NCJ Number
119094
Date Published
1988
Length
7 pages
Annotation
The Scottish Prison Service has used small units in an attempt to deal with those inmates who present major management problems, either because of their own persistent violence or their propensity to incite others to violence; the Barlinnie Special Unit in Glasgow is such a unit.
Abstract
The unit accommodates 20 inmates and has adequate working and recreational facilities without being so attractive as to encourage inmates to misbehave to be transferred there. The staff is a mixture of discipline and nursing officers who have received special training for their work in the unit. The unit has its own governor, who is assisted by a psychiatrist. In the unit, the traditional officer/inmate relationship has been modified to approximate a therapist/patient interaction. The staff and inmates compose a "community," which meets weekly to address community procedures and problems. When agreed-upon community procedures are violated, the violator must explain his actions to the group, which may impose sanctions. A research study to test the effectiveness of the unit is planned.