NCJ Number
56668
Journal
Federal Probation Volume: 42 Issue: 4 Dated: (DECEMBER 1978) Pages: 21-25
Date Published
1978
Length
5 pages
Annotation
THIS ARTICLE ADVOCATES THE CREATION OF A CLIMATE WITHIN PRISONS THAT WILL CONFRONT AND DEFUSE OCCASIONS FOR VIOLENCE. RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUDE THE FORMATION OF CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS.
Abstract
VIOLENT DISPUTES BETWEEN PRISON INMATES IN UNDERSUPERVISED AREAS, SUCH AS STAIRWELLS, CANNOT BE TOTALLY PREVENTED. HOWEVER, PRISON OFFICIALS CAN CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE WITHIN THE PRISON THAT REDUCES THE CONFLICTS BETWEEN INMATES. CONSTANT MONITORING OF PRISONERS WOULD HAVE SOME EFFECT ON INMATE VIOLENCE, BUT THE ELIMINATION OF THE MOTIVES FOR DESTRUCTIVE INCIDENTS WOULD BE A MORE EFFECTIVE METHOD. ALTHOUGH MOTIVES ARE PERSONAL AND ATTRIBUTABLE TO PERSONALITY TRAITS, THE CREATION OF THE RIGHT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT IN THE PRISON CAN DECREASE THE PREVALENCE OF VIOLENT INCIDENTS. INCREASES IN VIOLENCE MAY OCCUR IF PRISONERS ARE TACITLY REWARDED BY THE PEER ADMIRATION RECEIVED WHEN THEY ENDURE ADMINISTRATIVE PUNISHMENT. THE PREDICTABLE SCHEDULES OF MANY PRISONS PROVIDE PRISONERS WITH THE SAME TYPE OF INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO A RESIDENTIAL BURGLAR WHO KNOWS THE WORK AND VACATION PATTERNS OF HOMEOWNERS. INADVERTENTLY PERMITTING PRISON GANGS OR RIVALS TO MIX OFTEN RESULTS IN RETALIATORY FIGHTS. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT INTERVENTION INTO INCIDENTS OCCUR SWIFTLY AFTER THE PROBLEMS APPEAR. CRISIS INTERVENTION TEAMS, COMPOSED OF SENIOR INMATES, CHAPLAINS, AND CUSTODIAL OFFICERS SHOULD BE READY TO INTERVENE AND ARBITRATE DISPUTES TO PREVENT LINGERING PROBLEMS. SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS SHOULD BE DISCRETE, SO AS NOT TO STIGMATIZE THE VICTIMS AND MAKE THEM EVEN MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ATTACK. ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS INCLUDE THE CONTINUAL UPDATING OF OFFICIAL INFORMATION ON GROUP TENSIONS AND PERSONAL PROBLEMS. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED.