NCJ Number
100468
Date Published
1986
Length
16 pages
Annotation
The British Boards of Visitors are ineffective in handling inmate complaints because of links to the prison establishment, superficial investigations of complaints, and organizational deficiencies.
Abstract
Boards of Visitors are appointed by and responsible to the Home Secretary, who is the head of the prison system. Boards also report to prison governors (wardens) on matters that concern them. Overall, the boards have the appearance of being linked to the prison establishment, undermining their credibility with inmates as being an independent body when hearing inmate grievances. Board members are not trained investigators and typically do not conduct indepth investigations of inmate complaints. The majority of complaints are simply recorded for the warden's attention. Inmates doubt that their complaints to boards will result in redress or a challenge to a warden's decision. Boards are organizationally deficient in not making members more accessible to inmates. Most boards only meet monthly, and many require that inmate complaints to the board be processed through prison staff, which has a chilling effect. Despite their general ineffectiveness, the boards can play an important role by conducting more thorough investigations, taking a more independent stance in their deliberations, and becoming more accessible to inmates. 4 notes.