This article prison and detention population and health care requirements, the importance of health services in prisons and detention centers in this context, the role sand functions of the prison and prison nurse are explained. A study area of public health nurse in our country, in these institutions, recommendations were made for the employment and education of nurses in order to develop prison and prison nursing practices in theim plementation of healt hservices. In the studies conducted for convicts staying in prisons in the world and in our country, they encountered important mental health problems such as anxiety, sleep problems, depression, smoking, substance and alcohol addiction, and the fact that they have physical diseases as well as these problems suggests that this group needs effective health services. It is seen that studies emphasize the point that suicide rates in prisons are high. The prevalence of these health problems in the prison population reveals the necessity of providing primary, secondary and tertiary health care services as a team service in order to provide holistic services. In order to provide health services in a holistic manner, it is important that the prison and detentions center nurse are active in this team.