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Abstract #165141

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Alex Gatherer, MD, WHO Health in Prison Project, 3 Stonehill Close, Warrington, WA4 5QD, United Kingdom, 01925 601326, alexgatherer@aol.com

A simple analysis of imprisonment rates in most countries of the world shows that the use of prisons is not linked to the incidence of crime nor does it seem to reduce crime. Countries can be divided into five groups, ranging from those who aim to use imprisonment only as a last resort to those such as the USA who like imprisonment. Some lessons to be drawn will be indicated. A plea will be made for a health-led rethinking of the place of prisons in societies, for 'unhooking ourselves from our punitive obsession'

Learning Objectives:

• How various nations use prisons.
• The effect of incarceration rates on crime.
• What are the limits of punishment for a society.

Keywords: Prison, Public Health

Related Web page: www.prisonstudies.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Audio (mp3) recording
• Slides (pdf) or Handout
• Multimedia recording