VIOLENCE AND UNREST IN PRISONS (FROM AMERICAN CORRECTIONAL ASSOCIATION - PROCEEDINGS OF THE NINETY-NINTH ANNUAL COLLEGE OF CORRECTION - SEE NCJ-02839)

• NCJ Number: 10093
• Author(s): R W MEIER
• Date Published: 1969
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: American Correctional Association
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER PRESENTED AT ACA MEETING, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, AUG 17-22, 1969

Annotation

CAUSES OF VIOLENCE AND UNREST IN PRISONS, AND FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR PREVENTION.

Abstract

LIVING CONDITIONS ARE HISTORICAL AND MODERN REASONS FOR PRISON UNREST. THESE INCLUDE QUALITY OF FOOD AND SHELTER, MANNER OF TREATMENT, MEDICAL ATTENTION, OVERCROWDING, AND PRIVILEGES. MAJOR CONTRABAND, NAMELY DRUGS AND HOME BREW ALCOHOL, ARE DISRUPTANTS, AS ARE HOMOSEXUAL ENTANGLEMENTS, GAMBLING, INFORMERS, ESCAPE ATTEMPTS, AND CORRUPT EMPLOYEES. INMATES ARE ALSO MOVED TO UNREST BY OUTSIDE INFLUENCES AS RIOTS, DISTURBANCES ON CAMPUSES, AND DEMONSTRATIONS. TO COUNTERACT THESE DISRUPTIVE ELEMENTS PRISONS MUST BE MODERN, SPACIOUS PHYSICAL PLANTS - WELL-EQUIPPED, ADEQUATELY SUPPLIED, AND WELLSTAFFED WITH TRAINED PERSONNEL. A MODERN SYSTEM OF CLASSIFYING PRISONERS, FULL INVOLVEMENT IN TRAINING AND WORK PROGRAMS, A WIDE RANGE OF EDUCATIONAL PURSUITS, AND ATHLETIC, CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS PROGRAMS ARE NEEDED. EFFORTS TOWARD THESE GOALS CAN GAIN ADDED IMPETUS THROUGH COORDINATION WITH INMATE COUNCILS, THE NEWS MEDIA, AND CITIZENS GROUPS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.