Effective October 2005

Recently, CORIHSb was fortunate enough to add as a new IRB member an individual who meets the federal requirement as a ‘prisoner representative’. This means that the committee is now properly constituted to review research involving prisoner subjects, in accordance with federal regulations at 45 CFR 46, subpart C at: http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/45cfr46.htm#subpartc

A prisoner is defined as “any individual involuntarily confined or detained in a penal institution. The term is intended to encompass individuals sentenced to such an institution under a criminal or civil statute, individuals detained in other facilities by virtue of statutes or commitment procedures which provide alternatives to criminal prosecution or incarceration in a penal institution, and individuals detained pending arraignment, trial, or sentencing.” A prisoner can be an adult OR minor (“juvenile offender”) meeting the above definition.

If you are interested in learning more, please also review the guidance made available from the federal Office of Human Research Protections (OHRP) at http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/humansubjects/guidance/prisoner.htm and feel free to contact the Office of Research Compliance to discuss the additional protections that are required when proposing use of prisoners in research activities.

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Last Updated: 2006-02-01