NCJ Number
62519
Editor(s)
A M MARCUS
Date Published
1977
Length
67 pages
Annotation
A WORKSHOP PANEL COMPOSED OF A POLITICIAN, A PRISON WARDEN, A CRIMINOLOGIST, AND A PSYCHIATRIST DISCUSSES THE CAUSES AND RESOLUTIONS OF INMATE VIOLENCE, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO THE CANADIAN PENAL SYSTEM.
Abstract
VIOLENCE AND AGGRESSION THRIVE IN A PERSON WHOSE RELATIONS WITH OTHER PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COLD AND INDIFFERENT, SUCH THAT LOW SELF-ESTEEM AND A SENSE OF POWERLESSNESS IN CONTROLLING EVENTS FOR ONE'S BENEFIT ARE PRODUCED IN THE PSYCHE. VIOLENT AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR THEN BECOME THE LAST RESORT FOR EXPERIENCING AND EXPRESSING POWER OVER THE PEOPLE AND EVENTS IN ONE'S ENVIRONMENT. THE FORMATIVE INFLUENCES UPON MOST INMATES TEND TO STIMULATE VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. PRISON, IN MOST CASES, PERPETUATES AND EVEN INTENSIFIES THE KIND OF RELATIONAL AND PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT THAT AGGRAVATES PROPENSITY TOWARD VIOLENT BEHAVIOR. PRISON POLICY AND MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES MUST BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND EFFECTIVELY IMPLEMENTED SO AS TO CREATE, IN SO FAR AS IS POSSIBLE, A PRISON STRUCTURE AND PROGRAM THAT CAN COUNTER STIMULI TOWARD VIOLENCE. A POLICY DESIGNED AND APPLIED TOWARD THIS GOAL WOULD ESTABLISH WORK, RECREATIONAL, AND HUMAN RELATIONS PROGRAMS FROM WHICH INMATES COULD DERIVE A SENSE OF IMPORTANCE, THE POWER TO GAIN BENEFITS WITHOUT VIOLENCE, AND COULD SUBLIMATE AGGRESSIVE DRIVES INTO CONSTRUCTIVE ACTIVITIES. AN INMATE GRIEVANCE STRUCTURE SHOULD ALSO EXIST AND BE TREATED SERIOUSLY BY CORRECTIONS PERSONNEL. CORRECTIONS STAFF SHOULD BE TRAINED TO DEAL FAIRLY AND POSITIVELY WITH INMATES, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEVELOPING FRIENDSHIPS WITH THEM, WHILE GUARDING AGAINST INMATE MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR. WORKSHOP PARTICIPANT RESPONSES TO THE PANELISTS' STATEMENTS ARE PRESENTED.