NCJ Number
133149
Date Published
1990
Length
31 pages
Annotation
Statistics are tabulated on offenses against prison discipline and the punishment of offenders in England and Wales during 1990.
Abstract
Over 81,500 offenses against prison discipline were punished during the year, a 1-percent increase over 1989. The number of offenses involving young offenders decreased by 5 percent and was lower than for any year since 1983. The figure for females dropped by 10 percent between 1989 and 1990. The number of offenses punished per head of average population increased to 1.8 in 1990. The rate for females of 2.7 was higher than the rate for males of 1.8. The female rate remained static between 1987 and 1990, but lower than rates recorded from 1980 to 1986. Boards of Visitors punished 5.5 percent of offenses in 1990. The proportion for females up to 1987 was higher than for males. Offenses for which punishments were most frequently awarded in 1990 involved disobedience or disrespect including abusive language. In male prisons and remand centers, nearly 150 offenses were punished per 100 population. Offenses involving violence against the person accounted for about 14 percent of offenses punished in 1990. An average of 1.6 punishments were awarded in male establishments per offense compared to 1.5 for females. At male establishments, forfeiture of remission accounted for 38 percent of all punishments awarded. About 21 percent of all punishments meted out to both males and females were suspended. 16 tables