite legal provisions for rehabilitation as an alternative to imprisonment, inconsistent implementation has hindered efforts to address the root causes of drug-related crimes. The study advocates for a comprehensive reform of Indonesia’s penal system, emphasizing the need to shift from a punitive approach to one centered on rehabilitation and restorative justice. Such reforms are essential not only to alleviate overcrowding but also to ensure the humane treatment of individuals with substance use disorders, in line with international human rights standards. The study concludes with recommendations for enhancing the application of rehabilitation, increasing public awareness, and improving the monitoring of rehabilitation programs to foster a more equitable and effective criminal justice system.

Solidarity, marginalised groups, and COVID-19 lockdowns: censoriousness and penal exceptionalism in Norwegian and Danish prisons during the pandemic

Some of the most marginalised and exposed populations during the COVID-19 pandemic have been those incarcerated in penal institutions. In the present article we compare how Norway and Denmark handled the pandemic in their prison systems and analyse these efforts through the lens of how the authorities tried to invoke specific national cultures of social solidarity during the crisis. In both countries we find that increased isolation, inactivity, lack of information, and loss of trust and contact with the outside world aggravated the prison experience. However, in Norway a bigger effort was made, compared to Denmark, to lower the prison population, as well as to create possibilities for maintaining contact with friends and families through video-visits. We then analyse the pandemic prison policies in the context of how both governments through very specific national terminologies appealed to an alleged community spirit. We examine the role and situation of prisoners in connection with these national and cultural projects of social solidarity, and find that in several cases prisoners reacted to the restrictive pandemic regimes by displaying a censorious attitude towards prison staff and authorities much in the manner originally described by Thomas Mathiesen (1965). Prisoners, in other words, held the authorities accountable to their call for community spirit and the values of social solidarity they claimed to represent. This also raises a question concerning the degree to which Danish and Norwegian policies and practices live up to the notion of Nordic penal exceptionalism, or whether the crisis unveiled different penal values.

Breaking Down the Stigma: A Review of the Literature on the Relationships between Autism Spectrum Disorder and Criminal Behavior.

Background: In recent years, there has been growing interest in the evaluation of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autistic traits in prison populations and offenders. Due to misleading headlines and highly publicized criminal cases, the belief that autistic individuals are more prone to commit crimes has spread among the general population, also leading to increasing research on this matter. Aims: In this context, this narrative review aimed to analyze the available scientific literature on the bi-directional link between ASD and criminal behaviors and to assess the key characteristics of eventual ASD offenders, including sociodemographic data, comorbidities, crime-related features, and interactions with the criminal justice system. Results: Our review highlighted that the available studies lack methodological rigor and present controversial results. Overall, the current state of research does not support any definitive correlation between ASD or autistic traits and the predisposition to engage in criminal conduct. Further studies are needed to confirm or reject this hypothesis.

Does prison labour rehabilitate, punish, discipline or exploit a traumatised and racialised population in Australian and American prisons?

This article describes the incarcerated population in Australia and the US as being comprised of peo-ple primarily from racialised and marginalised communities, of whom many have histories of trauma. It is argued that their pre-existing trauma is compounded by trauma arising from both deprivation of liberty in and of itself, and their treatment and conditions in prison. The article compares and draws parallels between rehabilitation as understood under the UN Convention against Tortureand Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment with rehabilitation as an objective of the criminal legal system, arguing for the need for the criminal legal system to refocus from reducing reoffending to pursuing healing. The article argues that contemporary prison labour in Australia and the US should be analysed in the context of historical slavery and forced labour. It considers the different objectives of prison labour, concluding that it is not feasible to effectively achieve multiple objectives (e.g. rehabilitation versus recouping State costs associated with incarceration). The signifi-cant risk that prison labour as it currently operates can amount to exploitative or degrading treatment is explored in the article, which argues that international legal protections need to be strengthened. The article also recommends that there needs to be improved transparency and research regarding the use and effectiveness of prison labour in these jurisdictions (and more broadly) in achieving rehabili-tation, particularly livelihoods in the community, after release from prison.

Criminal Genius or Everyday Villain? A Comparison of Malevolent Creativity Among Prisoners, Police Officers, and the General Population

ABSTRACTCriminals allegedly use effective novelty to intentionally exploit and harm others (creative fraud, theft, and murder). However, empirical evidence that criminals possess higher malevolent creativity than individuals without criminal backgrounds is lacking. We compared a male sample of prisoners in a maximum‐security penitentiary (n = 140), police officers (n = 122), and the general population (n = 106) on three different aspects of malevolent creativity: self‐reported malevolent creativity behavior (MCBS), willingness to engage in malevolent creativity on a test (MCT), and malevolent creativity potential on that test (reduced n = 285). Group comparisons (ANOVAs) differed for different malevolent creativity aspects: Prisoners reported more malevolent creativity behavior in daily life (MCBS) than nonprisoners, which may reflect their alleged criminal personality or the effects of confinement on creative coping with threat. However, prisoners also performed worse than police officers in generating creative ideas for taking revenge on others (MCT). No differences in initial willingness to engage in malevolent creativity (MCT) emerged. This discrepancy of self‐report and ability is discussed from several angles, including suitability of the applied measures and heterogeneity of prison populations. This study constitutes the first empirical insights into the often hypothesized but rarely tested malevolent creativity expression in the criminal mind.

Narrating COVID and captivity in Italy: ‘no prison’ writings and the restorative potential of the penitentiary

Abstract Italy's prison overcrowding became world news in early March 2020, when the COVID-19 outbreak sparked riots in prisons across the country, causing the death of 13 inmates. As a crisis narrative, the COVID-19 pandemic made visible the deep, ongoing crisis of Italy's prison system and disclosed new conditions for critical thought on the restorative potential of the penitentiary system. This article first describes the impact of COVID-19 on Adriano Sofri's ‘no prison’ writings, starting from his column in Il Foglio on the prison uprisings in March that followed the announcement of the anti-COVID measures; it subsequently analyses the Italian response to the pandemic from an internal, practitioner-led perspective. By offering both a dialectic and an immanent perspective, it aims to develop new ways of understanding the detention system and enhance the social credibility of the penitentiary system in Italy beyond the constraints of COVID and the emergency logic.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in prison population: a meta-analysis of 35 studies.

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Considering the restricted and enclosed nature of prisons and closed environments and the prolonged and close contact between individuals, COVID-19 is more likely to have a higher incidence in these settings. This study aims to assess the prevalence of COVID-19 among prisoners. Papers published in English from 2019 to July 7, 2023, were identified using relevant keywords such as prevalence, COVID-19 and prisoner in the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus and Google Scholar. For the meta-analysis of the prevalence, Cochrane's Q statistics were calculated. A random effect model was used due to the heterogeneity in COVID-19 prevalence across included studies in the meta-analysis. All analyses were performed in STATA-13. The pooled data presented a COVID-19 prevalence of 20% [95%CI: 0.13, 0.26] and 24% [95%CI: 0.07, 0.41], respectively, in studies that used PCR and antibody tests. Furthermore, two study designs, cross-sectional and cohort, were used. The results of the meta-analysis showed studies with cross-sectional and cohort designs reported 20% [95%CI: 0.11, 0.29] and 25% [95%CI: 0.13, 0.38], respectively. Through more meticulous planning, it is feasible to reduce the number of individuals in prison cells, thereby preventing the further spread of COVID-19.

‘Voto Preso’: Prisoners’ enfranchisement in Chile

AbstractThis article analyses the enfranchisement process of the prison population in Chile. Although institutions were reluctant to grant the vote to this group for several years, in 2022, new policies allowed prisoners to suffrage for the first time. The Voto Preso movement, a set of organisations struggling for prisoners’ political participation, played a fundamental role in this transformation. However, incarcerated people's participation in constructing the movement's demands and strategies was scarce. Drawing on eleven interviews with key movement actors, the article sheds light on the main discourses by which it promoted the materialisation of Chilean prisoners’ voting rights. The article also critically scrutinises the consequences of prisoners’ limited inclusion in the Voto Preso movement. Finally, the article discusses how its analytical approach may open new avenues for studying prisoner dis/enfranchisement as a situated boundary issue.

The ubiquity of gender and the hiddenness of agency: looking inside women’s prisons in England

In the United Kingdom (UK), individuals in women’s prison account for only 4% of the total prison population. Existing research stresses the detrimental consequences of institutionalisation that, in female prison spaces, seems to employ femininity as a primary mode of social control. Through document analysis, this study investigates 75 governmental and non-governmental documents related to women’s prisons in England, where most UK women’s prisons are located, to identify recurring themes associated with women’s imprisonment. The two themes that emerged point to, on the one hand, the ubiquity of binary gender differences, through which healthcare, education and vocational opportunities reproduce notions of subordinate femininity, and, on the other hand, the hiddenness of agency, as prisoners’ autonomy over their body and their space is concealed by the institution to ensure their docility. Although geographically specific, the results of this study contribute to existing criminological research on women’s prisons by emphasising how the institutional refeminisation and the responsibilising agenda that permeate female prison spaces normalise a unidimensional display of femininity, one that is subjugated, passive and bound to the domestic. The consequences of this can have detrimental effects not only for gender non-conforming individuals, but for all those who experience imprisonment.

Nutritional Characteristics of Menus in State Prisons.

Nutrition-related health disparities plague prisons in the United States. Unregulated and inadequate prison menus may contribute to noncommunicable chronic health conditions in this vulnerable population. The purpose of this research was to assess nutrition offerings provided by prison menus. Researchers requested the most current version of all master menus and associated nutrition analyses for gendered and age-centric (pediatric vs geriatric) menus. Menu and nutrient data were extracted and entered into a spreadsheet for analysis. Prisons serve gendered or nongendered menus to the general population, and 52.9% of prisons offer nongendered menus where males and females receive the same meals. This approach provides excess calories and saturated fat to females. Sodium was served in excess to both males and females. Fruit and vegetable servings on all gendered menus fell short of recommendations. The average prison menu inappropriately offers calories, sodium, and fruit and vegetable servings in a one-size-fits-all menu development method without considering gender, age, and physical activity. Interpretation and application of Dietary Guidelines for Americans are inconsistent. Nutrition guidelines recommending appropriate nutrients and food groups should be developed and available to corrections systems and dietitians. Current prison menu development practices yield inappropriate nutrition for prison populations.

Drivers of adult educational engagement in Ecuadorian prisons: A gender perspective

This research paper reports an investigation on the determinants of educational engagement among the whole Ecuadorian prison population as collected in the penitentiary census conducted in 2022. By employing a probit regression model, the analysis reveals distinct patterns: while age and ethnicity significantly influence participation among male inmates, environmental factors like overcrowding play a pivotal role for female prisoners. Moreover, higher levels of formal education negatively correlate with educational engagement across both genders. These findings underscore the need for targeted policies that address both individual and environmental barriers to educational participation within Ecuadorian prisons. By understanding these dynamics, policymakers can develop effective interventions to improve prison conditions and enhance rehabilitation outcomes, contributing to broader societal goals of justice and sustainable development.

“I Chose Motherhood First”: Salvaging the Maternal Identity in Resource-Starved Jails

The population of women in jail increased by 15% from 2008 to 2018. A portion of this increase was due to state policies shifting individuals serving sentences of 1–5 years to local jails to reduce prison overcrowding. In-depth interviews with 62 women serving long-term sentences in local jails in Central and Eastern Kentucky were conducted to examine how they navigated motherhood in this carceral setting. Findings suggested that despite the salient role that motherhood played in their lives, jails provided few meaningful opportunities for women to perform identity-congruent behaviors or receive verification of their maternal identity. Implications for reintegration, desistance, and theoretically relevant intervention models are discussed.

Life imprisonment in Poland: Issues and Challenges

Purpose of the study: The purpose of this article is to analyze recent legislative changes to life imprisonment in Poland and to examine the consequences of introducing an absolute form of this penalty, called “an absolute life sentence”. Methodology: This paper combines two methods: a comparison of legal documents and legal writers' thoughts and author observation of this phenomenon. Main findings of the study: The main conclusion is that the changes introduced by the legislator concerning life imprisonment —specifically, the court discretion to optionally impose a parole ban under two circumstances— may not result in positive effects for crime deterrence. Consequently, this could worsen the already challenging task of educational rehabilitation efforts with the population of life prisoners. The Polish penitentiary system will face challenges related to ageing prisoners serving life sentences without parole and the natural consequences of this issue. Furthermore, the recent changes could make it difficult for Poland to cooperate on criminal law matters with countries that consider 'absolute life imprisonment' to be inhumane. Application of the study: The presented research relates to various scientific fields, e.g. criminal law, executive penal law and sociology. Originality/Novelty of the study: This problem is still a current matter. Life imprisonment is a relatively new punishment in Poland, and the Polish penitentiary system continues to look for new ways and methods for dealing with group of life-sentenced prisoners. As a result of the latest amendment, the Polish prison administration will once again face the challenge of implementing completely new severe penalty which is a life imprisonment.