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We explored current policies and practices on the use of incentives in research involving adult offenders under correctional supervision in prison and in the community (probation and parole) in Canada.
We contacted the correctional departments of each of the Canadian provinces and territories, as well as the federal government department responsible for offenders serving sentences of two years or more.
Findings indicated that two departments had formal policy whereas others had unwritten practices, some prohibiting their use and others allowing incentives on a case-by-case basis. Given the differences across jurisdictions, it would be valuable to examine how current incentive policies and practices are implemented to inform national best practices on incentives for offender-based research. (AmJ Public Health. 2012; 102:1438-1442. doi:10.2105/ AJPH.2012.300685)
IN HISTORY, OFFENDERS HAVE been used in a variety of medical and behavioral studies without a properly informed consent process, often with little choice over their participation. As a result, guidelines were developed to protect offenders and other vulnerable populations.1,2 Today, the offender population is still considered by many to be vulnerable: within the prison environment and while under community supervision, offenders are subject to restrictions under which they may be easily coerced.
In the United States, there are specific regulations for ethical considerations for research involving prisoners.3 In Canada there is no direct parallel to these regulations. The Tri-Council Policy Statement: Ethical Conduct for Research Involving Humans (TCPS) is the central policy governing ethical conduct in research involving human participants in Canada.4 This document is a joint policy of the three Canadian federal research agencies: the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Its guidelines are based on three core principles and are applied to all research involving human participants: respect for persons, concern for welfare, and justice. Prisoners are classified as a vulnerable population and thus are afforded special attention to be treated justly in research and to ensure that participation does not exacerbate their vulnerability.
The TCPS (2010) defines incentives as "anything offered to participants, monetary or otherwise, for participation in research." 4(p29) This policy states that incentives can be used to encourage participation in a research project, but should not be overly...