Towards Global Prison Health Data (PID020)

2pm – 4pm GMT, 25 October 2026 ‐ 2 hours

Healthcare Session

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.

Speakers

Professor Stuart Kinner

Head, Justice Health Group, Curtin University, Australia

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Professor Stuart Kinner

Head, Justice Health Group, Curtin University, Australia

Stuart Kinner is Founding Head of the Justice Health Group spanning Curtin University and Murdoch Children’s Research Institute. He is an Honorary Professor at The University of Melbourne and The University of Queensland,
and a Technical Advisor to the WHO Health in Prisons Programme. In 2019 he was a Peter Wall International Visiting Scholar and visiting Professor at The University of British Columbia. Stuart has produced >350 publications (255
peer-reviewed) and attracted >$37 million in research funding. Stuart serves on the WHO Health in Prisons Programme Steering Group, the Worldwide Prison Health Research and Engagement Network (WEPHREN) Steering
Committee, Australia’s National Prisoner Health Information Committee, and Australia’s National Youth Justice Health Advisory Group. His work is highly cited and used in policy development in Australia and internationally.