Showing papers on "Prison published in 2023"

The American Prison Business

Abstract: First published in 1974, The American Prison Business studies the lunacies, the delusions, and the bizarre inner workings of the American prison business. From the first demonstration that the penitentiary is an American invention that was initiated by the late eighteenth-century reformers, to the startling revelations, in the chapter called ‘Cheaper than Chimpanzees’ of how pharmaceutical companies lease prisoners as human guinea-pigs, every page stimulates and surprises the reader as Jessica Mitford describes, inter alia the chemical, surgical and psychiatric techniques used to help ‘violent’ prisoners to be ‘reborn’; why businessmen tend to be more enthusiastic than the prisoners they employ in the ‘rent-a-con’ plan; and the Special Isolation Diet which tastes like inferior dog food. Jessica Mitford’s financial analysis of the prison business is a scoop. Her hard-eyed examination of how parole really works is a revelation. As the prison abolition movement continues to gain momentum, this book will provide food for thought for legislators, officials and students of sociology, law, criminology, penology, and history.

Racial Politics in the Contemporary Prison Society: The Importance of Race and Ethnicity to Prison Social Organization

Abstract: Prior research documents race and ethnicity as central to how individuals navigate the social and physical space of prisons. Racial segregation persists as a feature of prison life, and in navigating this racialized structure, racial groups construct and enforce a set of racialized norms to govern behavior (i.e., the “racial code”) that reinforce and reify prison racial politics. These processes, however, have remained largely descriptive in nature. Using data from a sample of incarcerated men in Arizona prisons (N = 251), this article extends prior work by operationalizing the concept of the racial code, assessing its dimensionality, distinguishing it from the prison code, and differentiating how features of prison social organization influence racial code adherence and mobilization. Results suggest that the racial code is distinct from the prison code and that racial differences exist in the extent of adhering to versus mobilizing the racial code, net of gang status.

Cramped Space: Finding Rebellious Potential in Fixed Capital During the Attica Prison Uprising of 1971

Abstract: Abstract:In this essay, I argue that social movements should appropriate fixed capital in moments of rebellion, utilizing it to halt capitalist production. Through this process, struggles over, for, and through fixed capital enable the prefiguring of new modes of (re)production, raising the fundamental political question of who governs the infrastructures at hand. I turn to the Attica Prison uprising of 1971 as an example of dispossessed people utilizing fixed capital to interrupt the continuation of an exploitative prison system. Finally, I offer an assessment of how explicit engagement with fixed capital and other material objects or built environments clarifies the ways that antagonistic compositional power might irreversibly damage the logics of capture within and against which rebellious potential emerges.

“That shit doesn't fly”: Subcultural constraints on prison radicalization

Abstract: Many observers describe prison subcultures as inherently and irredeemably antisocial. Research directly ties prison subcultures to violence, gang membership, and poor reintegration. In extreme cases, research has also suggested that prison subcultures contribute to incarcerated people joining radical groups or embracing violent extremist beliefs. These claims, however, ignore key differences in the larger cultural and social context of prisons. We examine the relationship between prison subcultures and prison radicalization based on semistructured qualitative interviews with 148 incarcerated men and 131 correctional officers from four western Canadian prisons. We outline several imported features of the prison subculture that make incarcerated people resilient to radicalized and extremist messaging. These features include 1) national cultural imaginaries; 2) the racial profile of a prison, including racial sorting or a lack thereof; and 3) how radicalization allowed incarcerated men and correctional officers to act outside the otherwise agreed-to subcultural rules. Our research findings stress the importance of contemplating broader sociocultural influences when trying to understand the relationship between radicalization and prison dynamics and politics.

Highly varying concepts and capacities of forensic mental health services across the European Union

Abstract: Introduction There is wide variation in the processes, structures and treatment models for dealing with mentally disordered offenders across the European Union. There is a serious lack of data on population levels of need, national service capacities, or treatment outcome. This prevents us from comparing the different management and treatment approaches internationally and from identifying models of good practice and indeed what represents financial efficiency, in a sector that is universally needed. Methods From March 2019 till January 2020 we surveyed forensic psychiatric experts from each European Union Member State on basic concepts, service capacities and indicators for the prevalence and incidence of various forensic psychiatric system components. Each expert completed a detailed questionnaire for their respective country using the best available data. Results Finally, 22 EU Member States and Switzerland participated in the survey. Due to the frequent lack of a clear definition of what represented a forensic psychiatric bed, exact numbers on bed availability across specialized forensic hospitals or wards, general psychiatric hospitals or prison medical wards were often unknown or could only be estimated in a number of countries. Population-based rates calculated from the survey data suggested a highly variable pattern of forensic psychiatric provision across Europe, ranging from 0.9 forensic psychiatric beds per 100,000 population in Italy to 23.3 in Belgium. Other key service characteristics were similarly heterogeneous. Discussion Our results show that systems for detaining and treating mentally disordered offenders are highly diverse across European Union Member States. Systems appear to have been designed and reformed with insufficient evidence. Service designers, managers and health care planners in this field lack the most basic of information to describe their systems and analyse their outcomes. As a basic, minimum standardized national reporting systems must be implemented to inform regular EU wide forensic psychiatry reports as a prerequisite to allow the evaluation and comparison of the various systems to identify models of best practice, effectiveness and efficiency.

Relationship between Family Support and Welfare Psychology of Prisoners During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract: The high death rate due to Covid-19 does not only cause physical symptoms and illnesses but also has a major impact on well-being which includes mental health, including inmates at Class IIB Lumajang Penitentiary. The increasing number of inmates every year makes prison capacity overload. Low family support can lead to a person's psychological condition while serving a prison period, such as sadness, loneliness, and so on. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between family support and the psychological well-being of inmates during the Covid 19 pandemic at Class IIB Lumajang Prison. The method used is correlation with cross-sectional design. The population in this study were all 529 inmates at Class IIB Lumajang prison in 2021 and the sample size was 228 respondents, using the simple random sampling technique. Retrieval of data using a questionnaire sheet family support and psychological well-being. The data obtained were then coded, scored, tabulated, and analyzed using the Spearman rank test. The results showed that most of the 120 respondents (52.6%) had good family support, and the psychological well-being of the majority of 135 respondents (59.2%) was in the sufficient category. The results of calculations with the Spearman rank test obtained p=0.000. Because p<0.05, there is a relationship between family support and the psychological well-being of prisoners during the Covid-19 pandemic at Class IIB Lumajang Prison in 2021. From the results of this study, it is hoped that respondents will be able to seek support from peers and prison staff to improve their psychological well-being and it is hoped that Class II B Lumajang prison officers will maximize their role to interact more deeply with prisoners.

Envisioning the future: A neuropsycho-pedagogical intervention on resilience predictors among inmates during the pandemic

Abstract: Research about the predictors of resilience in the inmate population needs further explorations. This study examines the predictors of resilience in male inmates from Padua prison, before and after a 9-session neuropsychopedagogical intervention, entitled Envisioning the Future (EF), which took part in remote during Covid-19 pandemic. Using two linear regression models, a change in the factors determining inmates' resilience was found from before to after the intervention. In the pre-course group (n = 24), only low avoidance emerged as a statistically significant predictor of the level of resilience. In the post-course group (n = 24) low avoidance, flexibility, high levels of social support, and self-efficacy in managing positive emotions emerged as significant predictors of inmates' resilience. The results show that the constellation of factors predicting resilience in prisoners can be enriched by participating to neuropsychopedagogical interventions like EF, that increases individuals' resources in a challenging context such as prison.

Using the stress–vulnerability model to better understand suicide in prison populations

Abstract: Suicide is the culmination of the interaction of a number of factors with the critical component being distress. The contribution of mental illness as a vulnerability factor in an individual case of suicide by a prisoner may be significant, marginal or non-existent. Because of the high prevalence in prison populations of all risk factors for suicide, relying solely on those factors is of little use in elaborating the risk of suicide for a given prisoner. Whilst a current mental illness or past history of a suicide attempt are two factors that appear to be strongly associated with completed suicide, no screening or risk assessment tool has any proven efficacy in predicting suicide in prison populations. The stress–vulnerability model offers a more sophisticated and comprehensive assessment and also informs a more individualised needs-based management of the risk of suicide with an emphasis on detecting and responding to a prisoner’s distress.

Returning home during the pandemic: a thematic analysis describing experiences of people with substance use disorders released early from New Jersey prisons during COVID-19

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic created intersecting health risks for incarcerated people with a history of substance use disorder (SUD). To reduce exposure to COVID-19 in prison, several US states enacted decarceration legislation. New Jersey enacted the Public Health Emergency Credit Act (PHECA), granting early release to thousands of incarcerated persons meeting eligibility criteria. This study undertook to explore how large scale decarceration during the pandemic impacted the reentry process for released individuals with SUDs.Twenty seven participants involved in PHECA releases - 21 persons released from NJ carceral facilities with past/present SUDs (14 with opioid use disorder, 7 with other SUDs) and 6 reentry service providers acting as key informants - completed phone interviews on PHECA experiences from February-June 2021. Cross-case thematic analysis of transcripts identified common themes and divergent perspectives.Respondents described challenges consistent with long-documented reentry difficulties including housing and food insecurity, difficulty accessing community services, insufficient employment opportunities, and limited access to transportation. Challenges that were pertinent to mass release during a pandemic included limited access to communication technology and community providers and community providers exceeding enrollment capacity. Despite reentry difficulties, respondents identified many areas where prisons and reentry service providers adapted to meet novel challenges presented by mass decarceration during the COVID-19 pandemic. Facilitators made available by prison and reentry provider staff included providing released persons with cell phones, transportation assistance at transit hubs, prescription support for medications for opioid use disorder, and pre-release assistance with ID and benefits through NJ's Joint Comprehensive Assessment Plan.Formerly incarcerated people with SUDs experienced reentry challenges during PHECA releases similar to those that occur during ordinary circumstances. Despite barriers faced during typical releases and novel challenges unique to mass release during a pandemic, providers made adaptations to support released persons' successful reentry. Recommendations are made based on areas of need identified in interviews, including reentry service provision facilitating housing and food security, employment, medical services, technology fluency, and transportation. In anticipation of future large scale releases, providers will benefit from planning ahead and adapting to address temporary increases in resource demands.

Medications for opioid use disorder during incarceration and post-release outcomes

Abstract: Abstract Background Continuation or initiation of MOUDs during incarceration could improve post-release outcomes by preventing return to opioid use and reducing risk of overdose. People with OUD involved in the criminal legal system are a vulnerable population, yet little research has comprehensively examined post-release outcomes associated with receiving MOUDs in jail and prison settings. Methods The authors conducted a review of published peer-reviewed literature on post-release outcomes associated with the use of MOUDs in correctional settings to determine implications for further research and policy. Results Results showed compelling evidence supporting the use of MOUDs for currently incarcerated populations, with almost all studies showing that MOUDs provided during incarceration increased community-based treatment engagement post-release. There is also evidence that initiating or continuing MOUDs during incarceration is associated with decreased opioid use and overdoses post-release, without increasing criminal involvement. Conclusions Findings indicate that forcing tapering and withdrawal during incarceration can have dire consequences upon release into the community. Initiating or continuing MOUDs during incarceration reduces the risk for opioid use and overdose upon release by maintaining opioid tolerance and increasing community treatment engagement.

Halfway Home? Residential Housing and Reincarceration

Abstract: Every year, hundreds of thousands of people are released from prison. For many, the transition back to society includes a mandatory stay in residential housing. I estimate the effect of residential housing on reincarceration using administrative data from Iowa. I address selection into residential housing by instrumenting for residential housing assignment with the recommendation rate of randomly assigned case managers. I find no evidence that Iowa’s costly investment in residential housing results in reduced reincarceration relative to parole. Instead, residential housing increases reincarceration due to violent crimes and technical violations, while decreasing drug and public order crimes. (JEL K42, R23, R31, R38)

Dementia in the incarcerated population: a retrospective study using the South Carolina Alzheimer’s disease registry, USA

Abstract: Research about the prevalence of dementia among older adults in the incarceration system is currently lacking, and further investigation is warranted. Considering the high level of healthcare needs, unique behavioural issues and difficulty to rehabilitate within the system due to its punitive approach and lack of effective rehabilitation programs, further investigation is warranted to characterize and determine the number of incarcerated older adults with dementia. The purpose of this study is to estimate the prevalence of individuals with dementia in the prison system while also describing the incarceration, demographic and offence-related characteristics of this unique population.South Carolina (SC) Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias Registry (1992-2016) and South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) data (Fiscal years 1992-2019) were cross-referenced. The prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) cases in the corrections system was calculated using South Carolina Alzheimer's Disease (SC AD) SC ADRD Registry and SCDC data. Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to determine strength and direction of relationships between year of incarceration and frequency of ADRD cases both prior to and after incarcerations, respectively. Significant differences by age group, race, gender and dementia type were determined using a two-tailed pooled t-test and Bonferroni approach where appropriate. Count data for types of crimes committed are also presented.The linkage showed that there were 2,171 individuals within the SC AD Registry who have been in the corrections system, about 1% of those in the Registry. Of these individuals, 1,930 cases were diagnosed with ADRD after incarceration and 241 prior to incarceration. In 2016, 317 individuals with ADRD were incarcerated. For ages 55 and above in South Carolina, the prevalence of ADRD is 6.7% in the general, non-incarcerated population compared to 14.4% in the incarcerated population. Additional results showed that those diagnosed with ADRD between 55 and 65 years of age had a significantly lower mean age at first incarceration (34.6 years of age) than those diagnosed between 66 and 74 years of age (55.9 years of age), indicating that those incarcerated earlier in life had an earlier dementia diagnosis. Additionally, African Americans had a significantly lower mean age at first incarceration (43.4 years of age) than Whites (46.2 years of age) and females had significantly lower mean age at first incarceration (42.9 years of age) than males (45 years of age). When investigating trends, results showed a significant positive linear association between year and frequency of ADRD diagnoses (p-value < 0.05) for those with ADRD diagnosis prior to incarceration and a significant decreasing linear association (p-value < 0.0001) in the number of individuals with an ADRD diagnosis after corrections. Findings also showed that a large percentage of older adults with ADRD in prison did not commit a violence offence.This study links a population-based Alzheimer's disease registry and state-wide corrections data to estimate the prevalence of individuals with dementia in the prison system. This linkage presents an opportunity to fill in significant gaps and contribute to the body of literature on dementia among people in prison in the USA.

COVID-19 amplified racial disparities in the US criminal legal system

Abstract: Abstract The criminal legal system in the USA drives an incarceration rate that is the highest on the planet, with disparities by class and race among its signature features 1–3 . During the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the number of incarcerated people in the USA decreased by at least 17%—the largest, fastest reduction in prison population in American history 4 . Here we ask how this reduction influenced the racial composition of US prisons and consider possible mechanisms for these dynamics. Using an original dataset curated from public sources on prison demographics across all 50 states and the District of Columbia, we show that incarcerated white people benefited disproportionately from the decrease in the US prison population and that the fraction of incarcerated Black and Latino people sharply increased. This pattern of increased racial disparity exists across prison systems in nearly every state and reverses a decade-long trend before 2020 and the onset of COVID-19, when the proportion of incarcerated white people was increasing amid declining numbers of incarcerated Black people 5 . Although a variety of factors underlie these trends, we find that racial inequities in average sentence length are a major contributor. Ultimately, this study reveals how disruptions caused by COVID-19 exacerbated racial inequalities in the criminal legal system, and highlights key forces that sustain mass incarceration. To advance opportunities for data-driven social science, we publicly released the data associated with this study at Zenodo 6 .

Public support for second look sentencing: Is there a Shawshank redemption effect?

Abstract: Research Summary Washington, DC has implemented second look sentencing. After serving a minimum of 15 years in prison, those convicted of a serious offense committed while under the age of 25 years can petition a judge to take a “second look” and potentially release them from incarceration. To examine both global and specific support for second look sentencing, we embedded experiments in a 2021 MTurk survey and in a follow-up 2022 YouGov survey. Two key findings emerged. First, regardless of whether a crime was committed under 18 years or under 25 years of age, a majority of the public supported second look sentencing. Opposition to the policy was low, even for petitioners convicted of murder. Second, as revealed by vignette ratings, respondents were more likely to support release when a petitioner “signaled” their reform (e.g., completed a rehabilitation program, received a recommendation from the warden) and had the support of the victim (or their family). Policy Implications The critique of mass imprisonment has broadened from a focus on the level of incarceration to the inordinate length of sentences being served by some prisoners. Policies are being proposed to reconsider these long sentences and to provide opportunities for earned release. Second look sentencing in DC is one of these reforms. Our research suggests that many members of the public believe in a “Shawshank redemption” effect—that those committing serious crimes as a teenager or young adult can mature into a “different person” and warrant a second look, with the possibility of early release if they have earned it. A key issue is likely to be how much weight is accorded to the preference of victims or their families in any release decision.

A Treatment-To-Prison-Pipeline? Scoping Review and Multimethod Examination of Legal Consequences of Residential Treatment Among Adolescents

Abstract: ABSTRACT Objective Toward the overall goal of interrogating systems that contribute to racial inequity in child and adolescent psychology, we examine the role and function of Residential Treatment Centers (RTCs) in creating or exacerbating race and gender inequities using the language of mental health and the logic that treatment intentions justify children’s confinement. Methods In Study 1, we conduct a scoping review to investigate the legal consequences of RTC placement, attending to race and gender in 18 peer-reviewed articles, encompassing data for 27,947 youth. In Study 2, we use a multimethod design focusing on RTCs in one large mixed-geographic county to examine which youth are formally charged with a crime while in RTCs, and the circumstances under which these charges occur, attending to race and gender (N = 318, 95% Black, Latine, Indigenous youth, mean age = 14, range = 8–16). Results Across studies, we find evidence for a potential treatment-to-prison pipeline through which youth in RTCs incur new arrests and are charged with crimes during and following treatment. This pattern is pronounced for Black and Latine youth and especially girls, for whom use of physical restraint and boundary violations are recurring challenges. Conclusions We argue that the role and function of RTCs via the alliance between mental health and juvenile legal systems, however passive or unintentional, provides a critical exemplar of structural racism; and thus invite a different approach that implicates our field to publicly advocate to end violent policies and practices and recommend actions to address these inequities.

Expanding buprenorphine in U.S. jails: One county's response to addressing the fears of diversion.

Abstract: The overdose crisis continues to be a major public health emergency in the United States. While effective medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as buprenorphine, have ample scientific evidence to their effectiveness, they are underutilized in the United States and particularly in criminal justice settings. One rationale against the expansion of MOUD in carceral settings cited by jail, prison, and even Drug Enforcement Administration leaders is the potential for diversion of these medications. However, currently little data exist to support this claim. Instead, successful examples from early expansion states could help to change attitudes and calm misconceptions around diversion fears.In this commentary, we discuss the experience of one county jail that successfully expanded buprenorphine treatment and did not suffer significant impacts related to diversion. Instead, the jail found that their holistic and compassionate approach to buprenorphine treatment improved conditions both for incarcerated individuals and jail staff.Amid a changing policy landscape and a federal commitment to increase access to effective treatments in criminal justice settings, lessons can be learned from jails and prisons that have already or are working toward expansion of MOUD in their facilities. Ideally, these anecdotal examples, in addition to data, will help to encourage more facilities to incorporate buprenorphine into their opioid use disorder treatment strategies.

Intelligence Strategy on Deradicalization Program to Prevent Acts of Terrorism by Ex-Napiter Network of JAD Group

Abstract: The deradicalization programs conducted by BNPT and other stakeholders have been running since the enactment of Undang Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 2018 as a starting point for changing the paradigm of handling terrorism in Indonesia. Terrorism convicts are then assessed, rehabilitated, re-educated, and reintegrated. The program also runs outside the prison for ex-terrorism convicts so that they can back to the community. However, some ex-convicts return to commit terrorist crimes, so preventive measures are needed, especially in term of strategic intelligence measures to prevent this. This paper uses a qualitative approach with case study research. Data collected through interviews as primary data and supported by secondary data derived from official government documents and other journal articles. The case study on the application of the intelligence strategy is explained in the handling of ex-convict P in Solo Raya, in which the intelligence strategy implemented is able to monitor the movement of ex-convicts, help integrate into society and be able to help officers communicate with ex-convicts who are still closed

Feasibility testing of a peer support programme for prisoners with common mental disorders and substance use.

Abstract: BACKGROUND The prevalence of mental disorders and substance use among prisoners is high. Convicted prisoners of 'good behaviour' can be part of a peer support system in prisons. AIM To evaluate the feasibility of a peer support programme for prisoners with common mental disorders and substance use in prison. METHOD The study used a mixed method research design, with a quasi-experimental approach (single group pre-post without control). It was conducted in two phases: Phase I. Thirty-five peers/convicted prisoners were recruited through advertisements on the prisoners' community radio station. Volunteers with good behaviour reports were given training over 5 days to recognise mental and substance use disorders and provide basic peer support in prison; their attitudes and knowledge were tested before and after the training. PHASE II Feasibility of the peer support programme was tested by (i) recording the number of cases identified and referred, (ii) pre- and post-evaluation of well-being, coping, and symptom severity of those supported and (iii) evaluating qualitatively the experience of the peer supporters and service users. RESULTS Thirty-five peer supporters identified 49 cases over 3 months. These cases showed significant improvement in well-being (Z -1.962; p < 0.050) and reduction in symptom severity (Z -1.913; 0.056). There was a significant improvement in the peers supporters' self-esteem from pre- to post-training (t -3.31; p < 0.002), improvement in their benevolence (t -4.37; p < 0.001) and a significant reduction in their negative attitudes to mental illness (Z -3.518; p < 0.001). A thematic model of peer support encompassed self-experienced benefits for the peer supporter, wider recognition of peer supporters in the prison, challenges to this kind of support, experience of training and visions for future work. CONCLUSION The peer support programme was experienced positively by the peer-supporters and supported. Common mental disorders, substance use and suicidality were recognised and appropriately referred. A full-scale evaluation of this promising programme is warranted.

The mental wellbeing of prison staff in England during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study

Abstract: Background COVID-19 is likely to have had an impact on the mental wellbeing of prison staff because of the high risk for infectious disease outbreaks in prisons and the pre-existing high burden of mental health issues among staff. Methods A cross-sectional study of staff within 26 prisons in England was carried out between 20th July 2020 and 2nd October 2020. Mental wellbeing was measured using the Short-version of Warwick-Edinburgh Wellbeing Scale (SWEMWBS). Staff wellbeing was compared to that of the English population using indirectly standardised data from the Health Survey for England 2010–13 and a one-sample t-test. Multivariate linear regression modelling explored associations with mental wellbeing score. Results Two thousand five hundred and thirty-four individuals were included (response rate 22.2%). The mean age was 44 years, 53% were female, and 93% were white. The sample mean SWEMWBS score was 23.84 and the standardised population mean score was 23.57. The difference in means was statistically significant (95% CI 0.09–0.46), but not of a clinically meaningful level. The multivariate linear regression model was adjusted for age category, sex, ethnicity, smoking status, occupation, and prison service region. Higher wellbeing was significantly associated with older age, male sex, Black/Black British ethnicity, never having smoked, working within the health staff team, and working in certain prison regions. Interpretation Unexpectedly, prison staff wellbeing as measured by SWEMWBS was similar to that of the general population. Reasons for this are unclear but could include the reduction in violence within prisons since the start of the pandemic. Qualitative research across a diverse sample of prison settings would enrich understanding of staff wellbeing within the pandemic.

Abortion and contraception for incarcerated people: A scoping review

Abstract: Background Women experiencing incarceration have higher rates of unmet contraceptive needs and rates of abortion than the public. Incarceration presents multiple potential barriers to accessing abortion and contraception care, including prison security protocols, prison locations, lack of access to care providers, stigma, and low health literacy. The objective of this scoping review is to understand the extent and type of evidence in relation to contraception and abortion access for people experiencing criminalization and incarceration. Methods We used the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews and include empirical research with people experiencing criminalization or incarceration and/or with prison staff; with respect to prescription contraception or abortion access, while in custody or after having experienced incarceration/criminalization. Databases searched include CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Gender Studies, Medline (Ovid), Embase, Sociological Abstracts, and Social Services Abstracts. The search yielded 6096 titles of which 43 were included in the review. Results Our search yielded 43 studies published between 2001 and 2021 across six countries. The studies included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs. The main outcomes of interest included contraceptive use; attitudes towards abortion, contraception, and pregnancy; and barriers to care. Barriers identified included lack of onsite access to options, contraceptive coercion by providers, financial costs, and disruptions to medical coverage and insurance status which incarcerated. Discussion Evidence indicates that people in prison face significant barriers to maintaining continuity of contraceptive methods, abortion access, and reproductive health guidance. Some studies articulated participants felt judged when discussing contraception with prison-based health care providers. Geographic location, out-of-pocket payments, and trust in health care providers were reported as barriers to access. Conclusion Incarceration presents considerable challenges to the access of contraception and abortion care. Future research should examine the interaction between institutional security policies and procedures on care seeking, the experiences of underserved and hyper-incarcerated groups, and the impact of being denied access to contraception and abortion and experiences of criminalization.

Exploring the relationship between psychopathy and criminal thinking: utilising the Tri-PM within a forensic sample

Abstract: Purpose The Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (Tri-PM) was developed in 2010 as an alternative approach to the assessment of psychopathy. The measure aims to capture psychopathic traits on a 3-factor model, which encompass the characteristics established in previous measures, as well as those evidenced within practise. Though support for the tool in academic research is growing, less is known about the scale’s utility within crime forensic settings. Thus, this study aims to explore the relationship between the Tri-PM psychopathy constructs and criminal cognition within a forensic sample. Design/methodology/approach Seventy-three adult male offenders, convicted for acquisitive or sexual crimes, from a Category B prison within the Northwest of England completed questionnaires measuring their criminal backgrounds, psychopathy traits (Tri-PM; Patrick, 2010) and criminal thinking styles (Psychology Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles; Walters, 2001). Findings The Tri-PM measurement proved to be a successful predictor of most criminal thinking styles. Moreover, the meanness construct was the strongest predictor of proactive thinking styles, whereas the disinhibition construct was the strongest predictor of reactive thinking styles, and the boldness construct was negatively associated with reactive thinking. Comparisons among offender groups also indicated that acquisitive offenders reported higher scores of psychopathy and criminal thinking. Originality/value This study offers valuable insight into the proposed relationship between psychopathy and criminal thinking, using a recent addition to the repertoire of psychopathy measurements, the Tri-PM. This study also offers practical implications for those offering treatment within forensic settings, with significant relationships identified between the highly scoring psychopathy constructs and various criminal thinking styles.

And Still We are Not Free: The School-Prison Nexus in Higher Education

Abstract: Institutions of higher education are presented as vital pathways to economic mobility, particularly for working class, first generation, and students of color. Yet the inequitable outcomes produced by post-secondary institutions suggest structures and systems of exclusion and enclosure. In this critical mixed methods case study, we explore the relationship between the mission-driven claims of access/opportunity and the carceral functioning of colleges and universities. To do so, we draw on frameworks of the prison industrial complex (PIC), school-prison nexus (SPN), and abolitionist analyses to analyze publicly available documents from a mid-sized urban community college district, documents that detail critical contradictions between mission, practice, and outcomes. Our findings reveal investment in security and surveillance over student support, normalized and racialized academic failure, and the criminalization of common forms of campus political protest. These findings suggest the force and extent of the school-prison nexus – a framework typically applied to Pk-12 schools – in one mid-sized urban community college district, and, by extension, in colleges and universities more generally. This work is significant (1) for its novel contribution to theorizing extensions of the school-prison nexus in higher education and (2) the concrete, empirical data we offer detailing the functioning of this nexus.

Peculiar Institution? The Legacy of Slavery and Prison Expansion in the United States, 1970–2015

Abstract: Despite a long line of scholarship on race and social control, evidence that incarceration can be connected to slavery is difficult to provide. This study evaluates whether slavery had long-term effects on growth in state incarceration rates by focusing on two key theoretical indicators: the size of the enslaved population prior to the Civil War and demographic changes during the Great Migration. Results reveal that states that historically had larger enslaved populations and those that acted as destinations for southern migrants experienced increased growth in incarceration between 1970 and 2015. Mediation analyses show that both variables have indirect effects on change in incarceration rates through contemporary demographic composition and public opinion. These findings lend support to theoretical claims that link slavery to mass incarceration and shed light on the mechanisms that enable racial histories to map onto current criminal punishments.

Race, Gender, and Risk Assessments in Canadian Federal Prison

Abstract: In Canada, all federally incarcerated individuals are required to complete a number of actuarial risk assessments upon entering prison which influence the security level in which they are housed, opportunities to participate in rehabilitative services while incarcerated, and prospects for parole. While proponents of actuarial risk assessments—which make algorithmic decisions based on objective inputs—argue that such tools can reduce the influence of racial and gender bias in carceral decision making, others argue that they may perpetuate or exacerbate racial and gender inequality. The extent to which racial and gender disparities exist in the outcomes of the actuarial risk assessments used in federal Canadian prisons is largely unknown. Using newly available data, we characterize racial and gender disparities in the outcomes of actuarial risk assessments used in Canadian prisons and their relationship to outcomes. We find significant racial differences in risk assessment scores that leave Black and Indigenous Canadians worse off than their white counterparts, important differences for all racial groups in the treatment of women, and evidence suggestive of racial bias in parole and housing decisions.

Can Rehabilitation Work in Military Prison? A Theoretical Framework Based on the Israeli Case

Abstract: Israel's military prisons operate a rehabilitation program for imprisoned soldiers based on a psychosocial diagnosis. The program's essential aim is to help soldiers complete their service and avoid re-incarceration. This article describes the program, its function related to the integrative law court, and its role as the army's probation service. It further presents a unique perspective regarding military rehabilitation programs, demonstrating how rehabilitation leads to recidivism. It concludes with a recommendation for incorporating an organizational change in the program that involves redistributing the existing sections to operate under two different authorities.

Evaluating the use of PTSD Assessment Tools Within the U.S. Prison Setting: An Exploratory Analysis

Abstract: The identification and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in carceral settings remain a fundamental concern for practitioners, policy-makers, and incarcerated persons (IPs) alike. In recent years, PTSD assessment tools designed for the general population have been adopted for use in prisons upon intake, sometimes side-by-side with other assessment tools. This study attempts to provide insight into how these tools are used for a majority of IPs within the United States. Based on results from six U.S. states and the federal prison system, we find that PTSD assessment would benefit from newer tools designed for the specific challenges in the prison environment.

‘Mind your language’: What people in prison think about the language used to describe them

Abstract: This study investigated how people in prison feel about the language used to describe them and how it affected them. Previous research shows that terminology used to describe people in prison affects their self-identity, namely through its shame-inducing effects. A thematic analysis of qualitative data gathered through interviews demonstrated that language impacts how an individual in prison engages with the community and how they view themselves. Positive and progressive language in prisons has the potential to remove the shame and stigma attached to the prisoner identity.