Prison Issues in the Criminal Justice Field : Research

Research Claims a Cure for Hepatitis C

cgordon — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:58:00 GMT

Science Daily has released an article outlining a research study done on hepatitis C conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University. The study, headed up by Mitchell Shiffman, M.D., a professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University Shool of Medicine, determined that "Nearly all -- 99 percent -- of patients with hepatitis C who were treated successfully with peginterferon alone, or in combination with ribavirin, had no detectable virus up to seven years later." This is ground breaking research and evidence given that "The CDC estimates the number of hepatitis C-related deaths could increase to 38,000 annually by the year 2010, surpassing annual HIV/AIDS deaths." Thanks to Michael Connelly at Corrections Sentencing for bringing this story to our attention.

Longer Life in Prison than Free?

Eileen Conway — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 17:21:00 GMT

Is prison the place to be to live a longer life? The Bureau of Justice Statistics has released Medical Causes of Death in State Prisons, 2001-2004. Among its findings are that "State prisoners had a 19% lower death rate than the adult U.S. resident population; among blacks the morality rate was 57% lower among prisoners."

Just how feministic are female offenders? What social norms do they live by?

Peggy L. Ritchie — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:37:00 GMT

The University of California at Irvine just published a major research project called "Understanding the Female Offender". The project focuses on female offender behavior patterns: When do they persist and when do they desist? Read to find out:

Is marriage a factor in criminal behavior or changes in behavior for females?

Who are the "conventional men" in these marriages?

Does working in the home versus outside the home make a difference? Why?

Do homemaking and motherhood halt criminal behaviors? How can this be?

Read to discover research conclusions.

Prostitution on the Street and Prostitution in Prisons-Same Dynamics?

Peggy L. Ritchie — Mon, 18 Dec 2006 18:52:00 GMT

The Office of Community Oriented Policing Services of the U.S Department of Justice just published its second edition of Street Prostitution. This Guide provides insights into how communities can address key problems such as:

Harm and its Spillover Effect
Economic Concerns
Civil Rights Concerns
Factors Contributing to Street Prostitution such as: Pimps, Drugs, Clients
How to Deter and Target Prostitutes and Their Clients
Public Health Issues

How do you manage this special population in your prisons?

Do they contribute to HIV/Aids in prisons?

Have you developed any special programs or research that you can share?

Do any of these concepts apply to prostitution in our prisons? Male or female?

Share your thoughts on this unique sub-population within our prisons. Thanks.

Is Drug Treatment Worth the Money?

Peggy L. Ritchie — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 16:02:00 GMT

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) just published "Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations-A Research-Based Guide". Now available- Click here. Topics include:

Principles
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Why do people involved in the criminal justice system continue abusing drugs?
Are relapse risk factors different in offender populations?
Is providing drug abuse treatment to offenders worth the financial investment?
What are unique treatment needs for women in the criminal justice system?

What are your thoughts on the return on investment of drug treatment? Any data you can share?

More resources at the National Institute of Corrections Information Center:

The Year is 2040--Look into the Crystal Ball of Criminal Justice Experts

Peggy L. Ritchie — Wed, 15 Nov 2006 14:51:00 GMT

The National Institute of Justice Journal features an article called "Preparing for the Future: Criminal Justice in 2040". Read about:

The Coevolution of Crime and Justice
Global Trends
Research Methodologies: Which Path to Take?
Making the Evidence-Based Model Realistic
Global Alliances

To subscribe to this Journal click here.

What are your predictions? Share with us.

The National Institute of Corrections offers trend documents. Try some of these:

http://nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/Library/period285.pdf

http://www.sentencingproject.org/pdfs/incarceration-crime.pdf

http://www.businessofgovernment.org/pdfs/KettlReport.pdf

http://www.justiceactionalert.info/pdf/fedgov_justadmin.pdf

http://nicic.org/Downloads/PDF/Library/period284.pdf

Shining Light in Dark Corners: An Overview of Prison Rape Elimination...

Peggy L. Ritchie — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 17:07:00 GMT

The University of California Irvine's Center for Evidence-based Corrections, under the direction of Dr. Joan Petersilia, has published a series of Bulletins on evidence based practices. Check out these examples:

"Shining Light in Dark Corners: An Overview of Prison Rape Elimination Legislation and Introduction to Current Research"

"The Scope of Correctional Control in California"

Related resouces on the Prison Rape Elimination Act can be viewed at the National Instistute of Corrections site.

The Impact of Punishment on Democracy

Peggy L. Ritchie — Wed, 27 Sep 2006 20:26:00 GMT

Punishment, the U.S. Record is a Social Research Conference, November 30-December 1, 2006, in New York City. This conference is supported by the Ford Foundation, The Open Society Instituter's U.S. Justice Fund, the Russell Sage Foundation, and others.

The purpose is to address topics such as:

Why we Punish: The Foundation of Our Concepts of Punishment (What does this mean for our democracy?) Speakers include: James Q. Whitman, Moshe Halbertal, Bernard E. Harcourt
What and How We Punish: Law, Justice and Punishment (What are the social effects? Are there viable alternatives?) Speakers include: Nancy Gertner, James Jacobs and Stephen Bright, John J. Donohue III, and Michael Tonlry
Who Do We Punish: The Carceral State - Speakers include: Mark Dow, and Jonathan Simon
What are the Consequences? Speakers include: Jeremy Travis, Todd Clear, and Deborah Mukamal

Unconfirmed speaker: U.S. Senator Barack Obama

As Juveniles go, so goes the Nation? Analyze the Impact Juvenile Offenders will have on the adult systems in the future

Peggy L. Ritchie — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:19:00 GMT

The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention just released Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report. How can adult systems use this data in their prediction models for adult incarceration rates? Needs of offenders for treatment? What role can adult systems play in prevention? How will it affect budgets? Special housing needs?

The questions continue. We'd love to hear about the benefits this information could provide for your agency planning. Let's start blogging!

Looking for a Manual on "Cognitive Self Change" for Offenders that Includes Lesson Plans? Interested in Research?

Peggy L. Ritchie — Wed, 02 Aug 2006 19:36:00 GMT

The State of Vermont and the National Institute of Corrections sponsored the development of "A Manual for Delivery of Cognitive Self Change". The manual includes:

The Content and process of Cognitive Self Change
Program Standards and Administrative Procedures
Offender worksheets

NIC's "Thinking for a Change"

Outcome Evaluations for Cognitive-Behavioral Programs:

Cognitive-Behavioral Rehabilitation for High-Risk Violent Offenders

Cognitive Skills Programs: Impact on Reducincg Reconviction Among a Sample of Female Prisoners

Evidence-Based Adult Corrections Programs: What Works and What Does Not

Evaluation of the Efficacy of a Cognitive Behavioral Program for Offenders on Probation: Thinking for a Change

Evaluation of Cognitive-Behavioral Programs for Offenders:..Outcome and Responsiviity in Five Treatment Programs

Changing Offender Behavior to Promote Public Safety

NIC Completes 50 State Survey on Criminal Laws Prohibiting Sexual Abuse of Individuals in Custody

Peggy L. Ritchie — Tue, 01 Aug 2006 20:45:00 GMT

NIC completed a national survey to ascertain statutes, definitions, penalties, and defenses related to Sexual Abuse of Individuials in Custody.