Process, perils, and pitfalls of research in prison

Correctional facilities are fertile fields for conducting nursing research and are virtually untapped by nurse researchers. Colleagues inclined to do research in correctional facilities can make significant contributions to nursing literature. This article focuses on the process, perils, and pitfalls of research in penitentiaries. Prison populations are overlooked and largely ignored by the nursing profession. Historically, nurses have ministered to underserved populations. Incarcerated individuals meet the criteria for underserved and understudied groups. Physical and psychosocial health care problems are abundant and beg to be studied. Administrative officials and inmates were cooperative and demonstrated a willingness to contribute to research. Participation proved to be therapeutic to the inmates and was a mutually rewarding experience for this researcher.