Dogs as Therapeutic Partners, Not Therapeutic Tools: Ethical Considerations for AAT in the Correctional Setting

Although the benefits of animal assisted therapy for people are well established, the ethical considerations for the welfare and safety of the non-human animals involved are not. Without an accrediting body responsible for creating and overseeing national standards, therapy animal organizations are forced to create their own guidelines, creating inconsistencies within the field. Based on interviews conducted with therapy teams who have worked with Parenting, Prison & Pups (PPP), a parenting program provided to incarcerated jailed women that is integrated with the use of animal-assisted therapy (AAT), this article explores the extent of ethics training offered for AAT teams and will examine how agencies and handlers promote and ensure the safety of canine partners, especially in a correctional setting. The research suggests that specific protocols put forth by individual AAT organizations, which can provide for a national model, can afford for the safety and comfortability of canine partners, especially in a corrections environment, but implies that in order to maintain consistency and increase therapy team professionalism, national standards are a necessity. Guidelines are specifically essential for mental health professionals, who lack guidelines from their own accrediting bodies’ code of ethics, and may incorporate non-human therapy partners into their work settings, without proper supervision.

Emergency Telehealth Services in the Correctional Setting

Millions of patients receive their primary health care in U.S. jails and prisons each year. Correctional health care systems frequently lack round-the-clock onsite physician services, and access to local hospital-based emergency services may be limited. Increasingly, correctional health care systems are relying on telehealth capabilities to improve their access to subspecialty services. Emergency telehealth services, however, are largely underutilized. Available reports suggest that emergency telehealth services can reduce outside medical trips and prove cost-effective in certain settings. Successful emergency telehealth programs emphasize the importance of a thorough diagnostic evaluation, effective communication with local correctional health care providers, and strategic use of point-of-care testing. This chapter provides practical recommendations for the telehealth evaluation and management of commonly occurring medical emergencies in the correctional setting.

Initial SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study

Background The largest outbreaks of COVID-19 in the United States have occurred in correctional facilities, and little is known about the feasibility and acceptability of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine campaigns among incarcerated people. Objective The aim of this study was to describe a statewide vaccination program among incarcerated people and staff working in a prison setting. Methods Between December 2020 and February 2021, the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) offered the opportunity for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination to all correctional staff and sentenced individuals. Two RIDOC public health educators provided education on the vaccine, answered questions, and obtained consent before the vaccine clinic day for the incarcerated group. All staff received information on signing up for vaccines and watched an educational video that was created by the medical director. Additional information regarding vaccine education and resources was sent via email to the entire RIDOC department. Results During this initial campaign, 76.4% (1106/1447) of sentenced individuals and 68.4% (1008/1474) of correctional staff accepted and received the vaccine. Four months after the first vaccine was offered, 77.7% (1124/1447) of the sentenced population and 69.6% (1026/1474) of staff were fully vaccinated. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility and efficiency of vaccine implementation in a carceral setting. Education and communication likely played an important role in mitigating vaccine refusals.

Peer Review of “SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study” (Preprint)

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Authors’ Response to Peer Reviews of “SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study” (Preprint)

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Peer Review of “SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Uptake in a Correctional Setting: Cross-sectional Study” (Preprint)

UNSTRUCTURED This is a peer review.