NCJ Number
55496
Date Published
1978
Length
312 pages
Annotation
TWO DAYS OF HEARINGS FOCUS ON MURDERS OF INMATES BY INMATES IN THE U.S. PENITENTIARY, ATLANTA, GA. INMATE HUSTLING, DRUG DEALING, AND ACCESS BY INMATES TO THE CRIMINAL RECORDS FILE ARE BROUGHT OUT.
Abstract
BETWEEN NOVEMBER 26 AND APRIL 10, 1978, THERE WERE NINE MURDERS OF INMATES BY OTHER INMATES IN THE ATLANTA PENITENTIARY, 30 PERCENT OF THE MURDERS IN THE ENTIRE U.S. PRISON SYSTEM. THESE HEARINGS INCLUDE TESTIMONY FROM CORRECTIONS OFFICIALS, AUDITORS FROM THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, AND FORMER INMATES ON CONDITIONS AT ATLANTA. A SPECIAL INVESTIGATION TEAM REPORTED THAT THE PRISON IS OPERATING AT MAXIMUM CAPACITY, THE PHYSICAL DESIGN OF THE INSTITUTION MAKES SURVEILLANCE OF CERTAIN CELLBLOCKS DIFFICULT, AND PRISON WORKSHOPS CONTAIN MANY MACHINES WHICH CAN BE USED TO FASHION WEAPONS. THE COMMON FACTORS IN THE NINE MURDERS ARE HOMEMADE WEAPONS, TIMES OF LARGE INMATE MOVEMENT (BEGINNINGS AND ENDS OF WORKSHIFTS, MEALTIMES), AND CERTAIN HOUSING BLOCKS. THE TESTIMONY GOES ON TO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON INMATE HUSTLING, THE STEALING OF SUPPLIES, THE USE OF WORKSHOP MACHINERY TO FASHION WEAPONS, AND DRUG DEALING AMONG INMATES. IT IS ALSO POINTED OUT THAT, UNDER THE FORMER ADMINISTRATOR, INMATES HAD ACCESS TO COMPUTERIZED CRIMINAL HISTORIES AND OTHER SENSITIVE RECORDS. APPENDED DOCUMENTS INCLUDE INMATE STATISTICS, A REPORT ON THE PENITENTIARY PREPARED BY THE GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE, AND A DOCUMENT EXPLAINING THE FRAGMENTARY NATURE OF DRUG LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE UNITED STATES. A SERIES OF NEWSPAPER ARTICLES AND INCIDENT REPORTS RELATING TO THE MURDERS AND ASSAULTS AT THE PENITENTIARY ARE ALSO INCLUDED. THIS IS THE SECOND PART OF A THREE-PART SERIES OF HEARINGS. (SEE ALSO NCJ #53315 AND NCJ #55497). (GLR)