NCJ Number
44297
Date Published
1977
Length
148 pages
Annotation
POLICE-SUSPECT CONFRONTATIONS, VIOLENCE IN PRISONS, AND EFFORTS TO DEAL WITH AND REDUCE FUTURE CONFLICT ARE EXAMINED.
Abstract
CHAPTER I DETAILS SOME COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES WHICH MAY INVITE AND SHAPE VIOLENCE. INSTITUTIONAL REFORMS ADDRESSED TO SUCH THEMES WHICH MAY REDUCE VIOLENCE FOR THE POLICE AND IN PRISONS ARE EXPLORED. FOLLOWING CHAPTERS DISCUSS THE SHAPE OF POLICE VIOLENCE, REDUCING POLICE VIOLENCE, MANIFESTATIONS OF PRISON VIOLENCE, AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN PRISONS. THE TEXT FOCUSES ON THE 'DANGEROUS' INMATE AND DELINEATES TREATMENT FOR VIOLENT INMATES. A FINAL CHAPTER DISCUSSES MEANS AND GOALS OF PEACEKEEPING. THE AUTHOR BEGINS EACH CHAPTER WITH A VIEW OF THE PROBLEM AS IT APPEARS AT FIRST GLANCE, AND AMENDS THE PORTRAIT TO MAKE IT FIT REALITY, AS LEARNED FROM RESEARCH AND EXPERIENCE. HIS BASIC ASSUMPTION IS THAT VIOLENCE BREEDS VIOLENCE, AND THAT CONTROL MAKES CONTROLLERS VULNERABLE. HE NOTES THAT THE MOST DIRECT APPROACHES TO VIOLENCE BACKFIRE, AND THAT VIOLENCE IS AN INEVITABLE RISK FOR CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES THAT DEFINE THEIR MISSION AS 'FIGHTING CRIME.' THE AUTHOR SEES VIOLENCE REDUCED ONLY THROUGH ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE, BY A REDEFINITION OF MISSION TOWARD PEACEKEEPING. THE IMPORTANCE OF SOME STAFF-INMATE COMMUNITY IN PRISONS IS STRESSED. REFERENCES AND AN INDEX ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)