NCJ Number
41729
Date Published
Unknown
Length
4 pages
Annotation
A FORMER PRISONER DESCRIBES THE CAUSES OF BOTH ACTIVE AND PASSIVE PRISON PROTESTS, AND SUGGESTS THAT THESE DISORDERS COULD BE CURBED BY REDUCING THE NUMBER OF INDETERMINATE OR LONG-TERM SENTENCES GIVEN TO OFFENDERS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR NOTES THAT PASSIVE PROTESTS, SUCH AS HUNGER STRIKES, ARE THE FIRST INDICATION OF SERIOUS TROUBLE IN THE CORRECTIONAL SYSTEM, AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY INVESTIGATED BY PRISON AUTHORITIES. THESE PASSIVE PROTESTS ARE OFTEN UNSUCCESSFUL BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE TRUE COMMITMENT TO THE CAUSE. VIOLENT PRISON RIOTS MAY ENMESH MORE PRISONERS BECAUSE LITTLE ACTUAL SUPPORT IS NEEDED FOR THE RIOT AND BECAUSE THEY MAY BE INITIATED WITH ONLY A HANDFUL OF INMATES. THE AUTHOR OBSERVES THAT PRISON CONDITIONS AND POLICIES THEMSELVES ARE THE CAUSE OF MANY RIOTS, EITHER BECAUSE CONDITIONS ARE INTOLERABLE FOR THE INMATES OR BECAUSE THE INMATES HAVE NOTHING TO LOSE BY RIOTING -- IF A MAN IS ALREADY SERVING A LONG-TERM OR LIFE SENTENCE, HE HAS LITTLE TO LOSE BY PARTICIPATING IN A RIOT. TO COUNTERACT THIS SITUATION, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT PRISONERS BE INFORMED OF THEIR RELEASE DATE, AND THAT SENTENCES BE PERIODICALLY REDUCED FOR CONTINUING GOOD BEHAVIOR. IN THIS WAY, INMATES WOULD BE LESS FRUSTRATED AND WOULD HAVE A CONSIDERABLE INVESTMENT IN MAINTAINING GOOD BEHAVIOR....DMC