NCJ Number
99123
Date Published
1984
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This report presents findings and recommendations from 1983 a site visit to Sing Sing Prison (Ossining, N.Y.) to review the impact of overcrowding upon the facility's security, administrative, and program operations.
Abstract
Data were obtained from observations, records, and interviews with the prison superintendent, the staff, and inmates. The inmate data reported the number of inmates in the prison population as of December 5, 1983, the number in various classifications, and the number in each housing area. Information is also provided on unclassified and transient inmates. The findings on the prison staff encompass the staff turnover, years of experience, absentee rate, and staff housing. A review of the inmate programs addresses academic, vocational, and prison industry programs as well as programs for transient inmates. The services examined include health services, recreation, the inmate grievance system, the inmate liaison committee, law library services, the commissary, inmate visits, telephone use, showers, and food services. Disciplinary procedures and the condition of the physical plant are also reviewed. Seven recommendations focus on the handling of unclassifed and transient inmates, improvement in staff working and housing conditions, the development of additional academic and vocational programs, improvement in the staff-inmate ratio, and minor modifications of the inmate grievance and disciplinary systems.