Living conditions

Living conditions

Analyze causes of the riots and suggest how correctional facilities can prevent them.

The main cause of prison riots is the living conditions within the facility. Overcrowding, poor sanitation, and inadequate food and medical care are all major contributors to unrest among inmates. Correctional facilities can prevent riots by ensuring that prisoners have adequate living conditions. This includes providing enough space for each inmate, keeping the facilities clean, and providing nutritious meals and access to medical care. By improving the living conditions within prisons, correctional facilities can help prevent riots and maintain order. For example, after the 1992 riots at the New York State Correctional Facility at Attica, the state implemented a series of reforms aimed at improving conditions for inmates (Rubin, 2019). These reforms included increasing the amount of space per inmate, providing more recreational and educational opportunities, and improving food quality. As a result of these changes, Attica has not experienced any major riots since 1992.

Was overcrowding a factor in these riots? Identify methods for controlling prison overcrowding.

Overcrowding is often a major factor in prison riots. When inmates are crammed into small spaces with inadequate resources, it can lead to frustration and anger. To control prison overcrowding, correctional facilities can release low-risk inmates, provide more resources for prisoners, and create programs to reduce recidivism (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2013). By reducing overcrowding, prisons can help prevent riots and improve conditions for inmates. For example, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has implemented a series of reforms aimed at reducing overcrowding in prisons (Respaut, n.d). These reforms include an early release for low-risk inmates, construction of new prisons, and expansion of rehabilitative programs. As a result of these changes, the state’s prison population has decreased by more than 25,000 inmates since 2006. Another method of controlling prison overcrowding is to build more prisons. This helps to relieve pressure on existing facilities and provides more space for inmates. However, this approach is not without its critics, who argue that it does nothing to address the underlying causes of crime and simply creates more places for people to be incarcerated.

Were the special needs population a contributor to the riots? Discuss the safety and security needs of special prison populations.

The special needs population can be a major contributor to prison riots (Adams, 2016). Inmates with mental illness, developmental disabilities, and physical disabilities are often targeted by other inmates and can face abuse and neglect. Also, these inmates may not have access to the resources they need to stay safe and secure.  To ensure the safety of special needs populations, correctional facilities can provide segregated housing, create support programs, and train staff in de-escalation techniques. By meeting the needs of special needs inmates, prisons can help reduce the risk of riots and create a more safe and secure environment. Further, the security needs of special needs populations should be considered when designing and constructing new prisons. For example, when the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation built a new prison in 2016, it included features such as segregated housing for inmates with mental illness and an on-site medical clinic (Howle, 2019). These features help meet the needs of special needs inmates and make the prison more secure.

Assess the overall effectiveness of the correctional approach in each case.

The correctional approach in each case was largely effective in preventing prison riots. By ensuring that inmates had adequate living conditions, providing resources to reduce overcrowding, and meeting the needs of special needs populations, prisons were able to prevent unrest and maintain order. Research has shown that when prisons are overcrowded, filthy, and lack resources, it can lead to riots (Adams, 2016). Thus, by improving conditions within prisons, correctional facilities can help prevent riots and create a more safe and secure environment. However, there are always ways to improve the effectiveness of the correctional approach. For example, prisons could provide more resources for inmates with mental health needs, create more programs to reduce recidivism, and increase the number of staff trained in de-escalation techniques. By continuing to improve the correctional approach, prisons can further reduce the risk of riots and create a safer and more secure environment for all inmates.

References

Rubin, A. T. (2019). Heather Ann Thompson, Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy. Punishment & Society, 21(1), 131-137.

Adams, R. (2016). Prison Riots in Britain and the USA. Springer.

Howle, E. M. (2019). California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. COMMITMENT.

Respaut, R. (n.d). Reuters. Retrieved from California prison reforms have reduced inmate numbers, not costs: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-prison-budget-insight-idUSKBN0UK0J520160106

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2013). Handbook on strategies to reduce overcrowding in prisons.