Transcript Causes of Prison Violence

CJ 130 Introduction to
Corrections
Seminar 6
Welcome to Unit 6: Institutional
Security and violence
SEMINAR OVERVIEW
Welcome
 Causes of Prison Violence
 1. Before the Riot
 2. During the Riot
 3. After the Riot
 Reducing Prison Violence
 Correctional Programs and Services
 Attica: Problems and Solutions
Information Quiz Questions
More than--------------of all inmates are being held in
large, maximum-security prisons.
One-fourth
One-third
Half
Three-fourths
The----------------------inmates are the ones who report
that they have more difficulty with correctional officers.
Younger
Older
Male
Female
The------------------------predominant emotion that male
inmates must confront in the early part of their prison
term is:
Depression
Loneliness
Hate
Boredom
The change from the “old inmate” culture to the “new
inmate” culture seems to have been precipitated by
the-------------------in the 1960s and 1970s.
Get tough policy
Flower power movement
Move to the hands-on doctrine
Black Power movement
Most inmates with AIDS are in the-----------------population.
General inmate
Administrative segregation
Inmate hospital
Special AIDS
Approximately how many inmates escape from prison
each year?
500
1,200
4,500
7,000
Despite good intentions, rehabilitative treatment within
prison walls is extremely difficult to achieve.
True or False
Rape as a means of expressing dominance, power, and
anger is now an accepted prison norm.
True or False
Emotional harassment, physical assaults, rapes,
stabbings, and homicides are part of prison life. What
security level facilities usually have these kinds of
problems?
What causes prison violence?
Causes of Prison Violence
 Violent
Characteristics of Inmates
 Social Factors
 Structural Factors
 Institutional Factors
Violent Characteristics of Inmates
 Youth
 Lower
class attitudes
 Fear of humiliation
 History of violent behavior
Social Factors of Prison Violence
 Racial
Unrest
 Presence of Gangs
 Drug Use
Racial Unrest
 Magnified
racial tension
 Racially motivated gang activities
 Common bond—races tend to join
together
Gangs
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Almost all states have prison gangs
Gang rivalries are carried over from the
streets
Spread of gang activity with transferred
prisoners
Economic Victimization
Can dominate prison and create ongoing
problems
Drug Use
Link between drugs and violent
behavior in general society carries over
into prison
 Easy access to drugs
 Problem sometimes ignored or staff
can even be involved.

Institutional and
Structural Factors
Overcrowding
 Prison staff/prisoner ratio
 Dirty conditions
 Lack of privacy
 Lack of jobs
 Tension
 Indefensible space

There are six different scenarios that could lead to an inmate assault on staff:
•Officer’s command: Assault followed explicit command to inmate.
•Protest: Assault occurred because victim considers himself victimized by
unjust or inconsistent treatment by a staff member.
•Search: Assault occurred during search of an inmate’s body or cell.
•Inmates’ fight: Assault resulted from officer intervening in fight between
inmates.
•Movement: Assault took place during the movement of inmates from one
part of the prison to another.
•Contraband: Assault followed a staff member suspecting an inmate of
possessing
Reducing Prison Violence
How can we reduce prison violence?
Is some violence inherent to these facilities or
can putting certain policies in place stop the
violence?
Attica: Problems and Solutions
How could the tragedy surrounding the
events at Attica have been prevented?
How have prison policies changed since
Attica?
Do you think prisons should strive to hire
guards of various backgrounds who speak a
variety of languages?
The abnormal social environment and institutional and structural
imperfections combine to produce violent surroundings within
the contemporary prison. Overcrowding, the drug appetites of
prisoners, and racial and gang skirmishes seem to be the most
important factors that create an incendiary situation. If inmates
can be tough enough, they will turn themselves into the worst
kind of predators, forcing themselves on the weak and enjoying
the spoils of their predation.
WRAP UP
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Any Questions/Concerns?
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Next Seminar Topic: Juvenile vs. Adult
Prisons and Male vs. Female Prisoners