SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “PRISONS”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

SourceResearch connectionFrom yearThrough year

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 559 records · Page 31Linked to original sources

PubMed2002

Sexual coercion reported by women in three midwestern prisons.

The study was an anonymous self-report survey of coercive sexual experiences of women incarcerated in three Midwestern prisons. Inmate populations were 295 (Facility 1), 113 (Facility 2) and 60 (Facility 3). Return rates were over 50%. Some prison staff were also surveyed. The 150 inmates in Facility 1 reported relatively high rates of sexual coercion: 27% had been coerced in the state system and 19% in their present facility. The 80 inmates in Facility 1 and 36 inmates in Facility 3 reported lower rates: 8% to 9% for prisons statewide and 6% to 8% for their present facility. One half of the perpetrators were females. Most incidents involved genital touching. About one fifth of the incidents were classifiable as rape. We concluded that the prison environment potentially fosters female sexual aggression among inmates and sexual exploitation by staff.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Predictors of prison-based treatment outcomes: a comparison of men and women participants.

The purpose of this study was to examine differences between men and women entering prison-based therapeutic community (TC) treatment and to explore the relationship of those differences to posttreatment outcomes (i.e., aftercare participation and reincarceration rates). Extensive treatment-intake interview data for 4,386 women and 4,164 men from 16 prison-based TCs in California were compared using chi-square analyses and t-tests. Logistic regression analyses were then conducted separately for men and women to identify gender-specific factors associated with post-treatment outcomes. Prison intake data and treatment participation data come from a 5-year process and outcome evaluation of the California Department of Corrections' (CDC) Prison Treatment Expansion Initiative. The return-to-custody data came from the CDC's Offender Based Information System. Bivariate results showed that women were at a substantial disadvantage compared with their male counterparts with regard to histories of employment, substance abuse, psychological functioning, and sexual and physical abuse prior to incarceration. In contrast, men had more serious criminal justice involvement than women prior to incarceration. After controlling for these and other factors related to outcomes, regression findings showed that there were both similarities and differences with regard to gender-specific predictors of posttreatment outcomes. Time in treatment and motivation for treatment were similar predictors of aftercare participation for men and women. Psychological impairment was the strongest predictor of recidivism for both men and women. Substantial differences in background characteristics and the limited number of predictors related to posttreatment outcomes for women suggests the plausibility of gender-specific paths in the recovery process.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

An Ohio telemedicine system for prison inmates: a case report.

BACKGROUND: A project was established by The Ohio State University Medical Center (OSUMC) and the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections (ODRC) to investigate the use of telemedicine in providing health care to Ohio's prison inmates. OBJECTIVES: To determine the effects of telemedicine on continuity of inmate care, the sense of isolation experienced by health care providers at remote institutions, the security risks incurred when transporting inmates to outside facilities, and the overall cost of care. In tracing the initial adoption and implementation of the project, the authors describe health care in Ohio's prisons and the unique nature of providing that care. METHODS: The project was conducted over a 1-year period, from November 1994 through December 1995, using a variety of methods: direct observation of inmate consultations; participation in task force meetings; unstructured interviews with physicians, prison administrators, ancillary health care personnel, and security guards; and initial collection of survey data. RESULTS: Telemedicine enables Ohio's inmates to receive health care in a more timely fashion than before. Physicians and inmates were generally satisfied, and the costs of providing inmate medical care were reduced by lessening or eliminating the need for additional security guards, vans, chase vehicles, and travel time for physicians. CONCLUSIONS: Some initial hurdles in using the system, such as scheduling and triage, are being overcome as new methods are devised, and additional incentives for specialty physicians to use the system are being investigated. The OSUMC/ODRC project suggests that the advantages of using telemedicine in prison settings are immense, and the ODRC plans to expand the network to include two more remote sites early in 1996.

Delivery of Health Care↗

PubMed1997

Influence of patient information leaflets on anticonvulsant drug compliance in prison.

The effect of patient information leaflets on anticonvulsant drug compliance in a prison system was studied. Starting in January 1996, patient information leaflets were given to inmates in 18 prison units within the Texas Department of Criminal Justice who were receiving anticonvulsant medications. Nine of the units had pharmacist-operated chronic care clinics (POCs); the other nine did not. The units were matched on the basis of demographic characteristics and patient chronicity levels. Leaflet distribution continued until two weeks into March 1996. Certified medication aides (CMAs) watched inmates take doses and documented administration. A report on the anticonvulsant medications prescribed, dosage frequencies, number of patients taking each drug, and cumulative rate of compliance for each prison unit was generated monthly. The leaflets appeared to have a positive effect on compliance. The largest percent increases in compliance occurred on POC units, possibly because of the reinforcement provided by pharmacist counseling. The findings may have been affected by the integrity of the CMAs, the possibility that some patients on POCs did not receive pharmacist counseling, exploitation of the system by inmates for secondary gain, and other factors. Patient information leaflets may be of some use in increasing drug compliance in the prison population, but expectations must be tempered by the realities of this setting.

Anticonvulsants↗

PubMed1999

The social construction of love and sexuality in a women's prison.

Incarcerated women have numerous physical, social, and emotional health care needs, including specific needs related to their expressions of sexuality while in prison. This report describes the results of a participatory action research study with incarcerated women utilizing critical hermeneutic data analysis techniques. While the public's view of sexuality between incarcerated women borders on the prurient and profane, this study suggests that women in prison continue to be sexual beings who come to "participate" in love and sex with one another based on their need for relationship and friendship. It is suggested that prison bureaucracies define women through a sexual lens, dually grounding their identities in the crimes they were sent to prison for and the perceived crimes of their sexuality. The need for nursing involvement and intervention with this marginalized and stigmatized population is discussed.

Female↗

PubMed2004

Hearing health of New South Wales prison inmates.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the hearing health of New South Wales prison inmates. METHODS: The method of testing hearing chosen was the rapid click-evoked otoacoustic emissions technique, from which two key variables were evaluated for early status of ear damage. Hearing variables, including hearing history and self-reported symptoms, were incorporated in a multivariate analysis of other health and demographic variables in the prison sample. RESULTS: The analysis shows that the hearing acuity of prisoners is poor compared with the general Australian population. Variables significantly related to the hearing scores were history of hearing problems or having arthritis or diabetes. In this sample hearing did not interact with alcohol or drugs. Those testing positive for Hepatitis B Core-Antibody were also found to have poorer hearing than those without. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Prisoners in general have poorer hearing than a normative Australian population. Some conditions have a significant impact on hearing, which may be due to associated medications. A previous history of ear problems was found to be significantly related to hearing acuity as was a history of exposure to noise. Health screening programs within the correctional system may need to include hearing loss prevention programs and medical follow-ups in relation to hearing health.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1986

Indicators of psychiatric disorder among women admitted to prison.

A random sample of 708 women prisoners recently admitted to Holloway Prison was screened for evidence of psychiatric disorder. Of the 708 women, 195 had a history of self harm, 44 of whom had a history of cutting themselves, 125 had a history of psychiatric illness, 99 were dependent on opiates, and 89 took psychotropic drugs regularly. These findings suggest that there is a need for psychiatric units in women's prisons such as Holloway Prison, and that initiatives to alter policies of admission to psychiatric hospitals should be pursued.

Adult↗

PubMed1988

Mentally abnormal prisoners on remand: I--Rejected or accepted by the NHS?

Increasing numbers of mentally abnormal offenders are sentenced to prison. The decision to treat or imprison them is influenced by the attitudes of consultant psychiatrists and their staff. The process whereby those decisions were made and the willingness of consultants to offer treatment were investigated. A retrospective survey of all (362) mentally abnormal men remanded to Winchester prison for psychiatric reports over the five years 1979-83 showed that one in five were rejected for treatment by the NHS consultant psychiatrist responsible for their care. Those with mental handicaps, organic brain damage, or a chronic psychotic illness rendering them unable to cope independently in the community were the most likely to be rejected. They posed the least threat to the community in terms of their criminal behaviour yet were more likely to be sentenced to imprisonment. Such subjects were commonly described by consultants as too disturbed or potentially dangerous to be admitted to hospital or as criminals and unsuitable for treatment. Consultants in mental hospitals were most likely and those in district general hospitals and academic units least likely to accept prisoners. The fact that many mentally ill and mentally handicapped patients can receive adequate care and treatment only on reception into prison raises serious questions about the adequacy of current management policies and the range of facilities provided by regional health authorities.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Inmate-made weapons in prison facilities: assessing the injury risk.

More than 2400 correctional workers in the United States required medical attention in 1999 following assaults by inmates, often with unconventional "homemade" weapons. Little information is available about these weapons. The authors surveyed 101 state prisons for a 12 month period within 2002-03, and 70 responded. A total of 1326 weapons were either confiscated (1086) or used to injure inmates (203) or staff (37). Staff were most often attacked with clubs. The prison store was the most common source of materials used to make confiscated weapons. Issued items were the most common source of materials used to make weapons to injure staff. The injury rate for staff was 1.0/1000 workers per year. The annual cost of injuries for time lost and medical care for staff was estimated at $1,125,000 in these 70 prisons. Results identify materials that should be redesigned to prevent modifications to make weapons. Prison stores and issued items deserve special attention.

Employer Health Costs↗

PubMed2002

Outbreak of beri-beri in a prison in West Africa.

The International Committee of the Red Cross investigated an outbreak of beri-beri in a prison in West Africa. Twenty-five prisoners out of a total of 1020 died over a period of 11 weeks--exceeding the crude mortality rate of 1/10,000/day, a threshold for serious concern. Two hundred and eleven prisoners had clinical signs of beri-beri. An immediate response to treatment with thiamine was seen and no further deaths occurred. The triad of a positive squatting test, oedema and a diet consisting exclusively of white rice should lead to the diagnosis of beri-beri. The disease is more common than generally assumed, also in Africa and especially in prisons.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

[Multidimensional aspect of proposed hypotheses accounting for the prevalence of mental disorders in prisons].

OBJECTIVE: This paper summarizes the hypotheses accounting for the prevalence of mental disorder in prison. The hypotheses about the migration of prisoners, the criminalization of individuals with mental disorders, and the clinical specificity of subjects with mental disorders are introduced and discussed. A new hypothesis is proposed to account for the prevalence of mental disorder in prison, stating that the first instances of case management, either legal or medical, affect subsequent case management. DISCUSSION: The 4 aspects (political, administrative, individual, and cognitive) of the hypotheses enable the development of a multidimensional approach to account for the prevalence of mental disorder in prison.

Case Management↗

PubMed2006

Effectiveness of an HIV prevention intervention in prison among African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasians.

Prisons and prison inmates present important targets for HIV/AIDS prevention interventions. Inmates often have histories of high-risk behavior that place them in danger of contracting HIV/AIDS, and rates of HIV/AIDS tend to be much higher in this population. The goal of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a prison-based HIV/AIDS intervention to change attitudes toward HIV prevention, norms supporting HIV prevention, perceived behavioral control (i.e., self-efficacy) for HIV prevention behaviors, and intentions to engage in HIV prevention behaviors postrelease. The intervention also had the goal of encouraging inmates to become HIV/AIDS peer educators. The intervention appeared most successful at influencing beliefs and behaviors related to peer education and somewhat successful at influencing beliefs and intentions related to condom use. Analyses also showed some significant differences in effectiveness by race/ethnicity. Results are discussed from the perspectives of both research and practice with regard to prison-based HIV prevention efforts.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

The Bentham Unit: a pilot remand and assessment service for male mentally disordered remand prisoners. II: Report of an independent evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Findings are presented from an evaluation of a pilot remand and assessment service--the Bentham Unit. The aims of the Bentham Unit are to provide rapid assessment, identify mentally disordered remand prisoners, and speed their transfer from prison to NHS care, where a need is indicated. METHOD: The number, rate and speed of referral, assessment and transfer to NHS care of offenders remanded to Wormwood Scrubs prison during periods before and after the Bentham Unit opened were compared. RESULTS: The service attracted a large volume of referrals. Between the two periods, significant increases in the numbers of referrals and hospital disposals, and major reductions in the interval between reception on remand into the prison, NHS assessment and transfer to NHS care, were observed. CONCLUSIONS: The aims of the unit were met. Implications for service configurations are discussed.

England↗

PubMed2006

Outcome of referral to a prison mental health team.

This retrospective case note study describes the demographic, offence and diagnostic characteristics of 115 referrals made to a psychiatric service within HMP Perth between May 2003 and April 2004. Twenty per cent of referrals were diagnosed with a major mental illness with remand prisoners having a higher overall prevalence. Nearly 70% had previous contact with psychiatric services, a similar percentage had previous substance misuse. Over 8% were transferred out of prison and over a quarter continued to be followed up at the end of the study period. A wide range of index offences was seen. Over two-thirds had a previous history of offending and nearly 60% had a previous custodial sentence, reflecting a high degree of recidivism. This study supports the high degree of psychiatric morbidity in the prison population shown in other studies. The role of a prison psychiatric service is discussed in the context of services to mentally disordered offenders.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Harm reduction and women in the Canadian national prison system: policy or practice?

Applying the principles of harm reduction within the context of incarcerated populations raises a number of challenges. Although some access to harm reduction strategies has been promoted in general society, a divide between what is available and what is advocated continues to exist within the prison system. This paper explores the perceptions and lived experiences of a sample of nationally incarcerated women in Canada regarding their perceptions and experiences in accessing HIV and Hepatitis C prevention, care, treatment and support. In-depth interviews were conducted with 156 women in Canadian national prisons. Q.S.R. Nudist was used to assist with data management. A constant comparison method was used to derive categories, patterns, and themes. Emergent themes highlighted a gap between access to harm reduction in policy and in practice. Despite the implementation of some harm reduction techniques, women in Canadian prisons reported variable access to both education and methods of reducing HIV/HCV transmission. Concerns were also raised about pre-and post-test counseling for HIV/HCV testing. Best practices are suggested for implementing harm reduction strategies within prisons for women in Canada.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Stressful segregation housing and psychosocial vulnerability in prison suicide ideators.

Psychosocially vulnerable prisoners under stressful conditions of confinement are ill prepared to cope and at risk for developing suicide intention. The present study examined the relationships of depression, hopelessness, reasons for living, mental health problem history, suicide attempt lethality history, and stressful segregation housing with suicide ideation in 134 prisoners. Prisoners housed in segregation were found to have significantly higher levels of depression and suicide ideation than prisoners in general population. A hierarchical regression model of suicide ideation found significant interactions between mental health problem history, suicide attempt lethality history, and hopelessness with anticipated segregation stress, independent of depressed mood. Results of the study are discussed in terms of the stress-vulnerability model, various methodological limitations, and future research.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The World Health Organization European Health in Prisons Project after 10 years: persistent barriers and achievements.

The recognition that good prison health is important to general public health has led 28 countries in the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO) to join a WHO network dedicated to improving health within prisons. Within the 10 years since that time, vital actions have been taken and important policy documents have been produced. A key factor in making progress is breaking down the isolation of prison health services and bringing them into closer collaboration with the country's public health services.However, barriers to progress remain. A continuing challenge is how best to move from policy recommendations to implementation, so that the network's fundamental aim of noticeable improvements in the health and care of prisoners is further achieved.

Benchmarking↗

PubMed2006

Prisons and health reforms in England and Wales.

Prison health in England and Wales has seen rapid reform and modernization. Previously it was characterized by over-medicalization, difficulties in staff recruitment, and a lack of professional development for staff. The Department of Health assumed responsibility from Her Majesty's Prison Service for health policymaking in 2000, and full budgetary and health care administration control were transferred by April 2006. As a result of this reorganization, funding has improved and services now relate more to assessed health need. There is early but limited evidence that some standards of care and patient outcomes have improved. The reforms address a human rights issue: that prisoners have a right to expect their health needs to be met by services that are broadly equivalent to services available to the community at large. We consider learning points for other countries which may be contemplating prison health reform, particularly those with a universal health care system.

Adolescent↗