NCJ Number
97440
Date Published
1985
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This article discusses collective violence in institutional settings and highlights the similarities and differences in the riots at the Attica State Correctional Facility (New York) in September 1971 and at the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe in February 1980.
Abstract
The costs of the two riots are reviewed: 43 men died at Attica, making it the most deadly riot in American history, and 33 died at the New Mexico Penitentiary. At Santa Fe, the deaths were all murders of prisoners by other prisoners; whereas at Attica, 4 deaths were caused by prisoners and 39 by State officers. The Attica prisoners were mostly black; the majority of those at Santa Fe were Chicano. Another major difference was the type of inmate leadership that emerged in the course of the riot. At Attica, an overarching leadership group was formed, but decisions were made by the entire group of rioters. At Santa Fe, prisoners formed bands and cliques, and decisions were made on a personal basis. Despite these and other differences, the feelings expressed by prisoners at both institutions were similar as were the causes of the riots, including overcrowding and the lack of meaningful activities for prisoners. Additionally, the lack of emergency preparedness on the part of corrections officials at both institutions is discussed, as is the level of State government involvement in the two corrections systems. Finally, lessons learned from both riots are summarized, and the need to reform prisons so that prisoners are treated humanely is emphasized. Twenty-nine references are listed.