Ethical, regulatory, and investigator considerations in prison research.
Although numbers of prison inmates are increasing rapidly, limited research addresses health-related conditions prevalent in prisons. Compelling reasons exist for prison research to address high rates of psychiatric, neurological, and other health-related conditions that may precipitate or result from incarceration, high-risk behaviors, infectious disease transmission, traumatic brain injuries, and other issues related to incarceration. Prison research is critical because inmates are frequently re-incarcerated and released, posing potential risks to themselves and the community. The purpose of this article is to provide a pragmatic overview of ethical, regulatory, and investigator considerations to facilitate critically needed research with vulnerable prison populations.
Brewer-Smyth
Kathleen
K
School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA. kbsmyth@udel.edu
D032984:Ethics, Research; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D011330:Prisons / Q000941:ethics* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012106:Research / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014754:Violence; D035862:Vulnerable Populations