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Reducing the Methodological Heterogeneity ("Noise") in the Literature Predicting In-Prison Interpersonal Harm in Male
Nancy Wolff1, Eva Aizpurua2, Dan Peng1
1Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Trauma, Violence & Abuse
|May 25, 2023
Summary
Preventing interpersonal harm in prisons requires understanding risk factors. This study identifies key individual and prison-level factors to improve safety and health for incarcerated individuals.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Criminology
- Correctional Healthcare
Background:
- Interpersonal harm, including physical and sexual victimization, is a persistent public health issue within correctional facilities.
- Existing research on in-prison violence has limitations due to theoretical and methodological "noise," hindering the development of effective prevention strategies.
- A public health framework, emphasizing problem definition, measurement, and identification of risk/protective factors, offers a promising approach to prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To critically review the existing evidence on interpersonal harm in prisons.
- To identify reliable risk and protective factors for interpersonal harm using robust data and methods.
- To inform the development of evidence-based strategies for creating safer custodial environments.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 15 peer-reviewed articles published since 2000 with samples exceeding 1,000 participants.
- Analysis of self-report data representative of an entire U.S. state prison system for men.
- Application of multilevel logistic regression to predict four types of interpersonal harm using individual and prison-level covariates.
Main Results:
- Identified specific individual and prison-level factors that significantly predict interpersonal harm.
- Distinguished between substantive findings and methodological "noise" in the current literature.
- Provided a refined understanding of risk factors for victimization in carceral settings.
Conclusions:
- Effective prevention of interpersonal harm in prisons necessitates a rigorous, evidence-based approach.
- Future research should focus on building a stronger evidence base to guide the creation of safe and healthy correctional environments.
- Recommendations are provided for developing and sustaining strategies to ensure the safety and well-being of incarcerated populations.
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