Articles tagged with Imprisonment
A physician-anthropologist proposes a national decarceration program with a new federal department of community safety and repair. The program would hire two million community health and justice workers to repair the long-term health and economic harm of mass incarceration.
A new study found widespread support for second look sentencing, with respondents backing the approach regardless of age. Factors such as petitioners' intent to reform and victim support increased support for release. The study suggests that releasing reformed individuals can reduce costs and enhance public safety.
A Canadian study found that prison subcultures hinder the spread of radicalized messages, with key factors including local norms, beliefs, and behavioral expectations. The research suggests that sociocultural influences play a crucial role in understanding the relation between radicalization and prisons.
Researchers used machine learning to analyze parole data from New York and found that the New York State Parole Board could safely grant parole to more inmates, potentially doubling the release rate. The study suggests eliminating racial disparities in release rates while maintaining public safety.
A study in California prisons found that recent vaccination and boosters significantly reduced infectiousness of COVID-19, with a 11% decrease per additional dose. Prior infection also provided protection, with a 23% risk of transmission compared to 33% for those who had never been infected.
Researchers argue that cognitive transformations are crucial in understanding desistance from crime. Individuals' cognitive shifts, such as attitudes and intentions, serve as foundations for social development, including behavioral changes related to criminal behavior.
The American College of Physicians recommends policies to improve healthcare access and quality for incarcerated patients, including adequate funding and timely access to necessary services. The organization also supports treating substance use disorders as an alternative to incarceration.
Research reveals significant regional disparities in parental incarceration rates, with children of color and those living in impoverished households more likely to experience it. The study also highlights the need for tailored strategies to address health inequities in remote or under-resourced communities.
Francis T. Cullen proposes building 10 prisons, each funded at $1 billion, to foster a new era of progress in corrections. The proposal aims to improve offenders' lives and reduce crime-related risks through evidence-based strategies.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that extreme temperatures in Texas prisons without climate controls lead to a 30-fold increase in heat-related mortality compared to the general US population. The researchers analyzed data from 2001-2019, finding that even small temperature increases elevate daily risk of death.
Study participants recommend longer sentences for rehabilitation or public protection, but shorter sentences if punishment is the primary focus. The findings highlight the importance of considering the underlying motivations behind incarceration in sentencing decisions.
A study found that students who moved to a new school location reported significantly less delinquency after the shift, with fewer delinquent friends and less unstructured socializing. The transition to a new academic setting might reduce levels of juvenile delinquency in the long run.
A new study led by researchers at UC Berkeley found instances where arsenic levels exceeded regulatory limits for months or years at a time in the Kern Valley State Prison and nearby communities. Long-term exposure to arsenic has been linked to various health concerns, including cancers.
A new study finds that nearly 40% of businesses are willing to hire workers with criminal backgrounds. Offering employers crime and safety insurance or performance reviews increases demand by up to 68%. The researchers conclude that cost-effective policies can expand labor supply without deterring employers.
A study from the University of Minnesota Medical School examines support programs for pregnant and postpartum individuals in six US state prisons. The research highlights the importance of collaboration between program facilitators and prison sites in determining program success.
Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine suggest improvements to the release process and treatment for individuals with opioid use disorder (MOUD) who are transitioning from jail to the community. The study identifies three critical areas for improvement: bridge doses, better communication, and phone access.
A study found that incarcerated people with serious mental illness experience frequent and lengthy periods of solitary confinement, spending an average of three times longer than those without mental health problems. The study highlights the importance of correcting officers' discretion and policy change to reduce disparities.
The study found that despite a decrease in the California state prison population during the COVID-19 pandemic, those who remained incarcerated faced a higher burden of chronic disease and sustained disruptions in referrals for timely care.
Researchers found that short-term smoking cessation programs in prison are ineffective, and that longer interventions with group counseling are needed. The study's results highlight the need for more attention to tobacco cessation in correctional settings.
Researchers found that terminating Supplemental Security Income benefits at age 18 significantly increases criminal charges, with a 20% rise in income-generating crimes and a 60% increase in incarceration likelihood. The effect persists for more than two decades.
Researchers found that personal narratives increase empathy and encourage prosocial behaviors, particularly towards higher-risk groups like the incarcerated or healthcare workers. The study suggests using storytelling can shift an individual's perspective and promote behavioral changes in public health interventions.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that judges give significantly shorter sentences when provided with the full costs and benefits of incarceration. The research team from Georgia State University recruited 87 Minnesota state judges who were given a fictional case summary with additional details on the negative c...
A recent study found that increased gender equality in higher education is linked to lower female prison admission rates compared to males. The study also discovered that gains in labor force participation and political representation contributed to the decline in disparities.
A study published in Journal of Psychiatric Research found a significant biological difference between psychopaths and non-psychopaths, with psychopaths having a larger striatum region in the brain. This finding is linked to increased need for stimulation, impulsive behaviors, and higher likelihood of violent behavior.
A Rutgers University study found that expanding prison opioid treatment programs could reduce the risk of overdose and death among ex-inmates. The researchers suggest that further education on post-release opioid risks is necessary to increase participation in these programs.
A new report emphasizes the need to divert girls and women from custodial sentences into community alternatives, citing concerns about stigma, criminalization, and systemic failures. The research highlights the experiences of imprisoned women from care and those in care with youth justice system contact.
Researchers find that criminal violations of supervised release contribute the majority of prison time imposed through revocation. Advocates for reform focus on technical violations, but these also lead to significant punishment. The system raises constitutional questions due to potential double punishment and erosion of rights.
Researchers found that Massachusetts' state mandate driving staff acceptance and creating an atypical flexibility to seek innovative solutions. The program showed that medication diversion was uncommon, and protocols helped ensure correct use of the medication by detainees.
This analysis examines the association between COVID-19 vaccination prioritization policies and incarcerated individual vaccination rates. The study found that policies favoring certain groups led to significantly lower vaccination rates among incarcerated populations.
A new study from George Mason University's College of Health and Human Services researchers found that the likelihood of foster youth with disabilities experiencing homelessness or incarceration during transition to adulthood varies by type of disability. Youth with emotional disabilities are more likely to experience homelessness, whi...
A recent study found that formerly incarcerated men face a dilemma when deciding whether to use their prison credentials, which can signal redeemable qualities but also perpetuate negative stereotypes. Changing credential names or having them issued by external organizations may provide short-term solutions to overcome these issues.
A new study by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health estimated that the US spent an average of $34,191 per incarcerated adult convicted of sex crimes against children under 18 in 2021. The total annual cost was over $5.4 billion, with conservative estimates suggesting nearly $49 billion for the current cohort of inmates.
A new study found that defense testimony about defendants' adverse childhood experiences can elicit leniency in jurors' sentencing decisions in capital trials. The study suggests that investigating and presenting ACE evidence is critical in eliciting leniency, with sympathy being a key factor in jurors' decisions.
A new analysis suggests that ending automatic early release from prison for terrorists will undermine their rehabilitation and threaten their human rights. The study, published in Legal Studies, argues that the changes, known as TORERA 2020, create a 'cliff-edge' in managing the risks of releasing terrorists.
A new article provides guidance on increasing breastfeeding rates among incarcerated women, highlighting the need for policy updates and strategic collaborations with existing programs. The recommendations aim to address structural barriers and low implementation of lactation support in hospitals and correctional facilities.
A study of California state prison staff found that COVID-19 vaccination rates were lower among workers compared to incarcerated individuals, resulting in increased risks of further outbreaks. The plateaued vaccination rates posed significant concerns for continued transmission from prisons to surrounding communities.
A new study reveals that corrections staff in Kentucky view incarcerated individuals as 'monsters' or 'evils', dehumanizing them to justify violent behavior. This us-them ideology can lead to abuse and harm, and has implications for prison management and the carceral system.
A new study from the University of Washington finds that counties relying on court-imposed fines for revenue sentence more women to incarceration. The association suggests that monetary sanctions have far-reaching social, economic, and punitive effects, disproportionately impacting low-income communities.
Researchers found that 6.7% of jail detainees threatened SSH in the past three months, and 4.5% attempted SSH in the past year. The study suggests that jails should develop an empirically driven suicidal risk assessment to improve institutional safety and prevent suicide.
A survey of incarcerated individuals and scientists participating in the INSPIRE program found significant benefits for scientists, including increased interest in taking action on social justice. The experience also produced counterstereotypical effects, shifting negative preconceived notions into empathy.
Studies of in-prison work programs and vocational training lean positive, but several issues require further research to determine their true effects on re-entry. Inconsistent program characteristics and definitions, as well as multiple participants' involvement, complicate the assessment of outcomes.
The Commission on the North American Opioid Crisis recommends banning direct marketing to prescribers and curbing industry influence on medical education. The group also suggests standardizing addiction care within health systems and improving access to medication-assisted treatment.
Researchers argue that a lack of empathy for offenders' incidental harms can hinder criminal justice reform. The study suggests that efforts to reduce character-based judgments could lead to more effective rehabilitation, ultimately reducing recidivism rates.
Researchers created three computer models to optimize housing and service provider locations, ensuring former offenders can access necessary services efficiently. The tool addresses limited public transportation options, a major barrier to successful reentry.
Researchers aim to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmission among people recently released from incarceration through on-site testing and education. A randomized trial will assess the effectiveness of rapid PCR tests, community health worker counseling, and smartphone-based surveys in preventing COVID-19 spread.
A new study reveals significant variability in state- and nationwide policies on end-of-life decision making in US prisons. The researchers found that many policies restrict access to advance care planning documents, limit the roles of surrogate decision-makers, and fail to ensure compliance with community standards. The study emphasiz...
The project aims to address concerns and dispel misinformation about COVID-19 testing and vaccination among women leaving incarceration. Researchers will use a modular system to deliver education on critical health literacy, meeting the unique needs of this underserved population.
A new report from academics highlights the risks and challenges faced by pregnant women in prison, including patchy care and support services. The authors recommend legislative and policy changes to prioritize community orders and non-punitive options over custodial sentences.
A study of over 800 hospitals found that people experiencing incarceration or homelessness had increased COVID-19 hospitalization rates and longer hospital stays compared to the general population. This highlights the vulnerable status of these groups during the pandemic.
Researchers found that prisoners in buildings located in green areas are less likely to engage in self-harming or violent behaviours. The study, published in Wellbeing, Space and Society, suggests that surrounding greenspace has a positive effect on prisoner wellbeing alongside prison walls.
A longitudinal study of male prisoners' religious beliefs found that stable or increasing religiosity did not improve reentry-related outcomes. In fact, many men with decreasing religious beliefs struggled to reintegrate into society due to structural barriers and substance use.
A new study led by Boston Medical Center researchers shows that Black individuals who were incarcerated have a statistically significant 65% increase in mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic non-Black individuals. This finding highlights the long-term impacts of incarceration on health, particularly among marginalized communities.
A study of nearly 8,000 people found incarceration to be linked to a higher mortality rate among Black individuals, whereas non-Black participants did not experience this association. The research suggests that racial disparities may play a role in the relationship between imprisonment and mortality.
A new study found that a college-in-prison program significantly reduced recidivism rates among participants, with rates falling by 38% across racial groups. Higher levels of program participation correlated closely with lower rates of recidivism, addressing racial inequality in prison populations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed weaknesses in the criminal justice system, highlighting issues with family and domestic violence, gang activity, and police-community interactions. Scholars from the American Society of Criminology investigate these concerns in a special issue, exploring lessons learned and policy implications.
A new study found a dramatic increase in people with co-occurring mental health needs and substance use disorders in B.C. prisons, reaching 75% of the prison population. The study calls for more treatment and efforts to address social and structural inequities.
A new study finds that schools with high levels of student substance use and depressed feelings have a higher prevalence of discipline, out-of-school suspensions, and police contact. Schools with lower levels of safety and support also experience higher discipline rates.
A systematic literature review found HIV seroprevalence in five key populations: men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), prisoners, sex workers, and transgender people. The review identified significant gaps in data, particularly for transgender individuals.
A new study by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health found that NYC COVID-19 mandates enforcement mirrored the discretionary nature of the New York stop-and-frisk program, resulting in racialized criminalization and punishment. The use of police to enforce public health mandates increased the risk of COVID spread due to f...
A team of psychological scientists and criminologists recommend testing eyewitness memory only once to prevent contaminated memories from convicting innocent people. The first identification is the most reliable test, which can avoid further contamination and ensure justice.