Southern Utah University Institutional Review Board
REVIEWER CHECKLIST
PRISONERS AS SUBJECTS IN RESEARCH
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Reviewer Reviewer's College Date
Reviewer's E-mail Reviewer's Phone Extension
Title of Proposed Research
Principle Investigator (PI) PI's E-mail
PI's College
REQUIRED CATEGORIES: Please indicate which category applies to this study. One of the
following must apply for the research to be approved.
This is a study of the possible causes, effects, and processes of incarceration, or of
criminal behavior, provided that the study presents no more than minimal risk and no
more than inconvenience to the subjects.
This is a study of prisons as institutional structures or of prisoners as incarcerated
persons, provided that the study presents no more than minimal risk and no more than
inconvenience to the subjects.
This is research on conditions particularly affecting prisoners as a class (e.g. research on
hepatitis which is more prevalent in prisons than elsewhere, and research on social and
psychological problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, and sexual assaults)
provided that the study may proceed only after the Secretary has consulted with
appropriate experts including experts in penology, medicine, and ethics, and published
notice, in the Federal Register, of his intent to approve such research.
This research is in on practices, both innovative and accepted, which have the intent and
reasonable probability of improving the health or well-being of the subject. In cases in
which those studies require the assignment of prisoners in a manner consistent with
protocols approved by the IRB to control groups which may not benefit from the
research, the study may proceed only after the Secretary (through OHRP) has consulted
with appropriate experts.
OTHER NECESSARY CONSIDERATIONS:
Check the appropriate box. If you answer No, describe in Requested Revisions/Clarifications
section.
Are there any possible advantages accruing to the prisoner through his/her participation in the
research, when compared to the general living conditions, medical care, quality of food,
amenities and opportunity for earnings in the prison, are not of such a magnitude that his/her
ability to weigh the risks of the research against the value of such advantages in the limited
choice environment of the prison is impaired;
YES NO
The risks involved in this research are commensurate with risks that would be accepted by non-
prisoner volunteers;
YES NO
Procedures for the selection of subjects within the prison are fair to all prisoners and immune
from arbitrary intervention by prison authorities or prisoners. Control subjects must be selected
randomly from the group of available prisoners who meet the characteristics needed for that
particular research project; (justification is provided if NO);
YES NO
The information is presented in language which is understandable to the subject population;
YES NO
Adequate assurance exists that parole boards will not take into account a prisoner's
participation in the research in making decisions regarding parole, and each prisoner is clearly
informed in advance that participation in the research will have no effect on his/her parole
YES NO
Where the IRB finds there may be a need for follow-up examination or care of participation after
the end of their participation, adequate provision has been made for such examination or care,
taking into account the varying lengths or individual prisoners’ sentences, and for informing
participants of this fact.
YES NO
Requested Revisions/Clarifications: Provide more information if you answered “No” to any
questions above.
Submit