Prison Health Research Council established

Researchers often include people with lived experience of incarceration as research participants, however, people who experience incarceration are often systematically excluded from leading and collaborating on research. Including people whom research is about can make the work more appropriate, valid, and ethical. The Lived Experience Experts in Prison Health (LEEPH) project funded by Family Medicine Associates has established a Research Council of people who had experienced incarceration, including from populations that are over-incarcerated, creating a space where Council members can drive the direction of the Council and prison health research at the Department of Family Medicine. The project team, led by academic faculty (Fiona Kouyoumdjian, Claire Bodkin), a community investigator (Lindsay Jennings) with lived experience of incarceration, and a research coordinator (Jessica Gaber) recruited people with experiences of incarceration through social media, email, and online info sessions. Overall, 44 people applied, and we assembled a Council of 12 members. We have held virtual monthly meetings since January 2024, with honoraria for Council members. Key activities to date have been to contribute feedback on prison health research, explore opportunities to co-develop research, expand the scope of this field in Ontario, Canada and beyond, exchange resources and opportunities, and ultimately, use this work to advocate for the health of people who experience incarceration. Currently the council is working on designing our own research question and proposal.