NCJ Number
189224
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 13 Issue: 1 Dated: January 2001 Pages: 31-33
Date Published
January 2001
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article reports on a study of segregation placements for offenders in Canada's Federal institutions between 1995 and 2000, and conclusions are drawn regarding the reintegration potential for such inmates.
Abstract
A review of Correctional Service of Canada's Offender Management System found that 48,732 segregation placements had been logged for offenders in Federal institutions over the study period. The main reasons for involuntary placements for men were the risk that the offender posed to others, the safe operation of the institution, and as a sanction for conviction of a serious institutional offense. Voluntary placements were due mostly to personal safety difficulties of the offender in the general inmate population. The segregated offenders were more likely to be rated higher risk at intake than their matched counterparts. The nature of the segregation environment can impose limits on offender programming while in custody. Since many offenders can be held in segregation for significant periods of time, their ability to address the goals of their correctional plan may be impeded. Research has shown that program completion is linked to an offender's ability to cascade to lower levels of security. The current study found that men who were placed in segregation were less likely than their nonsegregated counterparts to have been granted a discretionary release. Apparently, moderating the relative use of segregation would result in some important reintegration dividends. Developing creative and innovative alternatives to placement segregation is a significant and important challenge for corrections administrators. 4 tables, 2 figures, and 8 notes