Abstract
Although the number of people incarcerated in the United States has grown dramatically, research on how incarceration affects individuals and the communities they return to has lagged behind. This may be because of the unique challenges of doing research within carceral systems and the relatively small number of investigators who are competent to undertake these efforts.
We provide a primer for investigators with limited experience conducting research in carceral settings and highlight considerations and recommendations that may aid those conducting health research with incarcerated persons. We follow this with an illustrative case example exemplifying how the considerations apply to recent health research that our team conducted on mental illness prevalence in a large regional jail.
Understanding how to effectively conduct research with criminal justice populations and systems is the first step in beginning to understand the effects of mass incarceration as a driver of health disparities and health inequity.
Despite the clear need for health-focused justice research, few investigators have formal training or applied experience conducting research in carceral settings. Not including or intentionally excluding incarcerated persons from studies may inadvertently exacerbate health disparities by making evidence-based interventions inapplicable or inaccessible to criminal justice populations. For example, many national health surveys (e.g., the National Health Interview Survey, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Study), which form the basis for public health initiatives and reforms, have a long-standing history of excluding people who are incarcerated. The purpose of this commentary is to provide a lens through which investigators can thoroughly consider and then effectively navigate the challenges of conducting research within carceral settings—a critical competency for investigators who aim to reduce health inequities. We review factors to consider when facilitating partnerships with carceral staff, training a research team, and working with incarcerated populations.
Original language | American English |
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Journal | American Journal of Public Health |
Volume | 110 |
Issue number | S1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2020 |
EGS Disciplines
- Public Health