Protect Sick Prisoners' Rights Through Regulation and Innovation——Chengdu launches coordinating mechanism for sick prisoners with major diseases

In May 2011, the Prison Management Bureau of Sichuan Province in Southwest China held a conference in its capital city Chengdu to discuss the management of severely sick prisoners. Coordinating Management on Major Diseases of Sick Prisoners in Sichuan （Trial） was issued then, marking the start of an overall deployment.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and its related risk factors in drug abuser prisoners in Hamedan-Iran

AIM:Recent studies in Iran has shown that prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among Iranian prisoners is high, in spite of low HCV seroprevalence in general population. METHODS: This study was carried out in the central prison of Hamedan - Iran, in year 2002. Inmates were interviewed using a standard questionnaire including demographic, imprisonment history and HCV-related risk behaviors items. Thereafter, the sera drawn from the participants were tested for anti-HIV and anti-HCV antibodies. RESULTS: A total number of 427 drug abuser inmates participated in our study. Three hundred and ninety-seven (93%) were men and 30 (7%) were women. Total number of IV drug abusers (IDA) and non-IV drug abusers (NIDA) was 149 (34.9%) and 278 (65.1%), respectively. The overall rate of antibody positivity among inmates was 0.9% for HIV and 30% for HCV. Of all IDAs, 31.5% and of NIDAs, 29.1% had serological evidence of HCV infection. CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of HCV infection among drug abuser prisoners in comparison with the general population in Iran, is very high (30% vs in italics 0.2%). Our results indicate the importance of policies to prevent transmission of HCV infection during and following incarceration.

Hepatitis C virus infection and prisoners: Epidemiology, outcome and treatment

The studies on hepatitis C virus(HCV) infection in prison populations are few and mostly cross-sectional. We analyzed prevalently the articles appearing on Pub Med in the last ten years. HCV infection is frequent in prisoners, prevalences ranging from 3.1% to 38% according to the HCV endemicity in the geographical location of the prison and in the countries of origin of the foreign prisoners and to the prevalence of intravenous drug use, which is the most important risk factor for HCV infection, followed by an older age of prisoners and previous prison terms. HCV replication in anti-HCVpositive cases varies from 45% to 90% in different studies, and the most common HCV genotypes are generally 1 and 3. The response to antiviral treatment is similar in prisoners to that of the general population. Unfortunately, treatment is administered less frequently to prisoners because of the difficulties in management and follow-up. The new directly acting antivirals offer a good therapy option for inmates because of their good efficacy, short duration of treatment and low incidence of side effects. The efforts of the prison authorities and medical staff should be focused on reducing the spread of HCV infection in prisons by extending the possibility of follow-up and treatment to more prisoners with chronic hepatitis C.

Prevalence,genotypes and factors associated with HCV infection among prisoners in Northeastern Brazil

AIM： To determine hepatitis C virus （HCV） seropreva- lence and its genotypes, and to identify the factors associated with HCV infection. METHODS： This cross-sectional study, conducted in two prisons （one male and one female） in the State of Ser- gipe, Brazil, comprised 422 subjects. All of the prisoners underwent a rapid test for the detection of HCV antibod- ies. Patient~ with a positive result were tested for anti- HCV by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and for HCV RNA by qualitative polymerase chain reaction （PCR）. The virus genotype was defined in every serum sample that presented positive for PCR-HCV. In order to determine the factors independently associated with positive serol- ogy for HCV, multivariate logistic regression was used. RESULTS： HCV seroprevalence was 3.1%. Of the 13 subjects with positive anti-HCV, 11 had viremia confirmed by PCR. Of these, 90.9% had genotype 1. A total of 43 （10.2%） were injecting drug users, and HCV seroprevalence in this subgroup was 20.6%. The variable most strongly associated with positive serology for HCV was use of injecting drugs [odds ratio （OR）, 23.3; 95% confidence interval （CI）, 6.0-90.8]. Age over 30 years （OR, 5.5; 95%CI, 1.1-29.2）, history of syphilis （OR, 9.8; 95%CI, 1.7-55.2） and history of household contact with HCV positive individual （OR, 14.1; 95%CI, 2.3-85.4） were also independently associated with HCV infection. CONCLUSION： Most of the HCV transmissions result from parenteral exposure. However, there is evidence to suggest a role for sex and household contact with an infected subject in virus transmission.

Prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Gondar prisoners,North West Ethiopia

Objective:To assess the prevalence and risk factors of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis among Condar town prisoners.North West Ethiopia.Methods:A cross sectional study was conducted from February to July,2008 in Condar Prison.Prisoners with cough duration of more than two weeks were involved in the study by giving three sputum samples and filling the questionnaires prepared for risk factor assessment.Acid fast staining technique was employed to delect the presence of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli in the sputum samples.Data was analyzed using SPSS version13 computer software and presented in table.Chi-square test was used to assess associations and a P-value less than 0.05 was taken as significant.Results:A total of 384 prisoners,349 male and 35 females,with a mean age of 33.3 years were involved in the study.The prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis among those prisoners with cough duration of more than two wecks was 8.59%.Only the length of imprisonment had a significant association(χ~2= 18.82,P-value【0.0001) with the prevalence of tuberculosis.Conclusions:This study indicated that tuberculosis among prisoners with cough duration of more then two weeks in Gondar prison is very high.Therefore Periodic screening of the prisoners and screening of newly introduced prisoners should be practiced so as to minimise the burden of tuberculosis in prisoners.

Traumatic Brain Injury in Prisoners: Relation to Risky Decision-Making, Aggression and Criminal Behavior

The objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate if Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is related to decision-making deficits as well as to heightened levels of (reactive) aggression and criminal behavior in a group of Dutch male prisoners. Characteristics of aggression were assessed using three self-report questionnaires as well as systematic staff observations, complemented with data from criminal records. A semi-structured interview was conducted to rate lifetime prevalence of TBI and the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) was completed to assess risky decision-making. Out of the total of 133 participants, 74 (55.6%) reported having sustained one or more incidents with potential TBI. Statistical comparisons between offenders with and without TBI indicated that the offenders with TBI reported significantly higher levels of (reactive) aggression on two out of three questionnaires than offenders without TBI (p-values ranging from 0.003 to 0.008), but no significant differences were found on staff observations of aggression and on the IGT. The higher conviction rates in offenders with TBI compared to the non-TBI group showed a trend. The confirmed relationship between TBI and higher aggressive tendencies is especially relevant for forensic populations due to the high prevalence rates of TBI in offenders. How this relates to specific cognitive processes remains unclear. The lack of a statistical difference between offenders with and without TBI on the IGT is in contrast with literature in non-offender samples, but seems to be in line with other studies in forensic populations.

Knowledge of Female Prisoners in a City of Ceará, Brazil, about Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Exploratory study was conducted in the Crato Public Prison, State of Ceará, Brazil, aiming to understand the knowledge and experiences related to the preventive aspects of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) in the prison context. The target population of the study consisted of 14 female inmates, 10 of whom agreed to participate. Data collection occurred in June 2012 through recorded semi-structured individual interviews. We investigated quantitative, socio-demographic and sexual variables. In qualitative data analysis, we applied the Meaning Interpretation Method. The female vulnerability was aggravated by the early onset of sexual activity, lack of knowledge about STDs, non-adoption of preventive measures and history of prostitution. The following categories emerged from the qualitative assessment: Knowledge about STD/AIDS versus Personal Experience;Use of contraception as STD/AIDS prevention within the Public Jail;Habits of inmates: alcohol and tobacco;and Characterization of the conjugal visit area.

The Link between Facets of Impulsivity and Aggression in Extremely Violent Prisoners

Evidence is growing that aggressive behavior and impulsivity have subgroups. The subscales of the Urgency, Premeditation, Perseverance and Sensation seeking (UPPS) impulsivity scale and the Bryant and Smith shortened and refined version of the Aggression Questionnaire were used to describe and compare impulsive and aggressive behavior in extremely violent and aggressive male inmates and non-violent healthy male controls. The Mann-Whitney test showed that there was a significant difference (p < 0. 006) in the total UPPS impulsivity scale scores between the aggressive inmates and the controls. The subscales revealed that this difference was based mainly on the urgency score (p < 0. 003). On the aggression subscales, the inmates scored significantly higher for physical aggression than the controls (p < 0.001), but no significant difference was seen between inmates and controls for verbal aggression, anger and hostility, although the exact p-value was very close to statistical significance at 0.054. Regression analysis revealed a strong relationship between urgency and the aggression subscales hostility (p = 0.0004) and anger (p = 0.003) and that urgency was also linked to symptoms of anxiety (p = 0.008). Finally, a statistically significant link was found between both hostility (p = 0.0003) and anger (p = 0.002) and symptoms of anxiety. The highly selected subgroup of extremely violent criminals in this study were more physically aggressive than non-violent controls, with urgency as the driving feature in their impulsive behavior, and hostility, anger and symptoms of anxiety as underlying traits.

China's First Seminar On Prisoners' Human Rights

Anational seminar on honoring prisoners’ human rights was held in Nanjing from September 10 to 12 by China Society for Human Rights Studies (CSHRS) and China Penology Society (CPS), which, the first of its kind in China, drew over 60 law and human rights experts and officials from jails and judicial administrations across the country.

Prisoners' Human Rights Protection in China off Press

Of late a book describing prisoners’ human rights protection in China was off the press. Compiled jointly by the ChinaPenology Society and the China Society for Human Rights Studies, the book Prisoners’ Human Right Protection in China has collected papers presented at the National Seminar on Prisoners’ Human

Prisoners awarded——Henan Yudong Prison rewards accomplished inmates

Gao Pingyuan has seen new hopes of a new life after serving his terms for 12 years at the Yudong Prison in central China＇s Henan Province. He got the special class award for his accomplished teaching in prison.

Life of Old,Sick and Handicapped Prisoners in China

At the foot of the Great Wall northwest of Beijing, there is a special prison, called Yanqing Prison. It is special, because it gathers all theimprisoned old, sick and handicapped offenders in the Beijing area for the purpose of facilitating management.

Strengthen Theoretical Study of Prisoners' Human Rights

The following are excerpts of a speech made by Jin Jian, President of the China Penology Society and Vice-President of the China Society for Human Rights Studies at a seminar on prisoners' human rights organized by the China Penology Society and the China Society for Human Rights Studies.

Intentional ingestions of foreign objects among prisoners: A review

The intentional ingestion of foreign objects(IIFO) is described more commonly in prison populations than in the general population, with an estimated annual incidence of 1 in 1900 inmates in our state correctional facilities. Incidents often involve ingestion of small metal objects(e.g., paperclips, razor blades) or other commonly available items like pens or eating utensils. Despite ingestion of relatively sharp objects, most episodes can be clinically managed with either observation or endoscopy. Surgery should be reserved for those with signs or symptoms of gastrointestinal perforation or obstruction. For those with a history of IIFO, efforts should focus on prevention of recurrenceas subsequent episodes are associated with higher morbidity, significant healthcare and security costs. The pattern of IIFO is often repetitive, with escalation both in frequency of ingestions and in number of items ingested. Little is known about successful prevention strategies, but efforts to monitor patients and provide psychiatric care are potential best-practice strategies. This article aims to provide state-of-the art review on the topic, followed by a set of basic recommendations.

When Students Become“Prisoners”:A Game Theory Analysis of Internship by Beijing College Students

Purpose-The oversupply of college graduates and increasing competition in the Chinese urban labor market have forced college students to undertake internships much earlier and to a greater intensity in the hope of boosting their employment prospects.It may be argued that the considerable time and energy thus spent on internships is deleterious to their university studies.The paper considers the factors that determine the intensity of an internship experience.Design/Approach/Methods-Building on a Cobb-Douglas utility function,the paper constructs a Prisoners’Dilemma game to model the internship behavior of Chinese college students,and then examines the determinants of internship using data from a 2011 survey of approximately 10,000 Chinese college students from 47 higher education institutions in the Beijing metropolitan area and multivariate regression analysis.Findings-Empirical results confirm three key hypotheses derived from our model:first,students’perceptions of higher differentials across available jobs in the labor market entice them to intern excessively;second,the improving quality of college teaching and the consequent benefit for knowledge acquisition mitigates the need for excessive internship;third,student preferences for fundamental knowledge acquisition also tilts the balance towards more study and less internship.Originality/Value-These findings suggest that in the context of a tight graduate labor market,improving the quality of college teaching provides a viable alternative to excessive internship by students.

美国战俘保护制度的双重性标准探析——以《§ 2005.Prisoners of war 50 App.U.S.C.A.§ 2005》为视角

近几场局部战争中,美军频发虐囚事件,引发世界高度关注。为削减虐囚事件带来的负面影响,平复美军内部厌战情绪,美军开始反思自己的战俘政策。2005年出台的《§2005.Prisoners of war 50 App.U.S.C.A.§2005》,对战俘身份确认、战俘待遇、赔偿提请程序作出了一系列改进,但与《关于战俘待遇之日内瓦公约》及后续出台相关国际公约中规定的战俘保护制度相比,美军战俘保护制度的双重性标准彰显无遗。

Providing Prisoners' Children a Home

TEN years ago, Zhang Shuqin, a police inspector I in Shaanxi, visited a special family by chance. In this family, both the husband and wife were serving prison sentences, leaving five children and their 70-year-old granny at home. In their shabby cave dwelling, there was some cardboard on the bedframe instead of mattress and blankets. The old woman was coughing violently and the four-year-old girl

Rehabilitation of Female Prisoners

CHINESE women imprisoned for various crimes undergo a reeducation and rehabilitation program which often results in repentance for past wrongdoings, and providing an avenue for them to make a fresh start. Female prisoners study general education courses, learn basic legal concepts and working skills as part of a rehabilitation program that helps reintigrate them into society upon release.

The global and regional prevalence of hepatitis C and B co-infections among prisoners living with HIV:a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Hepatitis B virus(HBV)and hepatitis C virus(HCV)infections are common among individuals with human immune deficiency virus(HIV)infection worldwide.In this study,we did a systematic review and meta-analysis of the published literature to estimate the global and regional prevalence of HCV,HBV and HIV coinfections among HIV-positive prisoners.Methods We searched PubMed via MEDLINE,Embase,the Cochrane Library,SCOPUS,and Web of science(ISI)to identify studies that reported the prevalence of HBV and HCV among prisoners living with HIV.We used an eight-item checklist for critically appraisal studies of prevalence/incidence of a health problem to assess the quality of publications in the included 48 cross-sectional and 4 cohort studies.We used random-effect models and meta-regression for the meta-analysis of the results of the included studies.Results The number of the included studies were 50 for HCV-HIV,and 23 for HBV-HIV co-infections.The pooled prevalence rates of the coinfections were 12%[95%confidence interval(CI)9.0–16.0]for HBV-HIV and 62%(95%CI 53.0–71.0)for HCV-HIV.Among HIV-positive prisoners who reported drug injection,the prevalence of HBV increased to 15%(95%CI 5.0–23.0),and the HCV prevalence increased to 78%(95%CI 51.0–100).The prevalence of HBV-HIV coinfection among prisoners ranged from 3%in the East Mediterranean region to 27%in the American region.Also,the prevalence of HCV-HIV coinfections among prisoners ranged from 6%in Europe to 98%in the East Mediterranean regions.Conclusions Our findings suggested that the high prevalence of HBV and HCV co-infection among HIV-positive prisoners,particularly among those with a history of drug injection,varies significantly across the globe.The results of Meta-regression analysis showed a sliding increase in the prevalence of the studied co-infections among prisoners over the past decades,rising a call for better screening and treatment programs targeting this high-risk population.To prevent the above coinfections among prisoners,aimed public health services(e.g.harm reduction via access to clean needles),human rights,equity,and ethics are to be seriously delivered or practiced in prisons.