NCJ Number
207149
Date Published
2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings from a descriptive study examining the nature and extent of prisoner-on-prisoner homicide in England and Wales from 1990 to 2001.
Abstract
Prior research in the western world suggests that prisoner homicide is increasing. However, a clear understanding of this situation in England and Wales is lacking. Therefore, a descriptive study was conducted examining the nature and extent of prisoner-on-prisoner homicides in England and Wales between 1990 and 2001. The purpose of this study was to assist in informing Prison Service policy on violence reduction. Data was obtained for all prisoners killed by other prisoners inside institutions for the time period above. The main source of data was those case files of prisoners considered to have been unlawfully killed. The total number of prisoner deaths from 1990 to 2001 was 1,352 with 2 percent (n=26) being homicides. Highlighted report findings include: (1) an average of 2 homicides per year occurred from 1990 to 2001; (2) two-thirds of the homicides occurred in high security and local prisons; (3) 12 victims were in shared cells and 11 were killed by their cellmate; (4) primary cause of death was strangulation or forcefully hanged or attacked with a sharp weapon; (5) the most common motive was an altercation; and (6) victims were likely to be young, White, male, repeat offenders who were serving a sentence for violence, robbery, or drug offenses. Tables