OFFICER-INMATE RELATIONSHIP - ITS ROLE IN THE ATTICA REBELLION

• NCJ Number: 49933
• Journal: Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: (1974) Pages: 34-45
• Author(s): R E GOULD
• Date Published: 1974
• Length: 12 pages
• Corporate Author: University of Pittsburgh
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE OFFICER-INMATE RELATIONSHIP AT THE ATTICA N.Y. PRISON AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE 1971 RIOTS IS EVALUATED. THE FINDINGS ARE DERIVED FROM INTENSIVE AND INFORMAL INTERVIEWS WITH ATTICA STAFF AND INMATES.

Abstract

THIRTY STAFF MEMBERS AND INMATES WERE INTERVIEWED INTENSIVELY, AND OVER 200 INFORMAL AND GROUP INTERVIEWS WITH OFFICERS AND INMATES WERE HELD TO PROVIDE DATA FOR THIS DISCUSSION. THE BACKGROUND OF THE CORRECTIONS OFFICERS WERE EXAMINED, AND IT WAS FOUND THAT MOST CHOSE THE CAREER FOR SECURITY REASONS OR BECAUSE OF FAMILY TRADITIONS. THERE WERE NO BLACK OFFICERS AT THE TIME OF THE RIOTS, AND ONLY ONE SPANISH-SPEAKING OFFICER; MOST OFFICERS CAME FROM A RURAL BACKGROUND AND HAD NO FORMAL TRAINING FOR THIS KIND OF WORK. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE PHILOSOPHY FOR THE OFFICER BE CHANGED, THAT A HUMAN RELATIONS ATTITUDE BE STRESSED IN TRAINING AND IN WORKING WITH INMATES, THAT MORE BLACK AND PUERTO RICAN OFFICERS BE HIRED, AND THAT INMATES BE APPROACHED WITH THE PRESUMPTION THAT THEY ARE REHABILITABLE. BASIC ISSUES OF CONFLICT THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE ATTICA UPRISING ARE DISCUSSED. INMATES FELT THAT CONFORMITY AND DEINDIVIDUALIZATION WERE BEING FORCED ON THEM, AND THAT THEY WERE BEING KEPT FROM GETTING TOGETHER AND FORMING GROUPS. THERE WAS EVIDENCE THAT RACISM AMONG OFFICERS CAUSED MUCH RESENTMENT. TRADITIONAL BELIEFS THAT THE OFFICER SHOULD NOT GET FRIENDLY WITH THE INMATES AND THAT INMATES ARE NOT REHABILITABLE HINDERED RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INMATE AND THE OFFICER. BECAUSE OF THE NEW TYPES OF YOUNG INMATES WHO OFTEN CONSIDER THEMSELVES AS POLITICAL PRISONERS OR VICTIMS OF SOCIETY, LOOSER DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AND INCREASED PERMISSIVENESS IN POLICIES, MORE STRESS HAS BEEN ADDED TO THE PRISON SITUATION. ALSO THE EXISTENCE OF THE NIGHT STICK CARRIED BY OFFICERS AND ITS IMPLICATIONS OF AUTHORITY, POWER, AND FORCE WAS INDICATED AS A NEGATIVE FACTOR. THE MAIN AREAS OF CONFLICT STEM FROM PRISON PHILOSOPHY AND OPERATION WHICH EMPHASIZE CUSTODY AND SECURITY. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT PROGRESS IN THESE ISSUES HAS BEEN MADE AT ATTICA SINCE 1971.