Forgiveness therapy in a maximum-security correctional institution: A randomized clinical trial

Assessing a Faith-Based Program for Trauma Healing Among Jail Inmates: A Quasi-Experimental Study

This paper assesses a faith-based, short-term program for trauma healing among incarcerated individuals, "Correctional Trauma Healing Program" (CTHP). We hypothesized that participation in the CTHP would reduce negative consequences of lifetime trauma: symptoms of PTSD, state depression, state anger, suicidal ideation, and the risk of interpersonal aggression. We also hypothesized that the reduction, if found, would be partly attributable to anticipated program outcomes (a decrease in vengefulness and an increase in religiosity, forgiveness, perceived forgiveness of God, gratitude to God, and perceived positive impact of the Bible). To test our hypotheses, we conducted a quasi-experimental study of 349 jail inmates in Virginia. Manifest-variable structural equation modeling was applied to analyze data from pretest and posttest surveys. As hypothesized, the CTHP reduced the negative consequences of trauma by increasing religiosity and other positive attributes and decreasing vengefulness directly and/or indirectly via increased religiosity. Implications and limitations of our study are discussed.

Expanding the cross-cultural validity of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory short form

This research assessed the cross-cultural validity and internal consistency of the Enright Forgiveness Inventory short form (EFI-30). A total of 1677 people across four countries (United States, the Philippines, China and Saudi Arabia) participated in the study. Data analysis relied on multigroup confirmatory factor analysis and assessments of internal consistency. The results indicated that the EFI-30 has the same structure and factor loadings in the four countries and that internal consistency for the EFI-30 factors was >0.80 in the four countries. The discrimination values suggest that the instrument can differentiate people with different levels of forgiveness. The analyses in this study indicate that the EFI-30 is a valid and reliable assessment of cognition, behaviour and affect related to forgiveness in the United States, the Philippines, China and Saudi Arabia. Clinicians working in these countries can confidently use this shorter version of the EFI to measure forgiveness.

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.

Effects of interventions on depression and anxiety in older people with physical health problems in the criminal justice system: a systematic review

The demand for health care in older people involved in the criminal justice system is high. The prevalence of mental and physical health conditions for people living in prison is greater than in community populations. After systematically searching 21 databases, we found no targeted interventions to support depression or anxiety for this group of people. 24 studies (including interventions of yoga, creative-arts-based programmes, positive psychology, or mindfulness-based interventions and psychotherapy) did contain people older than 50 years, but this only represented a minority (10%) of the overall study population. No single study reported outcomes of physical health. Future interventions need to consider the needs and views of this vulnerable group. Specific gendered and coproduced interventions are required to enhance the implementation, feasibility, and acceptability of interventions that are delivered in prisons.

The Practice of Spiritual Criminology: A Non-Doing Companionship for Crime Desistance

Spiritual criminology (SC) is an umbrella term for various criminological theories, models and practices that share reference to the spiritual dimension of human existence. Informed by a growing body of research that applies spiritual approaches to various aspects of criminology, SC attempts to provide a common thread shared by most approaches to spirituality: a voluntary self-journey that begins with an elevated level of self-centeredness and is aimed at self-transformation. Based on an extensive review of the literature, this paper proposes three general principles for spiritual accompaniment of people who offended: mindful non-doing, being and acting; love and compassion; and compassionate inclusion. These principles can be applied by combining several practices: renouncing control over knowledge, process and outcomes; creating a moral atmosphere that includes forgiveness and nonjudgment; and self-modeling. SC is shown to contribute to the rehabilitation of people who offended and also to crime prevention.

The Efficacy of a Forgiveness Bibliotherapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial with Nursing Students

Purpose of study: The need for forgiveness education for nursing self-care and forgiveness facilitation has risen. Therefore, the present pilot study tested the efficacy of an 8-week forgiveness bibliotherapy with a small number of undergraduate nursing students. Design of study: Matched pairs of nursing students were randomly assigned to either the experimental group or no-contact control group. The experimental group, using 8 keys to forgiveness by R. Enright (2015) as the treatment manual, read one chapter a week for 8 weeks and provided weekly reflections. Forgiveness and forgiveness-related outcome measures were administered at pretest, posttest, and one-month follow-up. Findings: At the posttest, the experimental group had significantly greater improvement in forgiveness compared to the control group with a large effect size, which was maintained at one month follow-up. There was no other significant difference between the two groups. Within-group comparisons of the experimental group showed improvement in forgiveness, anxiety, depression, and fatigue from pre to post testing periods and forgiveness, anger, anxiety, depression, and fatigue from pre to follow-up testing periods. Conclusion: Use of bibliotherapy may be a cost-effective way to promote the virtue of forgiveness for students in nursing programs.