Treatment Of Prisoners Research Articles

Treating insomnia in people who are incarcerated: a feasibility study of a multicomponent treatment pathway.

Around 60% of people who are incarcerated have insomnia; 6-10 times more prevalent than the general population. Yet, there is no standardized, evidence-based approach to insomnia treatment in prison. We assessed the feasibility of a treatment pathway for insomnia in a high-secure prison to inform a future randomized controlled trial (RCT) and initial efficacy data for sleep and mental health outcomes. We used a within-participants pre-post design. The stepped-care pathway included: self-management with peer support, environmental aids, and cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTi). Assessment measures for insomnia, well-being, mood, anxiety, suicidality, overall health, sleepiness, fatigue, and cognitive functioning were administered at baseline and pathway exit. Feasibility criteria included eligibility to participate, CBTi uptake, and assessment completion. Forty-two adult males who are incarcerated were approached of which 95.2% were eligible. Of those deemed eligible, most participated (36/40, 90.0%). Most who completed baseline completed post-assessments (28/36, 77.8%) and of these, most showed improvements in their subjective sleep (27/28, 96.4%). Large reductions were found from pre- to posttreatment in insomnia severity (d = -1.81, 95% CI: 8.3 to 12.9) and 57.0% reported no clinically significant insomnia symptoms at post-assessment. There was no overall change in actigraphy-measured sleep. Large treatment benefits were found for depression, anxiety, well-being, and cognitive functioning, with a medium benefit on suicidal ideation. The treatment pathway for insomnia in prison was feasible and may be an effective treatment for insomnia in people who are incarcerated, with additional promising benefits for mental health. A pragmatic RCT across different prison populations is warranted. This paper is part of the Sleep and Circadian Health in the Justice System Collection.

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The article examines the norms of international humanitarian law in force in Ukraine regarding prisoners of war and the history of their implementation in the Ukrainian legal field. A thorough analysis of the norms of international humanitarian law and their implementation in national legislation is made. The legal regulation of the treatment of prisoners of war during martial law is considered. Attention is focused on the treatment of prisoners of war during martial law or hostilities, observance of their rights and performance of their duties. Threats of possible violations of the rights of prisoners of war are identified. In particular, it is noted that prisoners of war may be subjected to torture and ill-treatment, and may be used as labour without providing them with proper working conditions. The main reasons for the violation of the rights of prisoners of war are given: military operations, unwillingness to comply with international law, and imperfect national legislation. The article identifies the importance of compliance with international law on the treatment of prisoners of war. In order to address the problem of violations of the rights of prisoners of war, it is necessary to ensure compliance with international law, improve national legislation, and create mechanisms for monitoring the observance of the rights of prisoners of war.

Corrective action for prisoners of war: International legal, penal and other regulation

The article substantiates the relevance of the study of the peculiarities of the application of means of correction in relation to convicted prisoners of war. The article answers the question of in what places of forced confinement it is allowed to isolate the above-mentioned persons — in correctional institutions of the Russian penal and correctional system with separate detention from prisoners sentenced to imprisonment or in other places of forced confinement? The provisions of the Geneva Convention of 1949 “On the Treatment of Prisoners of War” are analysed in order to identify the specifics of treatment of this category of convicts. It is proposed to supplement it with a provision according to which there should be a prohibition to allow persons who suffered (or their relatives suffered) from the results of military actions to work with prisoners of war. The paper substantiates the necessity of implementing the principle of differentiation and individualisation in relation to prisoners of war convicted of various types of crimes, who have relapsed into crime (such cases are not uncommon, especially among mercenary combatants) or who have other socio-legal or personal characteristics. It is concluded that it is advisable, taking into account the provisions of international settlement documents at the national level in penal and other legislation, such issues as determining the places of detention of convicted prisoners of war, the scope of legal restrictions in relation to them, ensuring external and internal isolation, the content of educational work with them, including the use of measures incentives and penalties, their employment, providing social influence, organizing medical care.

Features of mapping international standards of treatment of prisoners into modern penal policy in Ukraine

Features of mapping international standards of treatment of prisoners into modern penal policy in Ukraine

Актуальные направления уголовно-исполнительной политики Российской Федерации

The purpose of this article was to analyse the current topical directions of the penal enforcement policy of the Russian Federation, which is quite dynamic, constantly developing and improving, taking into account the influence of economic, political, social and spiritual factors on it. There are quite a large number of topical directions of the penal enforcement policy of the Russian Federation, among which the authors have identified the following: humanisation of the execution and serving of criminal sentences; ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of convicts; optimisation of the organisational and structural structure of the system of institutions and bodies executing criminal sentences; ensuring the security of the penal enforcement system and other subjects of penal enforcement relations; introduction of information technologies; implementation of inter-prisoner relations; and implementation of the international legal framework. Humanisation was most clearly manifested in changes in the types of regime and conditions of serving sentences for socially vulnerable categories of convicts. The trend of humanisation has affected both those convicted of crimes of minor and medium gravity and those convicted of serious and especially serious crimes, including those serving life imprisonment. In order to ensure the rights and legitimate interests of convicted prisoners, it is necessary to create effective safeguards to protect them from cruel or inhuman treatment, unlawful violence and the use of torture. Within the framework of optimising the organisational and structural design of the system of institutions and bodies executing criminal sentences, there are three projects reflected in the conceptual documents. In ensuring the security of the penal correctional system and other subjects of criminal-executive relations and the introduction of information technologies, it is planned to create a comprehensive system for the protection of the information system operating in the penal correctional system, including the protection of the personal data of both inmates and correctional personnel. An important element of security is the technical equipment of correctional institutions and correctional centres. Within the framework of the implementation of international standards in penal legislation and practical activities of the penal correctional system, it is pointed out that due to recent foreign policy events, the considered direction of penal policy is now beginning to lose its dominant importance, however, in the current realities, additional measures should be taken to strengthen national guarantees of respect for the rights of convicted prisoners, created, among other things, by taking into account the UN international standards in the field of treatment of prisoners. The constant and priority directions in the development of penal enforcement policy over the past decades have been the humanisation of the procedure and conditions for serving sentences and ensuring the rights and legitimate interests of convicts. However, this constancy of penal enforcement policy does not prevent the emergence of new directions, which are reflected in the current penal enforcement legislation and the activities of institutions and bodies executing criminal sentences and other measures of a criminal-legal nature.

Analysis of implementation processes in a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) for major depressive disorder in prisons: Training, supervision, and recommendations.

There are 10 million admissions to U.S. prisons and jails each year. More than half of those admitted have mental health problems. The goal of this article is to inform: (1) implementation of evidence-based mental health treatments in prisons and jails, an important effort that needs more evidence to guide it; (2) psychotherapy and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT) training efforts, especially in low-resource settings. A randomized hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial of group IPT for major depressive disorder (MDD) in state prisons found that IPT increased rates of MDD remission and lowered posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms relative to prison treatment as usual. The trial used prison counselors, only some of whom had prior psychotherapy training/experience, to deliver IPT. IPT treatment adherence was high (96%), but trial training and supervision were too costly to be scalable outside the trial. The current article reports results from a planned qualitative analysis of 460 structured implementation and supervision documents in that trial to describe training and supervision processes and lessons learned, inform training recommendations, and facilitate future work to optimize training and supervision for under-resourced settings. Themes identified in implementation and supervision process notes reflected: work on psychotherapy basics (reflective listening, focusing on emotions, open-ended questions, specific experiences), IPT case conceptualization (forming a conceptualization, what is and is not therapeutic work, structure and limit setting, structure vs. flexibility), IPT techniques (enhancing social support, role plays, communication analysis), psychotherapy processes (alliance repair, managing group processes), and managing difficult situations (avoidance, specific clients, challenging work settings). Counselors were receptive to feedback; some relied on study supervisors for support in managing stressful prison working conditions. Findings can be used to make future training and supervision more efficient. Based on our results, we recommend that initial and refresher training focus on IPT case conceptualization, steps for addressing each IPT problem area, and reflective listening. We also recommend supervision through at least counselors' first two rounds of groups. More low-cost, scalable training methods are needed to get mental health treatment to individuals who need it most, who are often served in challenging, low-resource settings such as prisons. This is a mental health access and equity issue. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01685294).

Dignity unlocked? The Nelson Mandela Rules as a key to the transnational legal ordering of imprisonment

This paper explains how the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (UNSMR), known since their 2015 amendment as the Nelson Mandela Rules, have become an international instrument regulating imprisonment. This explanation deals with the emergence of the original UNSMR and the process that led to their amendment. It pays particular attention to the impact of ideas about how prisons should ideally function, developed in a series of handbooks published by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, both before and after the adoption of the Nelson Mandela Rules. The paper concludes that the campaign to publicise the Nelson Mandela Rules has made them an important component of discussions about prison reform worldwide. Although they are regarded as a soft law instrument, this has not lessened their impact on prison laws and policies. There is limited empirical evidence, however, of their ability to alter prison conditions substantively.

The relationship between male prisoners’ self-efficacy and their participation in addiction treatment

The purpose of this study was to attempt to verify the existence of a relationship between internal resources (self-esteem and self-efficacy) and motivation (decisional balance) to undergo treatment in prisoners with alcohol addiction participating in voluntary treatment as well as referred to obligatory addiction treatment based on a court decision. The study was carried out in penitentiary units in various parts of Poland in 2018–2019. Participants completed the Decision Balance Scale, Generalized Self–Efficacy Scale, and Multidimensional Self-Esteem Inventory twice – before and after addiction treatment. The study adopted the assumptions of the Transtheoretical Model developed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1984). There were no statistically significant differences between the group of prisoners referred for obligatory treatment and those undergoing voluntary therapy. At the end of the 3-month treatment, there was a significantly smaller number of arguments “for” drinking and less identity integration in both groups studied. The results obtained may indicate that after undergoing therapy, prisoners remain in a contemplation stage due to their inability to adapt therapeutic interactions to individual needs. It seems that changes in identity integration may be indicative of the crisis that is being experienced, which in effect may allow individuals with alcohol addiction to search for and achieve a potentially new, coherent image of themselves.

HepatitisC in prisons : Treatment and barriers to the elimination goals of the United Nations

Despite general advances in the treatment of people with hepatitisC in Germany, it is unclear to what extent this also applies to specific key populations, such as prisoners. In ashort survey conducted in June 2021, the ministries of justice in the federal states were asked about data collection and diagnostic methods as well as the prevalence of infections caused by the hepatitisC virus (HCV) and HCV treatment among prisoners in Germany. In addition, expert interviews were conducted regarding HCV treatment barriers and missed opportunities in prisons. It is evident that there is no complete and comprehensive data collection within the ministries of justice. Prevention measures, such as opiate substitution therapy in prison, are available in all participating federal states. More specific offers and measures (e.g., razor and syringe exchange) are only found in afew cases and are sometimes subject to acharge. Experts point out that although treatment in prison generally complies with the equivalence principle: it is more difficult to reach the target group. Comprehensive education and counselling on HCV treatment, consistent HCV testing and treatment, and preventive measures to avoid (re-)infection are important for successful HCV elimination in prisons.

Accessing opioid agonist treatment in prison in England and Scotland remains problematic – the views of people with lived experience

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine lived experiences of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) during and immediately following release from detention in prisons in England and Scotland.Design/methodology/approachSurveys were completed by serving prisoners in both countries and by those recently released from prison (England only). The survey findings were discussed in focus groups of people with lived experience. The combined findings from the surveys and focus groups were shared with an expert group of prison OAT providers and people with lived experience with the purpose of making recommendations for more accessible and effective OAT in custodial environments and continuity of OAT on releaseFindingsThe quality and accessibility of OAT varied considerably between establishments. It was reported to be harder to access OAT in Scottish prisons. It was often hard for people in prison to get the dosage of OAT they felt they needed and it was generally harder to access buprenorphine than methadone in English prisons. Only Scottish people in prison were aware of long-lasting forms of buprenorphine. People in English prisons had mixed experiences of the help available in prison, with no improvement recorded since a 2016 study. People in Scottish prisons were more likely to rate the help available as poor.Research limitations/implicationsThe number of people accessed while actually in prison (73) was reduced by the impact of the pandemic, making it more difficult to access people in prison and because some were resistant to participating on the basis that they had already been consulted for a wide variety of research projects focused on the impact of COVID. The Scottish cohort (a total of 19 individuals comprising 14 survey respondents and five focus group members) is clearly too small a number on which to base robust claims about differences in OAT provision between the English and Scottish prison systems..Practical implicationsThe study identifies key barriers to accessing OAT in prisons and suggests key components of more user-friendly approaches.Social implicationsThis study provides an overview of the recent lived experiences of people accessing OAT in prison and on release and offers valuable recommendations on how to make service provision more effective and consistent.Originality/valueThis study provides an overview of the recent lived experiences of people accessing OAT in prison and on release in England and Scotland and offers valuable recommendations on how to make service provision more effective and consistent.

MORAL AND ETHICAL COMPONENT OF SCIENCE IN TIMES OF WAR

MORAL AND ETHICAL COMPONENT OF SCIENCE IN TIMES OF WAR

“In Heavy Chains”: The Treatment of Prisoners of War in the Teutonic Order in Prussia, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the First Half of the Fifteenth Century

This article delves into a analysis of the treatment of prisoners of war during the late 14th and 15th centuries. The study not only examines the challenges encountered by the prisoners themselves, as documented in their letters, but also sheds light on the difficulties faced by the officials of the Teutonic Knights and lords involved in their release and care. The work highlights the most salient aspects of captivity, including the deprivation experienced by the prisoners, the means by which they were able to obtain basic necessities such as food and clothing, and the types of places in which they were typically detained. Moreover, the article explores the various factors that influenced the behavior of both captors and captives, and distinguishes between the appropriate and inappropriate treatment of prisoners based on the established norms of medieval times.

Scale-up of Direct-Acting Antiviral Treatment in Prisons Is Both Cost-effective and Key to Hepatitis C Virus Elimination.

The Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners With Hepatitis C (SToP-C) study demonstrated that scaling up of direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment reduced hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of scaling up HCV treatment in statewide prison services incorporating long-term outcomes across custodial and community settings. A dynamic model of incarceration and HCV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) in New South Wales, Australia, was extended to include former PWID and those with long-term HCV progression. Using Australian costing data, we estimated the cost-effectiveness of scaling up HCV treatment in prisons by 44% (as achieved by the SToP-C study) for 10 years (2021-2030) before reducing to baseline levels, compared to a status quo scenario. The mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated by comparing the differences in costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) between the scale-up and status quo scenarios over 40 years (2021-2060) discounted at 5% per annum. Univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Scaling up HCV treatment in the statewide prison service is projected to be cost-effective with a mean ICER of A$12 968/QALY gained. The base-case scenario gains 275 QALYs over 40 years at a net incremental cost of A$3.6 million. Excluding DAA pharmaceutical costs, the mean ICER is reduced to A$6 054/QALY. At the willingness-to-pay threshold of A$50 000/QALY, 100% of simulations are cost-effective at various discount rates, time horizons, and changes of treatment levels in prison and community. Scaling up HCV testing and treatment in prisons is highly cost-effective and should be considered a priority in the national elimination strategy. NCT02064049.

Недоліки «гуманітарної дипломатії» у сфері захисту військовополонених

The article provides a generalized analysis of the shortcomings of the functioning of humanitarian diplomatic institutions in the field of protection of the rights and freedoms of prisoners of war. It was established that, in general, the problem of the war in Ukraine actualizes deep ideological and legal constructions about justice, dignity and universal human values in the conditions of the conflict and requires a comprehensive approach to its solution. At the same time, the situation in the conflict zone leaves human rights mechanisms with the challenge of ensuring effective protection. Ensuring the inalienable rights of prisoners of war requires not only legal regulation, but also the practical implementation of these norms in difficult conflict conditions. It is motivated that the protection of the life and health of prisoners of war belongs to the canonical imperatives of ethics, which are embodied in normative acts of international humanitarian law. This imperative obligation, based on the principle of inviolability of the individual, reflects the highest anthropological ideals. However, the modern reality shows the insufficient effectiveness of these normative principles in the context of armed conflicts. Unfortunately, violations of the rights of prisoners of war have become commonplace, which requires improvement and strengthening of their protection mechanisms. The main task of the humanitarian community and the state striving to stabilize the situation in the conflict zone is to ensure elementary, "minimum" standards of humanity during a military conflict, including in relation to prisoners of war, which includes the need for a comprehensive approach that includes not only the regulatory and legal framework, but also the active role of international organizations, the public and humanitarian organizations. One of the main directions is to ensure independent monitoring of conditions of detention and treatment of prisoners of war. The analysis of the practice of the functioning of international and national "humanitarian diplomacy" in the context of the modern war on the territory of Ukraine gave us the opportunity to single out a number of significant problems in the field of protecting the rights of prisoners of war, in particular: the limited accessibility of representatives of "humanitarian diplomacy" to specific areas or groups of prisoners of war, to the camps where they are held; possible financial limitations of missions due to the problem of limiting resources and means for providing humanitarian aid; political pressure and limitations of "humanitarian missions", which causes a violation of the principles of neutrality and independence of humanitarian aid; security problems for employees of institutions.

Bridging the gap: building and sustaining recovery capital in the transition from prison to recovery residences

The transition from jail to community is a high-risk time for individuals experiencing substance use disorders (SUD), with elevated risks of overdose and other substance-related harms, as well as high recidivism rates and re-incarceration. Gains made from successful treatment in prison are often lost in this transition. The current paper evaluates this process for one justice programme, Chesterfield HARP, a Therapeutic Community based in the Chesterfield County jail that continues supporting former inmates through their release by examining engagement and retention rates and changes in recovery capital among incarcerated individuals before incarceration and after transition to recovery housing in the community. Adult prisoners (both male and female) who engaged in the Chesterfield HARP programme completed an assessment of recovery capital (REC-CAP instrument) while in prison and following their transitions to one of a number of local recovery residences with strong links to the prison programme (ensuring continuity of care and support). The results suggest successful bridging with positive growth across multiple recovery capital domains. The study provides further evidence for the importance of continuity of care and integrated models of strength-building and recovery-focused interventions in successfully bridging the transition from prison to the community for offenders with a SUD history.

Introducing methadone maintenance therapy into Ukrainian prisons: a qualitative study of criminal subculture, Russia's full-scale invasion, and contested methadone objects.

After pilot testing, methadone was newly being introduced into Ukrainian prisons in 2021 as part of a national scale-up strategy to treat opioid use disorder and prevent transmission of HIV and HCV infections. Opioid agonist therapy (OAT) scale-up in Eastern Europe and Central Asia prisons has been hampered by varying levels of influence of criminal subculture, an extralegal informal governance by a social hierarchy that operates in parallel to formal prison authorities. This study examined the socio-environmental factors influencing the uptake of methadone treatment in Ukrainian prisons, including changes that evolved during Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the displacement of people deprived of liberty (PDL) from conflict to non-conflict regions. In-depth qualitative interviews (N = 37) were conducted from January 2021 to October 2022 in the only two Ukrainian prisons where methadone was being introduced with PDL (N = 18). These two prisons continued to provide methadone after the full-scale invasion. Former PDL (N = 4) were also interviewed and prison staff (N = 15). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. Four authors independently reviewed, coded, and applied a phenomenological framework for data analysis, delineating themes related to criminal subculture, drug use, methadone uptake, and evolving changes during the Russian invasion. Criminal subculture perceptions varied, with some seeing it as strongly discouraging drug use among certain groups, while others described it as a residual and weak influence from a more distant past. The influence of the subculture on methadone treatment uptake, however, was less clear. PDL and prison staff struggled to identify and articulate differences between illicit street-bought methadone, used recreationally, and medically prescribed methadone. Thus, the meaning of "methadone" varies in interpretation as it is being introduced, making it potentially conflicting for patients to opt into this evidence-based treatment. As Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, PDL from conflict zones were transferred to non-conflict regions where methadone was being introduced. The prison environment became more enabling for PDL to start methadone as they were segregated and not subject to the existing criminal subculture's rules and lacked the social ties necessary to procure drugs illegally. It appears that the criminal subculture is variable and evolving in Ukrainian prisons and appears to be impacted differently by the invasion of Russia. As methadone scale-up in prisons expands, it will be important to distinguish the meaning of methadone perpetuated negatively by the prison subculture versus that in which it is intended as a medical treatment by the formal prison authorities. The current invasion of Ukraine by Russia provides a potential disruption to alter this course.

Dire Consequence in Assessing the Inhuman Treatment of Prisoners to Promote Human Rights at Awutu Camp Prison in Ghana

Dire Consequence in Assessing the Inhuman Treatment of Prisoners to Promote Human Rights at Awutu Camp Prison in Ghana

Diversion of medications to treat opioid use disorder: Qualitative findings from formerly incarcerated adults in Massachusetts

BackgroundCarceral officials often cite diversion of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (e.g., buprenorphine) as a reason for not offering MOUD treatment in jails and prisons with little understanding of patient perspectives. We aimed to understand patient perceptions of medication diversion from jail-based MOUD programs and the factors that contribute to and reduce diversion. MethodsWe conducted thematic analyses of semi-structured interviews held in 2021-22 with 38 adults who received MOUD treatment and were released from eight Massachusetts jails that had implemented a MOUD program on or after September 2019. ResultsConsistent with prior reports from carceral staff, patients perceived MOUD diversion to happen less frequently than expected, which they attributed to dosing protocols that have effectively reduced it. Patients reported that MOUD availability reduced the contraband buprenorphine market, although other contraband substances have entered jails (fentanyl, oxycodone, K2). Patients perceived Subutex to have greater misuse potential and added diversion risks. Patients valued graduated consequences and other efforts to reduce MOUD diversion and contraband for making jails safer and for enabling patients to receive treatment. Nearly all participants reported having heard about, witnessed, or been involved in actual or attempted diversion, with variation in reports by jail. Patients suggested that dispensing MOUD to all who need it immediately upon intake would be the most effective way to reduce MOUD diversion and contraband. ConclusionFormerly incarcerated patients perceived MOUD diversion within jail medication programs as occurring less often than expected and that it can be reduced with appropriate protocols. To help limit medication diversion, patients recommended provision of MOUD upon intake to all individuals with opioid use disorder who need it. Findings have implications for MOUD program adaptation, successful routinization, and diffusion in carceral settings.

Principles of legal policy in the field of treatment of prisoners of war

This article analyzes the principles of legal policy in the field of treatment of prisoners of war. It is motivated that the actualization of the issue of the status of prisoners of war is due to the following circumstances: the presence of a state of war on the territory of Ukraine and an increase in the number of prisoners of war on both sides; the absence of a real mechanism to guarantee the proper treatment of prisoners of war, the weakness of international institutions in this area; normative legal acts were adopted after the Second World War in the conditions of the information society, globalization and changes in the life of society in all spheres, therefore a modern update of the norms and their clarification and the development of an effective policy in this area are necessary.
 It was established that a significant breakthrough in the direction of humanizing social development was the adoption of norms of international law, in particular, those related to the rules of treatment of prisoners of war. Formally, there is a model for protecting and ensuring the humane situation of this group of participants in the armed conflict. However, it is necessary to state a significant, even colossal problem: the declarativeness of international obligations, the ineffectiveness of international institutions and the lack of real influence on the party that holds prisoners of war. In this context, we should talk about updating the international norms of international humanitarian law in general, as well as prisoners of war in particular.
 The author points out the lack of a clear legal agreement on the concept of «prisoner of war» and the generally significant political nature of the issue.
 Within the scope of the represented scientific research, the essential principles (main principles) of the legal policy of democratic states in the field of treatment of prisoners of war are defined. They are grouped into two categories - general (prohibition of ill-treatment, humane treatment, right to dignity, preservation of personal belongings and documents, right to contact with family and protection agencies, right to return home) and special (rehabilitation and special state support prisoners of war after returning from captivity; support for families of prisoners of war).

Group-based mindfulness interventions in prisons: a selective critical review

PurposeThe use of mindfulness interventions (MIs) as means to manage unwanted or undesirable affect and behaviour has increased in popularity recently. This has resulted in the trial of MIs as a means to benefit well-being within prisons, with some intention of reducing recidivism. This study aims to examine current research regarding the use of MIs within prisons.Design/methodology/approachA total of 14 studies were manually selected for review inclusion according to their determined eligibility. All studies were required to have taken place in a prison and to include an explicit mindfulness intervention, including mindfulness theory and practice.FindingsMost interventions reviewed demonstrated success, particularly when tailored to the unique needs of a prison environment. Positive changes reported included improvements in participant mental health symptoms, as well as reduced stress and increased mindfulness skills. Some preliminary evidence was provided to indicate the potential longevity of some of these benefits. This review further highlighted some significant questions regarding the generalisability of the proposed suitability of MIs within prison environments including practical delivery constraints and the lack of acknowledgment of the unique challenges and circumstances faced by prisoners.Practical implicationsThe findings of this review show positive potential for the use of MIs within prison populations, where these are well-linked to mindfulness theory and to the needs of inmates. The review also suggest that MIs should be investigated thoroughly, examining potential negative implications alongside positive changes. There needs to be further review of the role of MIs within prison populations to ensure their suitability in the custodial environment.Originality/valueMIs are somewhat inflated in terms of predicted outcomes and sometimes applied to potentially unsuitable groups. A significant gap within the literature also persists regarding potentially negative implications associated with MIs, particularly within unique prison populations. Prison treatment programmes should be developed with careful consideration of unique prisoner needs in comparison to a general population.