Dear researcher, 

Background: This year Professor Sir Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), is writing a report on the health of people in prison and on probation in England. The Science Office at the Ministry of Justice is supporting the report and running a survey about conducting health research with these populations. 

Aim: To understand, from the perspective of researchers outside of the Ministry of Justice and other government departments, (1) what the facilitators and challenges are to conducting health research with people in prison or on probation in England, and (2) what changes could increase the quantity, quality and impact of research with these populations. 

Eligibility criteria: 

• Be currently active in, or have previously considered undertaking, attempted or completed, research with people in prison or on probation in England; 
• Where the primary aim of the research was to collect and/or use the data of the population to investigate their health, or the healthcare provision to them; 
• Your professional role at the time was external to the Ministry of Justice, one of its agencies or another government department (e.g. you were based at a university, the NHS, a voluntary/community organisation or a social enterprise). 

Participating: If you meet the above criteria and would be happy to proceed, please  

• Complete the survey by midnight, Sunday 26th January; it will take no more than 10-15 minutes, and your input will be highly valuable. 
• Forward the link to this webpage to any other eligible researchers. 

This is your chance to contribute to the CMO’s report, to tell us your views and experiences of conducting research with these populations and potentially improve such research opportunities and impact in the future.   

Further details regarding participation are found on the survey link. If you have any questions regarding the survey or chapter, please email scienceprojects@justice.gov.uk