NCJ Number
162735
Journal
Home Office Research and Statistics Directorate Research Bulletin Issue: 38 Dated: (1996) Pages: 45-49
Date Published
1996
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the integration of vulnerable prisoners (VPs) with other prisoners and found a marked reduction in resistance among those experienced in integrated regimes, even though most prisoners and staff were against integration.
Abstract
Questionnaires were completed by a sample of 574 prisoners and 96 prison staff at 11 male prison establishments in Great Britain. About 70 percent of prisoners agreed that VPs should be kept separate from other prisoners. Although the average degree of preference for mixing was higher among VPs than among non- VPs, the difference between the two groups was marginal. Whether prisoners were VPs or not made no significant difference in how safe they felt, but there was a slight tendency for both groups to feel safer in an integrated regime. Only 11 percent of prisoners felt less safe in their current establishment than in their previous establishment. Feelings against integration were extremely strong among uniformed staff who had no experience with it. Although staff working in integrated prisons were satisfied that integration worked well, most still preferred segregation. There was a high level of agreement that integrated regimes made greater demands on staff because of the need for constant vigilance and good communication with inmates. Factors relevant to successful integration are explored, and advantages and disadvantages of different prison regimes are discussed. 2 references and 1 table