Management Strategies for Combatting Prison Gang Violence

• NCJ Number: 112097
• Date Published: 1988
• Author(s): C G Camp; G M Camp
• Length: 90 pages
• Grant Number(s): 85-IJ-CX-0049
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This report presents issues raised in the course of seeking solutions to the problem of prison gang violence and discusses options available to correctional administrators and the practical consequences of various options. It is based primarily on first-hand observations and analyses of the experiences with and response to prison gangs in five correctional facilities in Washington, Illinois, and Washington.

Abstract

Part 1 presents specific management strategies organized around issues that bear most directly on controlling gang violence. These include agency policy, system initiatives of the director, development and use of gang intelligence, program considerations, housing arrangements, staff training, discipline, policing contraband, inmate management, responses to critical gang situations, and gang-related lawsuits. Three case study synopses illustrate prison gang experiences and management tactics. Part 2 presents an indepth case study of violent inmate organizations at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. Included is an assessment of management strategies used to retake the prison from violent inmate groups and tactics employed to stabilize the prison after it was retaken. Additional research data are appended. 74 references.