NCJ Number
189602
Journal
Corrections Compendium Volume: 26 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2001 Pages: 6-15
Editor(s)
Susan L. Clayton
Date Published
July 2001
Length
10 pages
Annotation
This 2001 national corrections survey provided data from 47 responding State correctional systems on the application of the unit management concept or “special housing” of inmates.
Abstract
The application of a functional unit management concept (special housing), whereby staff assigned to a residential unit accept collective responsibility for managing that unit’s inmates are operational in 33 U.S. correctional systems. Administrative segregation is maintained in 43 systems and disciplinary segregation in 44 systems. For those States that mandate the death penalty, segregated housing is provided by 30 systems. Special housing is often established for particular needs/risks and includes security threat groups and spousal/child abusers. A national corrections survey conducted in 2001 provided data from 47 responding correctional systems on the use of the unit management concept or special housing of inmates. The survey was divided into three sections: special housing for general population, special housing for health-related use, and special housing for non-health related use. Special housing for general population consisted of administrative and disciplinary segregation, death row, life sentences, and protective custody. Special housing for health-related use consisted of mentally ill or mentally retarded, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS, and the terminally ill. Forty-one systems offered special housing for those deemed mentally ill; 18 systems offered special units for the mentally retarded; and 36 systems reported provisions for inmates with substances abuse problems. Special housing for non-health related use consisted of geriatric, sex offenders, mothers and infants, and youth under 18. In 26 systems, no special housing was provided for elderly inmates. Sex offenders were not provided special housing in 18 systems. Housing for mothers and infants was made available in only seven States. Housing for youth sentenced as adults was quite varied, from open barracks, to pods, single cells, separate facilities for males and females, minimum conservation camp, or special youth facilities.