ICPA 2026 Annual Conference

Towards Global Prison Health Data: Pre-conference Workshop, Sunday October 25th, 1:30-4pm.

Professor Stuart Kinner

Head, Justice Health Group, Curtin University, Australia

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It is often said that “what gets counted gets done”. Yet remarkably, basic data to inform healthcare planning, governance, financing, and delivery in custodial settings is inadequate in most countries. At the regional and global level, the scope and quality of prison health data is even more limited. These critical data gaps are a major impediment to advancing correctional healthcare policy and practice, and to making progress towards compliance with international human rights standards such as the Mandela Rules. We will hold a satellite meeting at the 2026 ICPA annual conference in Belfast, in collaboration with the ICPA Healthcare Network, with a view to developing a Consensus Statement on the importance of prison health data to correctional practice, global health, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This Abstract pertains to the first event: a half-day workshop on Sunday October 25, prior to the Welcome Reception. The Sunday session will consist of some brief presentations and facilitated discussion, on the following topics:

a. Global prison health data: what is it, and why do we need it?
b. Custodial healthcare standards: measurable, equitable, comprehensive.
c. Collection, collation and reporting of prison health data: How to get there.
d. Examples of good practice, and important data gaps.