REVIEW PAPER
COVID-19 control measures in correctional facilities of selected countries – A literature overview
 
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1
Department of Health Economics and Medical Law, Medical University, Warsaw, Poland
 
2
School of Public Health, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
 
3
Faculty of Engineering and Management, University of Ecology and Management, Warsaw, Poland
 
4
Medical Faculty, Lazarski University, Warsaw, Poland
 
5
Subdepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
 
6
National Institute of Public Health – National Institute of Hygiene, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Corresponding author
Mariola Borowska   

Department of Health Economics and Medical Law, Medical University of Warsaw, ul. Jana Nielubowicza, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland
 
 
Ann Agric Environ Med. 2022;29(4):471-476
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the most significant public health challenges for this generation. Governments have been forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus and protect the people. Restrictive and other measures have also been taken in correctional facilities to control the epidemiological situation.

Objective:
The aims of this review are: 1) to contribute to knowledge by providing an overview of anti-COVID-19 measures that have been undertaken by the proper authorities in a few selected countries to control the epidemiological situation in prison; 2) to demonstrate proposals made in this respect by international organizations and scientific institutions and 3) to complete the most important bibliographical items for further studies.

Review methods:
A literature review was carried out of international scientific and grey literature published between 30.01.2020 and 30.07.2021 (with some exemptions). In every correctional system in the countries under scrutiny, the proper authorities introduced many measures to control the epidemiological situation from the very beginning of the pandemic.

Summary:
The COVD – pandemic impacts almost all aspects of social and individual life. Governments were forced to undertake different measures to constrain the spread of the virus. Restrictive and other measures also had to be taken in correctional systems, where more than ten million people are held worldwide. The measures introduced differed regarding details such as time, scope and range, but were generally similar to solutions proposed by organisations such as the WHO or CDC. In most countries, the discussion regarding the reform of the legal system have been observed. One of the most discussed issues was the problem of decarceration.

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eISSN:1898-2263
ISSN:1232-1966
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