Mechanisms of Correctional Institutions to Deal with the Spread of Viruses and Epidemics

The spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a serious challenge to the health of the world’s population. The danger of this virus on the health of prisoners in correctional institutions is increasing, due to the contextual factors within those institutions. Such factors include overcrowding, delay or lack of diagnosis and treatment, limited access to clean water and fresh air, and inadequate sanitation. Those factors contribute to the increased danger of the transmission of viruses and epidemics among prisoners. The probability for viruses and epidemics to spread within correctional institutions is also increasing due to increased opportunities for infection caused by incoming prisoners, or their families and friends, as well as through staff working in those institutions. This is in addition to the possibility of the spread of these viruses and epidemics through the transfer of prisoners from one correctional institution to another. With more than 10 million prisoners around the world, addressing the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) within correctional institutions has become a more pressing issue. Therefore, this paper seeks to identify the reasons that make correctional institutions a fertile environment for the spread of epidemics. The paper also discusses the necessity of preventing the spread of the virus within correctional institutions, reviews the most prominent international and regional efforts to reduce its spread, and offers alternatives for the prevention and containment of this virus within correctional institutions.