NCJ Number
133092
Date Published
1991
Length
30 pages
Annotation
A survey of a national sample of wardens of adult State prisons gathered information on the nature and extent of inmate gangs, overcrowding, racial conflict, rehabilitation, recidivism, funding problems, and inmate needs and programs.
Abstract
The survey received responses from 182 of the 550 wardens who received questionnaires in March and April 1991. Results demonstrated that illiteracy continues to be a major problem among State prison inmates. Just over half (56.5 percent) report that racial conflicts are a problem among inmates. Estimates of the percentage of inmates belonging to gangs ranged from zero to 65 percent for males and to a high of 20 percent for females. Thus, gang problems appear to be much more extensive than reported in earlier research. However, correctional personnel receive formal training in dealing with the gang problem in only 40 percent of the institutions. In addition, 40 percent believed that corrections would function better if gang members could be transferred to a central-national Federal unit. Most (93.5 percent) believe that the family is an important agency that can be used to prevent gang affiliation. Tables and 40 references