Prison Overcrowding and Harsh Conditions: Health and Human Rights Concerns to persons in custody, Staff and the Community

Baffour, Frank Darkwa, Francis, Abraham, Chong, Mark David, and Harris, Nonie (2024) Prison Overcrowding and Harsh Conditions: Health and Human Rights Concerns to persons in custody, Staff and the Community. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 51 (3). pp. 375-400.

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Abstract

The article explored overcrowding in Ghana prisons and sought to understand its impact on the health and well-being of persons in custody and prison officers. Qualitative data from 38 participants who were serving terms or working in three prison facilities in Ghana revealed three themes, including (1) fear over the spread of communicable diseases, (2) limited access to basic resources, and (3) psychological and emotional burden, attributing them to overcrowding in the prisons. We discussed the findings from human rights and prison and public security perspectives and concluded that addressing overcrowding in prisons would ensure a healthy prison environment, which may have implications for the well-being and human rights of persons in custody, as well as public safety and the health of prison officers and the community. To achieve a healthy prison, policies should target prison depopulation and commitment from stakeholders to implement local and international prison rules and conventions.

Item ID: 79960
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1552-3594
Keywords: health, incarceration, prisons, qualitative analysis, offenders
Copyright Information: Copyright © 2023 by International Association for Correctional and Forensic Psychology. CC By-NC.
Date Deposited: 01 Sep 2023 01:56
FoR Codes: 44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4402 Criminology > 440202 Correctional theory, offender treatment and rehabilitation @ 50%
44 HUMAN SOCIETY > 4409 Social work > 440902 Counselling, wellbeing and community services @ 50%
SEO Codes: 23 LAW, POLITICS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES > 2304 Justice and the law > 230408 Rehabilitation and correctional services @ 100%
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