Prison Riots as Organizational Failures: A Managerial Perspective

• NCJ Number: 157941
• Journal: Prison Journal Volume: 75 Issue: 3 Dated: (September 1995) Pages: 357-379
• Author(s): R A Boin; M J Van Duin
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 23 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS. Earlier version of article presented at the Prisons 2000 Conference, 1994, Leiscester, England

Annotation

Since most explanations of prison riots implicitly regard causes of rebellious inmate behavior as determinants of a riot's outcome and little attention has been paid to the actual course of a riot, this article suggests that what happens during the riot itself will influence the riot's scope and outcome.

Abstract

The focus of the article is on crisis management, and the authors contend that the way in which prison administrators prepare for and handle riots can make the difference between a small-scale disturbance and a full-fledged riot. Crisis management should therefore be considered as a critical variable in explaining riot outcomes. Causes of prison riots are addressed that encompass prison conditions and vulnerable social structures. Management approaches to dealing with prison riots are evaluated, with administrative failure cited as the primary cause of riots. The intricate nature of crisis management in prisons and the creation of riot-safe prisons are examined, and the importance of integrating crisis planning with prison management is emphasized. 72 references, 7 notes, and 3 figures