NCJ Number
79529
Date Published
1980
Length
71 pages
Annotation
This examination of the inmate self-governance experiment at Washington State Penitentiary at Walla Walla consists primarily of the presentation of another 6-year study of the experience, with inmate comments on the self-government experience predominating.
Abstract
This report, presented as part of the project, 'Implications of the Growth and Development of Inmate Organizations and Their Impact on Correctional Management Practices,' emerged from a frustrated attempt to conduct onsite research at the Walla Walla prison. Although approval for the research was granted by appropriate Washington State officials, restrictions required such scaling down of the research plan that it was not accepted by the funding agency's research review committee. In lieu of the planned research, the Tyrnauer-Stastny report, the result of a 6-year study of the inmate self-government experience, constitutes the bulk of this presentation. The self-government experiment, introduced in the early 1970's, was centered in the Resident Government Council (RGC). The RGC was to function as the inmates' representative vis-a-vis the superintendent and the public. It consisted of 11 members elected at-large for a 6-month term. In its first constitution, the main duties specified for the RGC were to work to improve the institutional environment through assistance in short- and long-range planning and to improve communications between inmates and prison authorities. Events marking the rise and fall of the RGC are described, and inmates' perspectives of these events are reported. Some response is provided by the warden and a few other management staff. The commentary of this report advises that the causes of the failure of inmate self-government at Walla Walla, whatever they may be judged to be, should not be overgeneralized to undermine the general rationale for the development of inmate organizations.