Research Involving Prisoners

According to federal regulations, an IRB is required to protect the welfare of human participants during the conduct of research and to ensure the participants are not unduly influenced. Incarcerated persons are considered a vulnerable population. IRB review and approval of research designed to study incarcerated persons, or persons likely to become incarcerated, is a multistep process and must be conducted in accordance with the requirements in 45 CFR 46 Subparts A (Common Rule) and C (Additional Prisoner Considerations) prior to any interaction or intervention with prisoners or research participants who are now classified as prisoners, as well as data about prisoners.  For additional information and guidance, please refer to Research Involving Prisoners Guidance.