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Individual, Social & Environmental Factors related to Staff Assaults

NCJ Number
246226
Date Published
November 2012
Length
17 pages
Annotation
This report examines the individual, social and environmental factors that are associated with assaults perpetrated against custodial staff.
Abstract
This report investigates risk factors associated with prisoner-on-staff assaults. Findings show that the most prevalent prisoner-on-staff assaults were reactive, with many assaults being acts of defiance, particularly to staff instruction. Results also suggest that a small number of prisoners are responsible for a large proportion of staff assaults; non-repeat staff assault perpetrators were more likely to commit spontaneous and reactive assaults. A significant overlap in the non-repeat staff assault perpetration population and prisoner-on-prisoner assault perpetration population was evident. The most significant risk factors for an assault perpetrator are having a short term of less than 12 months; having assaulted another prisoner; and possessing a history of self-harm while incarcerated. Tables, figures, and references