Substance Use Risk Indicators and Offending Patterns Among Local Jail Inmates

Reimbursing incarcerated individuals for participation in research: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Little is known about global practices regarding the provision of reimbursement for the participation of people who are incarcerated in research. To determine current practices related to the reimbursement of incarcerated populations for research, we aimed to describe international variations in practice across countries and carceral environments to help inform the development of more consistent and equitable practices.

METHODS

We conducted a scoping review by searching PubMed, Cochrane library, Medline, and Embase, and conducted a grey literature search for English- and French-language articles published until September 30, 2022. All studies evaluating any carceral-based research were included if recruitment of incarcerated participants occurred inside any non-juvenile carceral setting; we excluded studies if recruitment occurred exclusively following release. Where studies failed to indicate the presence or absence of reimbursement, we assumed none was provided.

RESULTS

A total of 4,328 unique articles were identified, 2,765 were eligible for full text review, and 426 were included. Of these, 295 (69%) did not offer reimbursement to incarcerated individuals. A minority (n = 13; 4%) included reasons explaining the absence of reimbursement, primarily government-level policies (n = 7). Among the 131 (31%) studies that provided reimbursement, the most common form was monetary compensation (n = 122; 93%); five studies (4%) offered possible reduced sentencing. Reimbursement ranged between $3-610 USD in total and 14 studies (11%) explained the reason behind the reimbursements, primarily researchers' discretion (n = 9).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of research conducted to date in carceral settings globally has not reimbursed incarcerated participants. Increased transparency regarding reimbursement (or lack thereof) is needed as part of all carceral research and advocacy efforts are required to change policies prohibiting reimbursement of incarcerated individuals. Future work is needed to co-create international standards for the equitable reimbursement of incarcerated populations in research, incorporating the voices of people with lived and living experience of incarceration.

Polysubstance use and re-incarceration in the 12-months after release from jail: a latent transition analysis of rural Appalachian women

Background: Rural areas have high rates of opioid and stimulant involved polysubstance use which are known to contribute to overdose. Justice-involved women are likely to have multiple substance use disorders and are particularly vulnerable in rural areas where treatment is limited.Objectives: The research had three aims to (1) identify the patterns of polysubstance use of rural Appalachian justice-involved women, (2) examine how women's engagement in polysubstance use changed in the 12-months following initial release from jail, and (3) determine if women's changes in substance use patterns were associated with re-incarceration during the 12-months of post-release follow-up.Methods: A total of 339 women with recent substance use histories were randomly recruited from three rural jails. Latent transition analysis of women's substance use from baseline (in jail) to 6 and 12-months was examined, including the effect of re-incarceration on transitions (changes in substance use patterns).Results: Three latent classes were found: High Polysubstance/injection drug use (IDU) (36.3% baseline), Opioid/Benzo (Benzodiazepine) Involved Polysubstance Use (57.3% baseline), and Low Use (6.4% baseline). Polysubstance use classes were characterized by use of opioids and benzodiazepines; the High Polysubstance/IDU class was distinct in co-use and injection use of methamphetamine. Post-release, women transitioned to latent classes of reduced substance use and/or reduced injection drug use, particularly in the first six months. Women who were re-incarcerated during follow-up were likely to remain engaged in, or transition to, the High Polysubstance/IDU class (ORs: 3.14-46.56).Conclusion: Justice-involved women in Appalachia reported risky polysubstance use. The first six-months post-release were a critical period for changes in substance use.