NCJ Number
67197
Date Published
1976
Length
12 pages
Annotation
THE USE OF SPECIAL HOUSING UNITS FOR DETENTION AND SEGREGATION IS EXAMINED IN TERMS OF UNIT AND SEX DIFFERENCES, REASONS FOR PLACEMENT, AND LENGTH OF STAY IN THE UNITS.
Abstract
THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN PLEASANTON, CALIF., WAS THE SUBJECT OF THE STUDY WHICH WAS CONDUCTED FROM JANUARY 1, 1976 TO JUNE 30, 1976. RESULTS OF THE STUDY WERE TO BE USED TO ESTABLISH BASELINE DATA FOR SUBSEQUENT EVALUATIONS OF THE IMPACTS OF POLICY AND/OR PROGRAM CHANGES. OF THE 71 DISCIPLINARY CASES, 4 WERE IN DISCIPLINARY SEGREGATION (SEGREGATION FOR RULE VIOLATIONS), 5 WERE IN ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION (DETENTION IN THE COURSE OF CONDUCTING ADMINISTRATIVE INQUIRIES AND PROCEDURES) TO BE FOLLOWED BY DISCIPLINARY SEGREGATION, AND 62 WERE IN ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION ONLY. THE AVERAGE TIME SPENT IN ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION WAS 6 DAYS, AND THE AVERAGE TIME SPENT IN DISCIPLINARY SEGREGATION WAS 8.8 DAYS. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS SHOWS THAT WOMEN ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE PLACED IN THE SPECIAL HOUSING UNITS THAN MEN, AND THE UNITS ARE USED MORE OFTEN WITH AN INCREASE IN THE OVERALL PRISON POPULATION. OFFICIAL FORMS INDICATE THAT THE PRIMARY REASONS FOR PLACEMENT IN SPECIAL HOUSING UNITS ARE FIGHTING OR THREATS TO OTHERS, BEHAVIOR WHICH DISRUPTS THE ORDERLY RUNNING OF THE INSTITUTION, POSSESSION OR INTRODUCTION OF CONTRABAND, INTOXICATION (DRUGS OR ALCOHOL), AND INVESTIGATION. ALTHOUGH IT CANNOT BE DETERMINED ACCURATELY FROM THE AVAILABLE DATA, 61 INMATES (44 MALES AND 17 FEMALES) ARE ESTIMATED TO HAVE BEEN PLACED IN ADMINISTRATIVE DETENTION EITHER FOR INVESTIGATION OF AN INCIDENT REPORT OR BECAUSE OF A PENDING HEARING, AND 5 INMATES (3 MALES AND 2 FEMALES) WERE PLACED THERE BECAUSE OF A PENDING CLASSIFICATION DECISION. WHEN RELEASED FROM THEIR SPECIAL HOUSING UNITS, 85.9 PERCENT WERE RETURNED TO THEIR LIVING UNIT; 12.7 PERCENT WERE TRANSFERRED; AND 1.4 PERCENT WENT TO COURT. TABULAR DATA ARE PROVIDED, AND THE UNIT RECORD SHEET IS APPENDED. (RCB)