NCJ Number
68996
Date Published
1980
Length
0 pages
Annotation
A FORMER SUPERINTENDENT OF THE ARKANSAS CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM DESCRIBES TTHE CONDITIONS IN THE FACILITIES BEFORE HIS ATTEMPTS AT REFORM IN 1967.
Abstract
THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM WAS UNIQUE IN THAT THE FACILITIES WERE ENTIRELY SELF-SUFFICIENT. THE INMATES WERE FORCED TO WORK FROM DAWN TO DUSK THROUGH THE YEAR WITHOUT PAY AND WERE LEASED OUT TO CONTRACTORS FOR ROAD AND FARM WORK. NO SPECIAL WORKING CLOTHING, SUCH AS GLOVES, BOOTS, OR COATS, WAS PROVIDED, AND UNDERFED INMATES OFTEN SOUGHT THEIR OWN FOOD IN THE FIELDS. NONPERFORMERS WERE BEATEN WITH WHIPS AND TORTURED OR MURDERED. FURTHERMORE, BETWEEN 100 AND 200 INMATES, SOME AS YOUNG AS 14 YEARS OLD, WERE HOUSED IN EACH BARRACKS-STYLE BUILDING; INDIVIDUAL CELLS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. ALL OF THE GUARDS WERE INMATES, AND HALF OF THESE HAD BEEN COMMITTED FOR HOMICIDE. EXAMPLES OF CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS PROFITING FROM THE LABORS OF THE INMATES ARE NARRATED. THE AUDIO CASSETTE TAPE WAS PREPARED FOR A RADIO SERIES AND IS INTENDED FOR A GENERAL AUDIENCE. NO SUPPORTING MATERIALS ARE PROVIDED. THE SECOND AND THIRD PARTS ARE AVAILABLE UNDER NCJ 68997-98.