International journal of prison health最新文献

{"title":"Risk, protection and mental health among incarcerated people.","authors":"Cecilie Froulund Jensen, Kevin Fitzpatrick, Casey Harris, Mindy Bradley","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-11-2025-0094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-11-2025-0094","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to examine how elements of prison routine are associated with mental health distress among incarcerated individuals in state prisons, and whether these associations differ according to self-reported mental disorder diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>Using data from the 2016 US Survey of Prison Inmates (N = 19,734), the authors estimated survey-weighted linear regression models with jackknife repeated replication. Two sets of models examined participation in job training, educational programming and physical exercise. Interaction terms assessed whether associations differed according to mental disorder diagnosis. Recent-participation analyses used survey subpopulation estimation.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Job training and physical exercise were associated with lower mental health distress, whereas educational programs were not significantly associated with distress. Significant interactions indicated that associations with job training and exercise were stronger among inmates with a mental disorder diagnosis.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Expanding access to job training and regular exercise programs may be an effective, feasible strategy to reduce psychological distress in correctional settings. Prioritizing program availability for inmates with a mental health diagnosis may yield particularly strong mental health and behavioral benefits.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>By focusing on modifiable aspects of prison routine, this study identifies job training and physical exercise as institutional factors associated with mental health distress and demonstrates that these associations vary according to mental disorder diagnosis.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-13"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149187214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Measuring depression, and its association with substance use, during an adherence study of patients treated for tuberculosis in Haitian prisons.","authors":"Lovette C Ekwebelem, Margarette R Bury, Edwin J Prophete, Karine Duverger, Patrick M Bircher, Anne C Spaulding","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2023-0062","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2023-0062","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Depression is commonly diagnosed in prisons of affluent countries; literature on depression screening in prisons of low-resource nations is sparse. Haiti has experienced multiple recent disasters, which could have both somatic and mental health consequences. This study aims to investigate how ethnoculturally appropriate scales could be helpful in surveilling prison populations for depression.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The authors performed a cross-sectional analysis of symptoms of depression and its associations among participants in a 2019-2020 tuberculosis treatment adherence project across six Haitian prisons. To measure depression, the authors piloted the use of the Zanmi-Lasante Depression Symptom Inventory (ZLDSI) scale in a carceral setting. The authors calculated its Cronbach's alpha in this setting and generated binary logistic models to study the associations of depression with basic demographic variables; use of cigarettes, marijuana and alcohol; and incarceration history. The authors then performed a multivariate logistic regression to determine if substance use and education predicted depression after adjusting for age.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Fifty participants were recruited; age ranged from 18 to 59 years. Adherence to tuberculosis medication was recorded as above 99% in all participants. The Cronbach's alpha score for the ZLDSI scale in this population was 0.77, signifying the good fit of the scale for this population. A ZLDSI score = 13.0 has been associated with depression; 66% of participants had scores of 13.0 or greater, with a mean of 13.9 (S.D. 8.2). Multivariate analysis showed significant associations between depression, alcohol consumption, younger age and income.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study represents the first measurement of depressive symptoms in a Haitian prison population; it found symptoms common.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"317-334"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148431810","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Unmet needs for opioid agonist therapy in Iranian prisons: a cross-sectional study.","authors":"Mahkameh Rafiee, Soheil Mehmandoost, Nasrin Sadidi, Mehrdad Khezri, Ali Akbar Haghdoost, Fatemeh Tavakoli, Elahe Amiri, Hamid Sharifi, Mohammad Karamouzian","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-10-2025-0087","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-10-2025-0087","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to estimate the prevalence of inadequate opioid agonist therapy (OAT) uptake and explore associated factors among people who use nonmedical opioids inside prisons in Iran.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>Using data from a national bio-behavioral surveillance survey, the authors conducted a multi-stage random sampling of 5,785 people in prison in 33 major prisons. Of these, 2994 (51.8%) participants with regular (i.e. at least weekly) nonmedical opioid use in the past month before entering prison or in the previous month inside the prison or prior OAT access before or during incarceration were eligible. The authors built multivariable logistic regression models to assess factors associated with limited OAT uptake inside prisons, reporting adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Participants averaged 36.1 years (SD: 8.6); 97.2% were male. Overall, 32.5% (95% CI: 30.8%, 34.2%) of eligible participants for receiving OAT inside prison, had no OAT uptake. Of those previously on OAT, 40.8% discontinued treatment after incarceration. Factors associated with no OAT uptake included: age ≤ 30 (aOR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.47, 2.07), recent prison drug use (aOR = 1.56; 95% CI: 1.29, 1.88), insufficient HIV knowledge (aOR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.32, 2.11). Protective factors included lifetime injection drug use history (aOR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.34, 0.55), HIV testing history (aOR = 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.92) and current depression/anxiety (aOR = 0.61; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.72).</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>Despite OAT availability in Iranian prisons, one-third of eligible participants did not access treatment. Prior harm reduction engagement was consistently associated with uptake, supporting the need for systematic screening at prison entry, strengthened community-to-prison care continuity and integrated mental health services.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"451-463"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148274475","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Supporting incarcerated autistic individuals: evaluation of an autism awareness training for prison staff.","authors":"Jarymke Maljaars, Leen De Roo, Sara Van der Paelt, Herbert Roeyers, Ilse Noens","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2025-0081","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-09-2025-0081","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Prison environments are particularly challenging for autistic people experiencing incarceration due to a lack of knowledge and awareness of autism among prison staff. The study aimed to evaluate the level of satisfaction and perceived effectiveness of an autism awareness training for prison staff and to assess whether this training improves autism knowledge and reduces stigma towards autistic individuals in a prison setting.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The Autism Experience Circuit (AEC), an interactive autism awareness training, has been offered to prison staff. The training was evaluated through an online survey among 31 prison employees who participated in the AEC compared to a control group of 51 other staff members.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Results showed high satisfaction among AEC participants. They especially appreciated the interactive method. For most participants, the AEC led to increased knowledge and understanding of autism, as indicated by their assessment of goal achievement. A significant improvement in autism knowledge, but not in stigma towards autistic people, was found in the AEC group compared to the control group.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>These findings suggest that an autism awareness training can be a valuable first step in making prisons more accommodating for autistic individuals, but additional strategies are necessary to address stigma effectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"439-450"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147978418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rugby as a health and well-being intervention for young people in custody: reflections from a German youth correctional facility (JA Hameln).","authors":"Torge-Christian Wittke","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0008","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to examine a rugby-based health and well-being intervention for young men in custody in a German youth correctional facility in Hameln (JA Hameln), with particular attention to feasibility, psychosocial well-being, emotional regulation and social cohesion.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>The study reports on two implementation cycles of the same programme model conducted in 2024 and 2025 at JA Hameln. Each cycle consisted of two 90-min sessions per week delivered by trauma-informed coaches (Cycle 1:6 weeks and Cycle 2:8 weeks). Qualitative evidence was derived from coach field notes, weekly staff reflections and informal participant feedback. Because this was a practice-based service evaluation rather than a controlled outcome study, findings are presented as perceived and observed changes rather than isolated causal effects.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Participants and staff described the programme as feasible and acceptable within the custodial setting. They reported emotional relief, improved mood, stronger cooperation and greater trust within the intervention group. Staff also noted a calmer group climate and fewer behavioural incidents during intervention periods. Rugby appeared to function not only as a physical activity but also as a structured pedagogical medium through which rules, contact, responsibility and cooperation could be rehearsed.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Rugby may function as a transferable sport-based health-promotion tool in custodial settings when it is embedded in institutional routines, delivered by appropriately trained staff and adapted to local safety and cultural conditions.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is one of the first published practice reports of a structured rugby-based intervention in a German youth correctional facility. The study extends predominantly UK-based prison-sport literature by discussing rugby within a lower-familiarity German context and by linking practical delivery to prison health, salutogenic and trauma-informed perspectives.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"429-438"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147794202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correctional-staff wellness in a statewide jail system: health appraisals, occupational strain and priorities for organizational support.","authors":"Hayden P Smith, Frank Ferdik, Rebecca L Fix","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0009","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0009","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Purpose: &lt;/strong&gt;Although substantial research has examined correctional officer health, fewer studies have focused on jail staff, and even fewer have done so within a unified, statewide jail system. This study aims to address this gap by examining staff perceptions of health and wellness across Tennessee's county jails, where centralized oversight enables system level insight.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Design/methodology/approach: &lt;/strong&gt;Open-ended questionnaire data from 412 correctional personnel were analyzed following survey distribution to staff across all 120 Tennessee county jails. While jails are typically decentralized, Tennessee's system operates under unified oversight, allowing consistent access and comparable analysis. Responses were analyzed thematically to identify health statuses, health threats and health resources.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Findings: &lt;/strong&gt;Staff identified chronic stress, burnout, trauma exposure and environmental hazards as central threats. Understaffing, mandatory overtime and unpredictable demands were consistently linked to limited rest and declining health. Participants also highlighted organizational needs, including mental health resources, improved air quality, and healthier nutrition options.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Research limitations/implications: &lt;/strong&gt;This study underscores the importance of system-level, jail-specific research on correctional staff health and well-being. By demonstrating how organizational structures, environmental conditions and staffing practices shape cumulative health risks across an entire statewide jail system, the findings highlight limitations of single-site and prison-focused studies that dominate the literature. Future research should prioritize multisite and longitudinal designs that examine how changes in staffing models, shift structures and physical environments influence health trajectories over time. In addition, integrating staff-centred qualitative methods with objective health indicators would strengthen causal inference and advance theory on occupational strain, recovery and cumulative load in correctional settings.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Practical implications: &lt;/strong&gt;The findings provide clear guidance for correctional administrators and policymakers seeking to improve staff well-being. Participants consistently identified practical priorities, including confidential mental health services, trauma-responsive supports, improved air quality and nutrition, access to fitness resources, and staffing reforms that protect recovery time. Importantly, the study illustrates that wellness initiatives are unlikely to succeed without addressing structural constraints such as chronic understaffing and mandatory overtime. Agencies should therefore shift from isolated, program-based interventions toward integrated, system-level strategies that align organizational design with health promotion. Centralized oversight bodies can play a key role in standardizing and supporting these efforts across ","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"464-478"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148304621","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oral health and dental services in Irish prison populations.","authors":"Darshini Ramasubbu, Bridget Johnston, Jonathan Lewney, Brett Duane, Blánaid Daly","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-03-2025-0025","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-03-2025-0025","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>There is insufficient data on the oral health of those incarcerated in Ireland and oral health is generally poorer in people in prison. The purpose of this study is to investigate and describe the oral health needs of people in prison, patterns of dental care and the outcomes of dental services in Irish prisons.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A retrospective chart review of patient dental records was undertaken from a sample across Ireland. Outcomes included the presence of active decay, reasons for initial presentation and patterns of service use.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>The sample totalled 389 incarcerated persons. Fewer than 40% of this population had full dental charting completed. More than 40% of prisoners had active and untreated dental decay noted whilst addressing their presenting complaint. For 44.7% it was not possible to make any determination in relation to other oral health needs. The most common reason for initially accessing prison dental services was emergency presentation for pain or infection. The low proportion of prisoners with full dental charting is an important finding in itself, and reflects some of the challenges of providing dental care in prisons.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>The recording of dental data is an important part of patient care. Incarcerated people are at high risk for oral diseases and demand for dental services frequently exceeds availability. More research is needed to establish and reduce the dental disease burden of people in prison, and how a reorientation towards preventative dentistry could be achieved in this population.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"388-396"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147848618","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Harm reduction services in female prisons: a scoping review exploring the situation in the MENA region.","authors":"Isabelle Salameh, Elie Aaraj","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0066","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0066","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to explore and map the existing evidence on HR services, specifically NSP and OST, available to women in prison settings across MENA countries where such services are reported to exist, assessing their availability, accessibility, and gender responsiveness while identifying gaps in research, policy, and practice. Harm reduction (HR) is a public health and human rights approach aimed at reducing drug-related harms through interventions such as Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) and needle and syringe programs (NSPs). People who use drugs (PWUDs) in prison face elevated risks of HIV, Hepatitis B and C, Tuberculosis and overdose. Women who use drugs (WWUDs) experience additional gender-specific vulnerabilities, yet little is known about its availability and gender responsiveness of prison-based HR in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>This scoping review followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Full-text peer-reviewed and grey literature published, in English, between 2014 and 2024 were retrieved from PubMed, Cochrane Library, JSTOR, Google Scholar and key organizational reports. Studies addressing NSP and/or OST in prison settings within MENA countries were included. Data were synthesized narratively focusing on service availability, accessibility and gender responsiveness.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>Of 4,238 records identified, 27 studies met inclusion criteria (14 peer-reviewed articles and 13 grey literature sources). Evidence was concentrated in Iran, with limited data from Afghanistan, Morocco and Lebanon, and none from Algeria. OST was reported in several prison settings, while NSP was limited to Iran. Most studies lacked sex-disaggregated data, and where women were included, they were frequently underrepresented and rarely analyzed separately. Evidence on gender-responsive services, post-release care and monitoring and evaluation systems was limited.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study provides the first regional synthesis of evidence on gender-responsive HR services for WWUD in MENA prisons, identifying substantial gaps in service provision, gender-disaggregated evidence and evaluation.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"1-19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149170626","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Promoting medication adherence through visual education: a prison-based study among women with hypertension.","authors":"Angga Wilandika, Santy Sanusi, Ineke Mei Salvira","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0061","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-08-2025-0061","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>This study aims to assess the effectiveness of a poster-based visual health education intervention in improving medication adherence among incarcerated women diagnosed with hypertension.</p><p><strong>Design/methodology/approach: </strong>A one-group repeated-measures pretest-posttest (pre-experimental) design was conducted in a women's correctional facility designated for individuals convicted of drug-related offenses in Indonesia. A total of 39 incarcerated women clinically diagnosed with hypertension participated in the study. Poster-based educational materials were installed in communal spaces over a 30-day period. Medication adherence was measured using a validated self-report adherence questionnaire (score range 0-40, higher scores indicating better adherence) at three time points: Day 0 (pretest), Day 15 (midtest) and Day 30 (posttest). Data were analyzed using the Friedman test for overall change, followed by post hoc Wilcoxon signed-rank and McNemar tests with Bonferroni correction.</p><p><strong>Findings: </strong>There was a significant upward trend in medication adherence scores over the 30-day intervention. Mean medication adherence scores increased from 16.7 at pretest to 31.5 at posttest. The proportion of participants with high adherence rose from 17.9% to 76.9%. All pairwise comparisons between time points were statistically significant, indicating that poster-based visual education contributed to improved adherence behavior.</p><p><strong>Practical implications: </strong>Posters may serve as a scalable and sustainable tool to promote chronic disease self-management in correctional environments.</p><p><strong>Social implications: </strong>Improving adherence through simple visual tools may reduce long-term health disparities among incarcerated populations.</p><p><strong>Originality/value: </strong>This study demonstrates the potential of low-cost, visual-based educational interventions in prison health settings, an area where health education strategies remain underexplored.</p>","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"377-387"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147625175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Literacy as rehabilitation in youth custodial settings: integrating education, cognition and desistance.","authors":"Karima Matar Almazroui","doi":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0007","DOIUrl":"10.1108/IJOPH-01-2026-0007","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Purpose: &lt;/strong&gt;This paper aims to examine how structured literacy education in youth custodial settings may function as a rehabilitative process supporting cognitive engagement, identity development and future-oriented thinking among justice-involved young people. Literacy education is widely recognized as a core component of youth custodial programming, yet its contribution to rehabilitation and psychosocial well-being remains under-theorized within prison health and education research. The paper introduces the literacy-desistance integration model (LDIM) as a practice-informed conceptual framework that positions literacy learning as an integrative practice linking educational engagement with developmental and desistance-oriented mechanisms relevant to rehabilitation, reentry and the well-being of incarcerated youth.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Design/methodology/approach: &lt;/strong&gt;The study adopts a conceptually oriented qualitative design. Empirical material comprises 22 semi-structured interviews with justice-involved youth aged 14-18 enrolled in literacy-related educational activities within a single youth custodial institution in Abu Dhabi, alongside a documentary review of institutional educational materials. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006, 2019, 2022) following a six-phase iterative process. The empirical material was generated under the author's prior regulatory oversight role and serves an illustrative and generative function in the development of the LDIM, which is the primary scholarly contribution.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Findings: &lt;/strong&gt;The analysis identified three interrelated domains through which literacy learning may operate as a rehabilitative practice: literacy as a site of cognitive engagement supporting sustained attention and reflective thinking; literacy as a space for identity exploration and narrative reconstruction; and literacy learning as a bridge to future orientation and reentry readiness. These domains correspond to the three layers of the LDIM. Negative cases qualify the model, indicating that literacy's rehabilitative potential is contingent on supportive instructional conditions, age-appropriate materials, educator mediation and structural conditions on reentry that participants could not fully control.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Research limitations/implications: &lt;/strong&gt;The empirical material derives from a single youth custodial education setting in one Emirate and is illustrative rather than generalizable. It was generated through the author's prior regulatory oversight role rather than a prospectively designed research protocol; this boundary is addressed transparently in the ethics and limitations sections, and the paper is positioned as a practice-informed conceptual contribution rather than an evaluative empirical study. The LDIM is offered as a conceptual framework inviting empirical testing through longitudinal, multi-site and mixed-methods research that examines its mechani","PeriodicalId":519936,"journal":{"name":"International journal of prison health","volume":" ","pages":"479-497"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-10-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148255275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}