NCJ Number
164398
Date Published
1996
Length
13 pages
Annotation
The trend of prison overcrowding is likely to continue in the United States, and the expanding prison population will increase the chance of prison rioting and violence.
Abstract
The American Correctional Association (ACA) endorses appropriate training so that all correctional employees become familiar with institutional riot plans. The ACA believes training in riot control principles and tactics should be part of entry- level and refresher training for all correctional staff. Riot control is important because both correctional staff and inmates are at risk during prison riots and because costs of rebuilding an institution after a riot are high. Prison tactical teams can also be used to deter prison and jail violence and to contain and resolve violent incidents. Variables associated with prison riots include inmate drug use, prison type, prison capacity, inmate age, inmate-warden contact, education, job assignments, recreational programs, and segregation. Several prison riots are described, stages in the time bomb theory of prison riots developed by Vernon Fox are reviewed, and future approaches to preventing riots and violence in correctional settings are noted. 28 references and 1 table