NCJ Number
9467
Date Published
Unknown
Length
11 pages
Annotation
EXPLANATIONS ARE SOUGHT FOR THE SPORADIC FLUCTUATIONS IN PRISON VIOLENCE SINCE THE POTENTIAL FOR VIOLENCE IS A CONSTANT FEATURE OF PRISON LIFE.
Abstract
STORIES OF PRISON DISTURBANCES ARE RECOUNTED IN AN EFFORT TO POINT OUT THE SHAPE AND DIRECTION OF PRISON VIOLENCE DURING RECENT YEARS. THE MAJOR THESIS IS THAT PERIODIC EPISODES OF VIOLENCE IN PRISON ARE CAUSED BY SUBTLE CHANGES IN A PRISON'S POWER STRUCTURE. THE POWER STRUCTURE IS A RESULT OF THE DELICATE UNDERSTANDING BUILT UP AMONG INMATES AND GUARDS. ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE CHANGES ARE GROUPS OF PRISONERS BEING TRANSFERRED WITHOUT NOTICE, KEY STAFF CHANGES, OR THE IMPLEMENTATION OR DISCONTINUANCE OF WORK ASSIGNMENTS OR TREATMENT PROGRAMS. CHANGES DISRUPT PRISON LIFE AND INCREASE THE PROBABILITY OF VIOLENCE. TODAY'S PRISONS ARE EVEN MORE LIKELY TO BE DISTURBED BY SMALL CHANGES SINCE, DUE TO RACIAL ANIMOSITY AND RELATIVELY CONSERVATIVE THINKING BY PENAL ADMINISTRATORS, A WORKABLE LEVEL OF TOLERANCE BETWEEN PRISONERS AND GUARDS IS DIFFICULT TO ACHIEVE.