NCJ Number
86688
Journal
Corrections Magazine Volume: 9 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1983) Pages: 6-9,15-21
Date Published
1983
Length
10 pages
Annotation
Descriptions of several jail fires in recent years accompany an analysis of the causes of these fires and the ways to improve fire safety in correctional facilities, especially jails.
Abstract
The National Fire Protection Association studied 52 fires that occurred in penal institutions from 1967 to 1977. The vast majority of jail fires started in a cell and usually in a mattress. Inmates set the fires, but not during a riot. The mail buildings sustained little damage. Deaths occurred from smoke inhalation. Serious problems with evacuation, often involving missing or stubborn keys, delayed the release of inmates. Many jails have clearly identified inadequacies in fire safety. Most jails were built before 1970, when little understanding existed of the principles of fire safety. Jails are more vulnerable to fires than other types of penal institutions because of inadequate staffing, lack of broad controls, and an emphasis on security due to the high turnover of inmates. National safety standards for jails exist, but only 31 of the nation's 3,000 county jails have applied for accreditation. Among requirements are the services of a qualified fire and safety officer and fire drills every 3 months. Even where tough standards exist, enforcement may be lax, however. In addition, many jail wardens do not emphasize training of personnel. Furthermore, classification and segregation of inmates with histories of setting fires often does not occur. Finally, a basic reason for the neglect of fire safety in jails is that the inmates and their families are not part of the power structure. A discussion of jail mattresses is included.