Evidence-based Interventions Targeting Remand Prisoners: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis / Intervenciones basadas en la evidencia dirigidas a reclusos en prisión preventiva: revisión sistemática y meta-análisis

Background/Aim: Official data show that nearly three million people are awaiting trial in prison. Despite this group representativeness, few interventions have been developed and assessed for these prisoners, even though literature has been showing that they present specific vulnerabilities. Nevertheless, no previous literature review had covered this topic. Considering this, the present review aims to gather evidence on the programs focused on this population, analyzing their intervention targets and their effectiveness. Method: The search identified a total of 7,143 studies. After removing the duplicates, 2,199 were screened using the title and abstract, according to the inclusion criteria. The full-text screening comprehended 45 articles, of which 37 were excluded. This resulted in 8 studies for inclusion in the final analysis, of which four were pharmacological studies. Results: Overall, meta-analysis results exhibited that treatment of remand prisoners (RPs) has an extraordinarily large positive effects, exceeding 92%. Our study confirmed that RPs would benefit from treatment, and therefore intervention programs should be established. Conclusions: Besides, our findings underlined the scarce resources to address the difficulties of the remand population, reinforcing the importance of assessing these individuals’ needs to develop effective responses to them. (AU)

Introducción/Objetivo: Los datos oficiales muestran que casi tres millones de personas se encuentran en prisión a la espera de juicio. A pesar de la representatividad de este grupo, se han desarrollado y evaluado pocas intervenciones para estos presos, a pesar de que las publicaciones científicas han venido demostrando que presentan vulnerabilidad específica. Sin embargo, ninguna revisión anterior de la literatura había abordado este tema. Teniendo esto en cuenta, la presente revisión pretende reunir evidencias sobre los programas dirigidos a esta población, analizando sus objetivos de intervención y su efectividad. Método: La búsqueda identificó un total de 7,143 estudios. Tras eliminar los duplicados, se seleccionaron 2,199 mediante el título y el resumen, de acuerdo con los criterios de inclusión. El cribado del texto completo comprendió 45 artículos, de los cuales 37 fueron excluidos. Esto dio lugar a 8 estudios para su inclusión en el análisis final, de los cuales 4 eran estudios farmacológicos. Resultados: En general, los resultados del meta-análisis mostraron que el tratamiento de los presos preventivos tiene enormes efectos positivos, superiores al 92%. Nuestro estudio confirmó que los presos preventivos se beneficiarían del tratamiento, por lo que deberían establecerse programas de intervención. Conclusiones: Los resultados subrayan los escasos recursos que hay para abordar las dificultades de la población en prisión preventiva, reforzando la importancia de evaluar las necesidades de estos individuos para desarrollar respuestas efectivas a las mismas. (AU)

The impact of imprisonment on individuals' mental health and society reintegration: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Prison sentences are a particular type of penalty that aim to reintegrate individuals into society. Nonetheless, research suggests that prison sentences have a null or a criminogenic effect on recidivism and a critical impact on inmates' mental health, negatively interfering with their successful reintegration into society and recidivism. Prevalence rates of mental health disorders among individuals who commit crimes are high, but little is known about how incarceration perpetuates and/or worsens mental health symptoms. In the Portuguese context, no studies focused on understanding the impact of imprisonment on prisoners' mental health. Thus, this project aims to understand incarceration's mental health and well-being impact on male and female individuals convicted to prison, both while incarcerated and after release. METHODS: The study will follow a quantitative cross-sectional design of male and female individuals in prison and parole, aiming to assess different samples at different moments of the prison sentence. It will also follow a longitudinal design in a subsample of male and female individuals sentenced to prison and on parole who will be followed for one year. DISCUSSION: This study intends to have a meaningful impact on the understanding of imprisonment effects, giving important clues for developing and implementing evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies to address prisoners' and ex-prisoners' mental health and improve their ability to successfully reintegrate into society and reduce recidivism.