Joint Hearing on Violence at Folsom Prison - Summary of Hearing Held on June 19, 1985

• NCJ Number: 105468
• Author(s): V Caponpon; G TagatacKleinberg L
• Date Published: 1985
• Length: 44 pages
• Corporate Author: California Senate Office of Research
• Sale Source: Simon Fraser University
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Sponsored by the California Joint Committee on Prison Construction and Operations in Cooperation with the Assembly Committee of Public Safety and the Senate Judiciary Committee

Annotation

This document summarizes a hearing on the high rate of violence at California's Folsom Prison and steps that could reduce it.

Abstract

Factors in the violence were identified by inmates, scholars, and correctional personnel. These included ethnic/racial tension, gang activities, overcrowding, the inmate classification system, lack of communication between prison administration and inmates, and inadequate work and rehabilitative programming. While recommendations for change varied, there were a number of commonalities. These included calls for more humane treatment of inmates, provision of meaningful work and adequate educational and vocational programs, revision or abolishment of the classification system, and greater communication between inmates and administration. Other recommendations included greater use of inmate transfers, segregation of gangs, institution of more safety measures for staff, and increased use of community-based corrections and release programs. Appendixes provide additional information, including a synopsis of problems and remedies, incident reports, and graphs.