Thermal (In)equity and incarceration: A necessary nexus for geographers

Despite overall societal progress in reducing adverse impacts of heat and cold, incarcerated populations remain highly vulnerable to environmental stressors. Incarcerated populations experience a combination of risk factors related to their physical health and well-being that increase their thermal vulnerability: social isolation, disproportionate mental health issues, comorbidities, limited mobility, and a reliance on external factors to provide a safe, healthy environment. In carceral spaces, thermal exposure agitates these already complex situations, shaping a confluence of various economic, political, and ecological intersectionalities. This synthesis contextualizes the ongoing scholarship on climate change, thermal exposure, the built environment, and public policy, to examine thermal inequities experienced by incarcerated populations. In examining this context, we connect our work to carceral geographies, the geographies of violence, racial capitalism, and abolition ecologies. Ultimately, the review highlights how physical geographers may directly converse with critical geographers, promote equity and environmental justice, and work to reduce adverse impacts of extreme temperature events.

Use of rapid molecular tuberculosis diagnostics across Brazil’s incarcerated population

BackgroundIncarcerated individuals in Brazil are at high-risk of tuberculosis (TB), but their access to World Health Organization recommended diagnostics is poorly understood.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of newly diagnosed TB cases in Brazil’s notifiable disease registry, which includes information on diagnostic tests performed, from January 2015 through December 2018. We quantified reported use of TB diagnostics across incarcerated and non-incarcerated populations and tested for municipality-level factors associated with diagnostic usage among the incarcerated population with generalized linear regression.ResultsBetween 2015 and 2018, 258,014 individuals were newly diagnosed with TB, including 27,400 (10.6%) incarcerated individuals. Among these, 27.5% had an Xpert MTB/RIF test reported; 71.5% had sputum smear; 34.1% had culture; 70.9% had chest radiography. Xpert MTB/RIF use was greater among incarcerated than non-incarcerated individuals (36.2% vs 26.5%, p<0.001). However, we found spatial heterogeneity in state-level use of both Xpert MTB/RIF (range: 4.7-72.4% cases diagnosed) and chest radiography (range: 11.7-88.4%) in prisons. We identified seven municipalities with large incarcerated populations (>5000) with rates of Xpert MTB/RIF usage below the national average in incarcerated individuals.ConclusionPrioritizing expansion of rapid molecular diagnostics in prisons, particularly in regions with limited current usage of molecular diagnostics, will be an essential component of TB control.

Hepatitis C Virus Is Associated With Increased Mortality Among Incarcerated Hospitalized Persons in Massachusetts

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is curable, but incarcerated populations face barriers to treatment. In a cohort of incarcerated hospitalized patients in Boston, Massachusetts, HCV infection was associated with increased mortality. Access to HCV treatment in carceral settings is crucial to avoid unnecessary death and to support HCV elimination efforts.

Sex Differences in Inmates: Anger, Sensitivity to Provocation and Family History of Imprisonment

Little research has explored the role of aggression, anger, and family history of incarceration as they relate to female offenders. The current study aimed to address this gap in the literature by investigating these possible risk factors for incarceration among both men and women. The survey involved 123 (61 female and 62 male) prisoners convicted for violent crimes and a comparison group of 118 (60 female and 58 male) adults from the community. We found that women (convicted and non-convicted) were more sensitive to provocation than men, while community adults showed higher levels of trait anger than prisoners. Detainees were more likely than community adults to have a relative in prison. Although male and female inmates were equally likely to have a relative in prison, they differed in their relation to the imprisoned relative. Male and female prisoners showed increased risk for incarceration of same sex, first degree relatives (father and brothers for men, and mothers for women). These results may contribute to improved understanding of incarcerated populations. As such, this represents a critical first step in creating recovery programs that are more gender appropriate.

Abstract P083: Sodium Content Of Menu And Commissary Provisions In Rural Jail Exceed Heart-healthy Dietary Recommendations

Introduction: Incarcerated populations experience nearly two times the risk of Hypertension (HT) and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) relative to the general population. Incarcerated individuals lack the autonomy to make dietary changes to attenuate these risks. Dietary intake of sodium is considered the most critical and modifiable nutritional determinant to developing HT and CVD. The American Heart Association recommends the cardioprotective Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet which restricts sodium intake to 1500 mg per day, 800 mg less than the recommended Dietary Reference Intake (DRI). Nutrition in jail is obtained through menu provisions and purchasable packaged food and beverage items from the commissary, yet previous research indicating the high sodium content in jail meals has failed to include commissary items in total sodium intake. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that estimated daily sodium in a 7 day cycle menu and commissary items at a county jail exceed DRI and DASH diet recommendations. Methods: A 7 day cycle menu and commissary food list were obtained from a southwest rural county jail, which included 3 daily meals. Commissary items included 4 purchasable, pre-bundled food snack packs. NutriCalc Dietary Analysis software was used to determine sodium content for each meal, and commissary snack pack. Total sodium from the 7 day menu was divided by the number of days (7) to determine a daily average. For snack pack analyses, sodium of each of the 4 snack packs was added to the 7 day menu provisions and divided by 7, individually. All estimates were compared to DRI and DASH recommendations. Results: The sodium content from the menu and commissary significantly exceeded both DRI and DASH recommendations. The daily average sodium from menu provisions was 167% (3847/2300) of the DRI and 256% (3847/1500) of the DASH diet recommendations. Lunch provisions contributed the largest proportion (45%, 12051/26931) of total weekly sodium. When sodium from commissary snack packs was included with the 7 day cycle menu, daily average sodium content ranged from 173 to 292% [(3971/2300) to ( 6712/2300)] of DRI and 265 to 447% [(3970/1500) to (6712/1500)] of DASH diet recommendations. Conclusions: Small changes to one meal within the cycle menu and the inclusion of fresh or frozen produce could reduce sodium content to align with DRI and DASH recommendations. Commissary items make up a substantial portion of dietary sodium intake within jails. The addition of reduced sodium options to commissary snack packs may help limit sodium intake without restricting what little autonomy incarcerated individuals have over their diet. These alterations may help alleviate HT and CVD burden for incarcerated populations.

Locked Up and Blocked Out: The Digital Divide for Formerly Incarcerated Women in Canada

In Canadian prisons and jails, populations are not able to access the internet, and many other essential technologies. Several research studies have examined the impact of the digital divide on incarcerated populations in the United States and other countries around the world (Barreiro-Gen & Novo-Corti, 2015; Reisdorf & Rikard, 2018). This study will expand on the current research by examining the impact of restrictions to internet access in Canadian prisons on the lives of formerly incarcerated women in Canada and, more specifically, how these restrictions affect their ability to reintegrate into society after the period of incarceration. The methodology of this research will be qualitative, and data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with individuals who have a variety of different experiences with the women’s correctional system in Canada. This study will address major areas of research in the field of study that addresses the digital divide, including the learning and development of digital skills, and how different identities can intersect to impact the way individuals experience the digital divide. Through constant comparative content analysis, this study describes the experience of the digital divide, how it both persists and develops from the time of incarceration to life post-incarceration, and how it can compound other types of barriers faced by women who have been incarcerated in our country.

Locked Up and Blocked Out: The Digital Divide for Formerly Incarcerated Women in Canada

In Canadian prisons and jails, populations are not able to access the internet, and many other essential technologies. Several research studies have examined the impact of the digital divide on incarcerated populations in the United States and other countries around the world (Barreiro-Gen & Novo-Corti, 2015; Reisdorf & Rikard, 2018). This study will expand on the current research by examining the impact of restrictions to internet access in Canadian prisons on the lives of formerly incarcerated women in Canada and, more specifically, how these restrictions affect their ability to reintegrate into society after the period of incarceration. The methodology of this research will be qualitative, and data will be collected through semi-structured interviews with individuals who have a variety of different experiences with the women’s correctional system in Canada. This study will address major areas of research in the field of study that addresses the digital divide, including the learning and development of digital skills, and how different identities can intersect to impact the way individuals experience the digital divide. Through constant comparative content analysis, this study describes the experience of the digital divide, how it both persists and develops from the time of incarceration to life post-incarceration, and how it can compound other types of barriers faced by women who have been incarcerated in our country.