NCJ Number
59011
Journal
CRIME ET/AND JUSTICE Volume: 6 Issue: 3 Dated: (1978) Pages: 175-178
Date Published
1978
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A STUDY RUN DURING THE PERIOD OCTOBER 30 TO DECEMBER 11, 1977, AT THE OTTAWA-CARLETON (CANADA) DETENTION CENTRE SHOWS THAT MISCONDUCT IN A JAIL SETTING IS A FUNCTION OF BOTH INMATE CHARACTERISTICS AND STRESS.
Abstract
MOST STUDIES OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS IN AN INSTITUTIONAL SETTING HAVE FOCUSED ON PRISON RIOTS. THIS STUDY REVIEWED 32 CASES OF MISCONDUCT OVER A 6-WEEK PERIOD IN A LOCAL JAIL SETTING. THE OTTAWA-CARLETON DETENTION CENTRE HOUSES BOTH PERSONS AWAITING TRIAL AND THOSE SERVING SHORT-TERM SENTENCES. THE STUDY SHOWED NO CORRELATION BETWEEN THE DAILY MALE INMATE POPULATION AND THE DAILY NUMBER OF INSTITUTIONAL MISCONDUCTS. IN FACT, WEEKENDS, WHEN THE JAIL IS MOST CROWDED, HAVE ABOUT THE SAME NUMBER OF INCIDENTS AS MIDWEEK. INMATE CHARACTERISTICS DID PROVE SIGNIFICANT. INMATES ON REMAND WERE LESS LIKELY TO COMMIT A MISCONDUCT THAN THOSE WHO WERE SENTENCED, THE INMATE WITH A HISTORY OF MISCONDUCT IS MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT ANOTHER MISCONDUCT, AND INMATES CHARGED WITH ASSAULT-RELATED CRIMES ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE DISRUPTIVE. IN GENERAL, 7 PERCENT OF THE POPULATION ACCOUNTED FOR 22 PERCENT OF THE MISCONDUCTS. MOST OF THE INCIDENTS INVOLVED PROPERTY. ONLY THREE CASES OF VIOLENCE TOWARD PERSONS WERE RECORDED DURING THE 6-WEEK PERIOD. (GLR)