In Search of the "Tossed Salad Man" (and Others Involved in Prison Violence): New Strategies for Predicting and Controlling Violence in Prison

• NCJ Number: 220088
• Journal: Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 12 Issue: 5 Dated: September-October 2007 Pages: 531-541
• Author(s): James Byrne; Don Hummer
• Date Published: September 2007
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Literature Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

The purpose of this article is to review the existing body of research on the classification of prisoners and the prediction of prison violence, focusing on two questions: (1) can various forms of prison violence be accurately predicted; and if so, (2) is there empirical research supporting the contention that current classification, location, and reclassification systems reduce the risk posed by those offenders predicted to be violent?

Abstract

Based on a review of the empirical evidence from the past two decades, it is concluded that current classification strategies do not predict prison violence very accurately and perhaps more importantly, they do not appear to reduce the risk of violence in prison. New classification systems focusing on changing, rather than controlling, offenders while in prison represent one possible alternative strategy, given recent evidence that participation in prison programming/treatment is the most effective prison violence reduction strategy currently available. The research provides support for initiatives that recognize the difficulty of predicting the violent offender during the initial classification stage, as well as the negative consequences of over-classification on the level and type of violence in prison. There is considerable debate on the nature and extent of prison violence and disorder. There is also an ongoing debate on both the accuracy and the risk reduction effects of current inmate classification systems. This article addresses two fundamental questions: (1) can we accurately identify a subgroup of high risk inmates who will likely be involved in various forms of prison violence; and if so, (2) is there an empirical research supporting the contention that current classification systems reduce the risk posed by those offenders predicted to be violent, such as gang/security threat group members? Tables, appendix, and references