Control Strategies for Problem Prisoners in American Penal Systems (From Problems of Long-Term Imprisonment, P 74-96, 1987, Anthony E Bottoms and Roy Light, eds. -- See NCJ-108254)

• NCJ Number: 108256
• Author(s): D A Ward
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: Avebury Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Description
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

This paper reviews changes in American penal policies and inmate control strategies since the early 1960's.

Abstract

Prior to 1963, older, long-term, serious and violent inmates were assigned to the Federal prison at Alcatraz. Under the medical model of inmate treatment, pressure was put on the correctional system to disperse this population of inmates to other penitentiaries. A new maximum security prison, opened in Marion, Ill., initially was intended to hold younger disruptive inmates. However, by 1979, the need for a highly controlled setting to provide segregation of the most violent and disruptive inmates led to the decision to establish Marion as a super-maximum security facility. Increasing inmate disruption and violence, including serious assaults against inmates and staff, led to the imposition of lockdown conditions at the facility. Despite the imposition of tighter security policies at Marion and other maximum security prisons, violence continued to escalate. This situation, coupled with inmate litigation over prison conditions, has led to experimentation with new correctional policies for dealing with violent and disruptive inmates. These initiatives have included establishing inmate participation policies, improved inmate-administration communications, and developing policies to facilitate inmate transition from prison to community life. 2 notes and 10 references.