NCJ Number
84258
Date Published
1982
Length
394 pages
Annotation
An investigation of relationships between architectural design, environmental factors, and inmate violence in four Florida correctional institutions found no conclusive correlations between overcrowding and assaultive behavior.
Abstract
This study examined four architecturally distinct prisons: Dade and Union correctional institutions, Florida State Prison, and Tallahassee Federal Correctional Institution. Data sources included official disciplinary reports of violence for the period January 1979 through December 1980, a questionnaire completed by 392 inmates, interviews with prison staff, and site visits. Variables which might affect the frequency of violent inmate-to-inmate and inmate-to-staff incidents included overcrowding, type of housing, available living space, location of assaults, and seasonal influences. Results indicated that no association existed between the increase in prison population, the number of square feet of living space, and the number and rate of violent incidents. Types of housing did influence the frequency and rate of violence; dormitories had a consistently higher rate of assault than single or two-man cells, and air-conditioned units had a lower rate of assault than non-air-conditioned ones. While most assaults occurred in areas of little or no supervision, a substantial number -- 20 percent -- occurred under direct surveillance. The prime site for assaults in all prisons was the housing area, followed by such spaces as showers, dayrooms, and dining rooms. Rainfall, temperature, and moonphase apparently had no impact on the rate of violent incidents. The paper suggests that future research on prison violence explore the ethnic and racial composition of the prison population and inmates' cultural backgrounds as well as environmental factors. Tables and approximately 200 references are included.