We’ve compiled top highlights from recent research, policy, and practice resources across the world for our latest IACFP International News Summary. Our topics for November and December, 2025 include IACFP, recent publications, and upcoming conferences.
- International News
Practitioner Summaries in Criminal Justice and Behavior
This year, Criminal Justice and Behavior began requesting that authors include practitioner summaries with their article submissions to help bridge the gap between research and practice. As one of the pillars of IACFP’s mission, we plan to include these summaries at the end of each future IACFP bulletin, with references and links to each article. We look forward to sharing these authors’ thoughts and learning with all of you!
Highlights of the IACFP Correctional Mental Health Leadership Meeting
IACFP hosted its annual in-person board meeting on October 21st in conjunction with the 3rd IACFP International Correctional Mental Health Leadership Network in-person meeting 21-23 October in Oslo, Norway. The board meeting consisted of some wonderful discussion of IACFP’s 2025 to 2031 strategic plan. At the network meeting, 15 countries were represented, with presentations on innovations and current practices out of Ireland, Singapore, and the United States (California and Texas). The network was able to visit the Ila Prison outside of Oslo to learn more about Norway’s correctional rehabilitation model, including through presentations by and discussions with Ila staff. The opportunities for networking were well received and many network members have expressed excitement about working with and learning from correctional mental health leaders from across the world.
The New and Improved Correctional Practice Framework
The Correctional Practice Framework, utilized in Corrections Victoria out of Australia, has recently been updated and improved, emphasizing theory, evidence based practice, and the latest research in targeting criminal behavior desistence. The CPF principles emphasize individual differences and responsivity, collaboration with correctional and forensic staff, strengths-based approaches, and trauma-informed intervention.
Find more information, including the State of Victoria Department of Justice and Community Safety report, here: https://www.corrections.vic.gov.au/about-the-corrections-system/frameworks-policies-and-standards/correctional-practice-framework
Italy Introduces First Femicide Law
On November 25th, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, Italy’s parliament unanimously voted to add femicide into law, punishable by an automatic life sentence. In response to recent protests regarding violence against women in a patriarchal society, the distinction of this crime compared to other types of violence will allow experts to document and study gender-motivated crimes. The images here feature demonstrations by activists in Rome in recent weeks.
Italy joins Malta, Croatia, and Cyprus as the only EU countries to have a distinct legal definition for femicide, with many supporters viewing this as an essential step in reducing societal archetypes around male superiority, hypermasculinity, jealousy, and control.
Read more about this story here: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dzp050yn2o
- Research
Singapore Prison Service 2025 Correctional Science Bulletin
The Singapore Prison Service (SPS) Psychological and Correctional Rehabilitation Division has published their first Correctional Science Bulletin, highlighting research publications and activities occurring in the service. This edition summarizes several empirical studies, program evaluations, literature reviews, and other research activities, covering a multitude of topics including unique populations (e.g., females, youth, etc.), correctional staff wellbeing, both internal and community corrections program implementation, family interventions, risk assessments, and more.
The Wattu IV Prison Population Study – Finland
Through collaboration between the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, the Prison and Probation Service of Finland, and the Health Care Services for Prisoners, Editors Mika Rautanen, Kennet Harald, and Sasu Tyni have published a multisite, interdisciplinary study on the health and wellness of incarcerated people in Finland. The purpose of this study was to improve treatment, mental and physical healthcare, and re-entry services for incarcerated people.
Find the full report here: https://thl.fi/en/research-and-development/research-and-projects/health-and-wellbeing-of-prisoners-the-wattu-iv-prison-population-study-finland
Criminological Highlights, Vol 22, November 2025
The most recent issue of Criminological Highlights, published by the University of Toronto Centre for Criminology and Sociolegal Studies, summarizes research addressing the following questions:
- How can racial inequalities in the criminal justice system be hidden?
- Why is it often important to have racial diversity on juries?
- How do people judge the appropriateness of police-citizen interactions?
- How can a scale that is legitimately judged to be good at predicting violence misclassify prisoners 89% of the time?
- Is it better for police to respond in person to calls from citizens?
- Is race taken into account in the enforcement of firearms prohibition orders?
- What needs to be done in order to give those who once offended a fair chance of getting a job?
- How can former prisoners be disadvantaged by having successfully completed a job training course?
Read more here: https://www.crimhighlights.ca/criminological-highlights-vol-22-no-5-november-2025
- Conferences & Workshops
American Correctional Association Conference, 5 – 8 February 2026, Long Beach, California, United States
The ACA annual conference is still open for registration and is looking for more exhibitors to share products and services with correctional professionals. This year’s conference has talks scheduled on mental and physical healthcare initiatives as well as implementation of technology in several corrections departments. Workshops, presentations, and events invite attendees to learn about innovative practices and research, collaborate and network with people across the United States, and engage in opportunities for training, advocacy, and mentorship for those with extended careers as well as those new to the field.
International Research in Corrections Conference, 2 – 5 March 2026, Auckland, New Zealand
Hosted by the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA), the first International Research Corrections Conference (IRCC) will take place in Auckland, New Zealand this upcoming March. IACFP will be sponsoring keynote speaker, Dr. Chi Meng Chu, leader in the National Counsil of Social Service in Singapore. Keynote topics include evidence-based rehabilitation practices and interventions as well as considerations for community reintegration. The Department of Corrections in New Zealand (Ara Poutama Aotearoa) has scheduled three facility visits for participants to choose to attend. Early bird registration ends on December 15th, 2025.
NCCHC Correctional Mental Health Care Conference, 18 – 20 July 2026, Austin, Texas, United States
Next year, the National Commission on Correctional Healthcare’s (NCCHC) Correctional Mental Health Care Conference has been announced as taking place in Austin, Texas. Portals for conference presentation submissions open in January 2026. NCCHC is excited to add a new format of presentations to their conference program – Lightning Talks, which allow for brief, informative, accessible, and engaging talks that allow conference attendees to learn about many new concepts and ideas.
