Centenial Celebration

Transaction Search Form: please type in any of the fields below.

Date: April 29, 2024 Mon

Time: 9:22 pm

Results for prisoners

375 results found

Author: Withers, Lloyd

Title: Incarcerated Fathers: A Descriptive Analysis

Summary: This study provides an analysis of the parenting status of a sample of federally incarcerated men in Canada and examines the pre-incarceration lifestyle of the fathers and extent of their children following incarceration.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, Research Branch, 2007

Source: Canadian Families and Corrections Network; Correctional Service of Canada

Year: 2007

Country: Canada

URL:

Shelf Number: 113451

Keywords:
Families of Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Atabay, Tomris

Title: Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs

Summary: This handbook aims to support countries in implementing the rule of law and the development of criminal justice reform. Specifically, this handbook covers the special needs of eight groups of prisoners, which have a particularly vulnerable status in prisons, including: prisoners with mental health care needs; prisoners with disabilites; ethnic and racial minorities and indigenous peoples; foreign national prisoners; lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) prisoners; older prisoners; prisoners with terminal illness; and prisoners under sentence of death.

Details: Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2009

Source: Criminal Justice Handbook Series

Year: 2009

Country: Austria

URL:

Shelf Number: 115356

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Prison Administration
Prisoners

Author: Kraemer, Sharan

Title: HoPE (Health of Prisoner Evaluation) Pilot Study of Prisoner Physical Health and Psychological Wellbeing

Summary: This pilot study, examining prisoner health in two Western Australian (WA) Prisons; Casuarina and Bandyup, aims to create a way for standardized program of health checks to be introduced into WA prisons and ultimately across the board for all Australian prisons. The HoPE (Health of Prisoner Evaluation) Project was developed by the authors in response to a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, which found no consistent state or national review of prisoners' health even though they are known to be a high-risk group. A mental and physical health questionnaire was used to interview both indigenous and non-Indigenous male and female prisoners from urban areas. This aimed to produce an accurate profile of people within the present prison system.

Details: Joondalup, Western Australia: School of Law & Justice, Edith Cowan University, 2009

Source: Australian Policy Online

Year: 2009

Country: Australia

URL:

Shelf Number: 114352

Keywords:
Health Care
Prisoners

Author: Greene, Judith

Title: Downscaling Prisons: Lessons from Four States

Summary: This report summarizes reforms and policies that have helped reduce prison populations in New York, Michigan, New Jersey, and Kansas. Policies discussed include sentencing reforms, alternatives to prison, reducing time served, and evaluation of parole policies.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2010. 61p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 117707

Keywords:
Imprisonment
Prison Overcrowding
Prison Sentences
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Talbot, Jenny

Title: Identifying and Supporting Prisoners with Learning Difficulties and Learning Disabilities: The Views of Prison Staff

Summary: In the U.K., there is a growing concern about the number of people with learning difficulties and learning disabilities who come into contact with the criminal justice system and about how they are identified and whether their needs are met. This research presents the views of prison staff on how prisoners with learning difficulties and learning disabilities are identified and supported at prisons in England and Wales.

Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2010. 66p.

Source: No One Know Programme

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 117871

Keywords:
Inmates
Learning Disabilities
Prisoners

Author: Chu, Sandra Ka Hon

Title: Clean Switch: The Case for Prison Needle and Syringe Programs in Canada

Summary: Prison systems have implemented, to varying degrees, forms of harm reduction aimed at preventing HIV transmission in prisons. However, as of September 2008, no Canadian jurisdiction had established a prison-based needle and syringe program. This paper outlines the available evidence and legal rationale, under federal Canadian and international human rights law, for Canada to implement a prison-based needle and syringe program without delay.

Details: Toronto: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network, 2009. 39p.

Source:

Year: 2009

Country: Canada

URL:

Shelf Number: 117371

Keywords:
AIDS (Disease)
Health Care
HIV (Viruses)
Prisoners

Author: New Mexico. Governor Richardson's Task Force on Prison Reform

Title: Increasing Public Safety in New Mexico Before, During and After Incarceration: New Directions for Reform in New Mexico Corrections

Summary: From the executive summary: "This report examines the current corrections system in New Mexico. It proposes a comprehensive reform package to increase public safety, control prison population, and decrease recidivism rates. It also proposes a system to divert offenders, consistent with public safety, and in appropriate circumstances, from prison into treatment and other alternatives to incarceration. The Task Force recommends a more concerted effort to coordinate state resources and a shoring-up of infrastructures to treat endemic substance abuse and other behavioral health problems among offenders and ex-offenders. Additionally, the Task Force recommends the creation of new employment, education, and other opportunities for ex-offenders in order to facilitate successful reentry and transition back into the community.

Details: Santa Fe, NM: 2008. 59p., app.

Source:

Year: 2008

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 116545

Keywords:
Diversion
Prisoners
Recidivism
Reentry

Author: McManus, Rob, ed.

Title: Gangs and Crime in South Carolina: How Much, How Bad?

Summary: From the report: "this report is designed to provide information about criminal activity attributed to gangs, victims of gang activity, gang offenders, and to provide estimates of gang membership in South Carolina's prison population and among offenders under supervision in the community. The purpose of this report is to provide reliable and objective information regarding a serious societal problem about which little information is readily available."

Details: Blythewood, SC: South Carolina Department of Public Safety, Office of Justice Programs, Statistical Analysis Center, 2009. 145p.

Source:

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 117579

Keywords:
Criminal Activity
Gangs
Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Scotland. Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Prisons for Scotland

Title: Out of Sight: Severe and Enduring Mental Health Problems in Scotland's Prisons

Summary: The aims of the inspection were to examine the scale of severe and enduring mental health problems in Scotland, the processes involved, the impact on the prison, issues on release, prison-based and community interventions, and reasons for the use of prison for people with severe mental health problems. Key findings of the inspection are presented.

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2008. 77p.

Source:

Year: 2008

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 114628

Keywords:
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: McGuinness, Julie

Title: Managing Offenders on Short Custodial Sentences

Summary: In the U.K., over 60,000 adults per year receive custodial sentences of less than 12 months. On any given day they make up around 9 percent of all prisoners but account for some 65 percent of all sentenced admissions and releases. This report examines the management of these prisoners by the National Offender Management Service, including how well it assesses and meets prisoners' practical needs and how well it addresses their offending behavior.

Details: London: National Audit Office, 2010. 38p.

Source: Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, HC 431, Session 2009-2010

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 117293

Keywords:
Prison Sentences
Prisoners

Author: Winterfield, Laura

Title: The Effects of Postsecondary Correctional Education: Final Report

Summary: Increasing educational proficiency has shown promise as one strategy for assisting inmates in finding gainful employment after release and ending their involvement with the criminal justice system. This report examines the effect of prison-based postsecondary education (PSE) on offenders both while incarcerated and after release. In three state, prisoners who participated in PSE were less likely to recidivate during the first year after release.

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2009. 42p.

Source:

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 116311

Keywords:
Correctional Education
Education
Prisoners

Author: Beck, Jack

Title: Heathcare in New York Prisons, 2004-2007: A Report by the Correctional Association of New York

Summary: This report describes the conditions of heathcare in New York State prisons from 2004-2007. It is based on information gathered during 19 monitoring visits and notes administrative factors that can negatively affect care, such as vacancies and low salaries of medical personnel. It also makes recommendations for improvement of medical care provided to state inmates.

Details: New York: Correctional Association of New York, 2009. 87p., app.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 113844

Keywords:
Medical Care
Prisoners

Author: Renshaw, Judy

Title: Waiting on the Wings: A Review of the Costs and Benefits of SEcure Psychiatric Hospital Care for People in the Criminal Justice System with Severe Mental Health Problems

Summary: This report examines the prevalence of mental illness with the U.K. prison system, the costs associated with treatment of those prisoners in both prison and in medium secure hospitals and the financial savings that could be made if more prisoners received more appropriate, timely treatment.

Details: London: Laing & Buisson, 2010. 20p.

Source:

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 118158

Keywords:
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Committee of Public Accounts

Title: Meeting Needs? The Offenders Learning and Skills Service

Summary: This report examines the work of the U.K.Learning and Skills Council for providing prisoners with basic skills and qualifications for employment.

Details: London: The Stationery Office, 2008. 34p.

Source: Forty-seventh Report of Session 2007-08. Report, toether with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

Year: 2008

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 113401

Keywords:
Correctional Education
Employment of Ex-Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Jackson, Anita Sarah

Title: Toxic Sweatshops: How UNICOR Prison Recycling Harms Workers, Communities, the Environment, and the Recycling Industry

Summary: This report examines the e-waste recycling program run by Federal Prison Industries (FPI), a government owned corporation that does business under the trade name UNICOR. Key findings include: UNICOR has failed to adequately protect prisoners and staff from exposure to toxics; UNICOR has failed to protect communities from hazardous materials; and UNICOR undercuts responsible recycling businesses.

Details: Oakland, CA: Prison Activist Resource Center, 2006. 56p.

Source:

Year: 2006

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 116206

Keywords:
Prison Industries
Prison Labor
Prisoners

Author: Neto, Abilio

Title: Offender Population Trends: Convicted Sex Offenders in NSW

Summary: This report presents data on the New South Wales population of sex offenders from 2003 to 2008 collected on 30 June of each year. It consists of an overview of demographics patterns and trends over the past five-year period for both sentenced offenders in full-time custody and those serving community-based orders managed by Corrective Services NSW.

Details: Sydney: New South Wales Corrective Services, 2009. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource; Research Bulletin No. 26

Year: 2009

Country: Australia

URL:

Shelf Number: 118561

Keywords:
Corrections (New South Wales)
Inmates
Prisoners
Sex Offenders (New South Wales)

Author: Wolff, Nancy

Title: Reentry Readiness of Men and Women Leaving New Jersey Prisons

Summary: This report presents the findings on a survey of reentry readiness of soon-to-be-released men and women from New Jersey prisons. Data from the survey describe the general state of this population in terms of their needs, strengths, and resources. The survey serves as both a needs/risk assessment tool and a blueprint for intervention to inform New Jersey's reentry initiatives in ways that yield the most rehabilitation and reentry preparedness out of every correctional dollar.

Details: New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Behavioral Health Services & Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 2010. 25p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 118709

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Reentry (New Jersey)
Rehabilitation
Risk/Needs Assessment

Author: Prison Reform International

Title: Life Imprisonment and Conditions of Serving the Sentence in the South Caucasus Countries

Summary: This report examines the situation of lifetime prisoners in South Caucasus countries. In South Caucasus countries where the criminal justice institutions are in continuous development and the resources are far from comparable with European countries, the difficulties associated with lifetime prisoner's prison conditions and rights are serious ones. It has been reported by different international organizations that the prison conditions in the region are below international standards. The observations state that the lifetime prisoners are threateneed by the lack of possibilities to exercise their rights and possibilities for rehabilitative and other activities during imprisonment are missing as well. The main concerns are about the poor prison conditions in general, but lack of rehabilitation and lack of possibilities for contacts with the outside world are common as well.

Details: Tbilisi, Georgia: PRI South Caucasus Office, 2009. 122p.

Source: Internet Resource; Project Global action to Abolish the Death Penalty

Year: 2009

Country: Europe

URL:

Shelf Number: 118672

Keywords:
Life Sentence
Prison Conditions
Prisoners

Author: Schmitt, John

Title: The High Budgetary Cost of Incarceration

Summary: Ths United States currently incarcerates a higher percentage of its population than any other country in the world. In 2008, over 2.3 million Amreicans were in prison or jail, and one of every 48 working-age men was behind bars. The financial costs of these corrections policies are staggering. In 2008, federal, state, and local governments spent about $75 billion on corrections, the large majority of which was spent on incarceration. Reducing the number of non-violent offenders in our prisons and jails by half would lower this bill by $16.9 billion per year, with the largest share of these savings accruing to financially speezed state and local governments. This report first documents the high and rising rates of incarceration in the United States, comparing the U.S. prison and jail population to the rest of the world and to our own historical experience. The report then reviews the main causes for the rise in incarceration and analyzes the relationship between incarceration and national crime rates. The final section of the report quantifies some of the direct financial costs of incarceration and discusses the scope for budgetary savings, particularly for state and local govenrments.

Details: Washington, DC: Center for Economic and Policy Research, 2010. 17p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 118814

Keywords:
Costs of Crime
Prisoners
Prisons, Costs
Prisons, Finance

Author: Smith, Nadine

Title: Comorbid Substance and Non-Substance Mental Health Disorders and Re-Offending Among NSW Prisoners

Summary: This report examines whether released prisoners in New South Wales with mental health disorders are at increased risk of re-offending when compared with released prisoners without mental health disorders.

Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2010. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource; Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 140

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL:

Shelf Number: 119142

Keywords:
Mental Health (Australia)
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners
Reoffending
Substance Abuse

Author: Chambers, Max

Title: Coming Clean: Combating Drug Misuse in Prisons

Summary: This report aaserts that U.K. prisons, traditionally thought of as secure institutions, are awash with drugs. The easy availability of drugs in prisons undermines treatment programs, allows prisoners to maintain anti-social habits during their sentence, and leaves them unprepared for release and primed to reoffend. While is less widely known is how drugs really get in to prisons, and what really goes on inside prisons in an effort to get inmates off drugs and prepared for release. Following extensive consultation with senior figures involved in tackling the problem of drug misuse in prisons, this report outlines a series of recommendations which would make a real difference in helping prisoners to get off - and stay off - illegal drugs.

Details: London: Policy Exchange, 2010. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 119281

Keywords:
Drug Smuggling, Prisons
Drugs
Inmates, Use of Drugs
Prison Contraband
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Victoria. Office of Police Integrity

Title: Update on Conditions in Victoria Police Cells

Summary: This report is based on an audit conducted in 2009 by the Professional Standards Assurance Unit of the Office of Police Integrity into conditions in the 22 catagory A police cells operated by Victoria Police. The focus of the audit was to examine facilities, systems and processes in place in the cell complexes.

Details: Melbourne: Victorian Government Printer, 2010. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL:

Shelf Number: 119254

Keywords:
Inmates
Police Cells
Police Integrity
Policing
Prisoners

Author: Torrey, E. Fuller

Title: More Mentally Ill Persons Are in Jails and Prisons Than Hospitals: A Survey of the States

Summary: This study found that Americans with severe mental illnesses are three times more likely to be in jail or prison than in a psychiatric hospital. The odds of a seriously mentally ill individual being imprisoned rather than hospitalized are 3.2 to 1, state data shows. The report compares statistics from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Bureau of Justice Statistics collected during 2004 and 2005, respectively. The report also found a very strong correlation between those states that have more mentally ill persons in jails and prisons and those states that are spending less money on mental health services.

Details: Arlington, VA: Treatment Advocacy Center and the National Sheriffs' Association, 2010. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 118698

Keywords:
Jails
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Kerr, Jane

Title: Assessing the Feasibility of Conducting a Randomised Control Trial or Other Evaluation of the FOR...A Change Programme

Summary: This feasibility study explored whether it would be possible to carry out a randomised control trial (RCT) of the brief cognitive motivational intervention aimed at offenders in the last three months of their sentence; Focus on Resettlement (FOR)…A Change programme. The study discovered that it would be feasible to carry out an RCT of the FOR programme, with staff and offenders recognising the benefits available, provided FOR eligibility was widened to included all prisoners sentenced to under 12 months. The randomisation process of the evaluation was identified as the most contentious aspect for ethical reasons and would need the support from across the prison estate to succeed.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2010. 103p.

Source: Internet Resource; Ministry of Justice Research Summary 17/10

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 119346

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prisoners
Rehabilitation

Author: Muntingh, Lukas

Title: Prisoner Re-Entry in Cape Town - An Exploratory Study

Summary: "Every month in South Africa approximately 6000 sentenced prisoners are released, some on parole and some on expiry of sentence. After serving their prison sentences it is society’s expectation that they will refrain from committing crime and be productive citizens. They are expected to find employment, rebuild relationships with their families and communities, and cease from engaging in certain activities and avoiding the risks that caused their imprisonment in the first instance. Unfortunately, it is the case that many released prisoners commit further offences and find their way back to prison, some in a remarkably short period of time while others return after several years. This study is concerned with the immediate post-release period and asked a very simple question: “What happens to people immediately after they have been released from prison?” The question is aimed at gaining a deeper and empirical understanding of what prisoner re-entry and reintegration into society mean and what the obstacles are to successful reintegration. When people’s lives have effectively been put on hold for several months or years, how do they pick up the strings where they had left them, if there are indeed strings to pick up? "

Details: Bellville, South Africa: Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative, 2008. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource; CSPRI Research Paper No. 14

Year: 2008

Country: South Africa

URL:

Shelf Number: 119383

Keywords:
Ex-Offenders, Services for
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Recidivism
Rehabilitation

Author: Mehta, Swati

Title: Maharashtra's Abandoned Prisons: A Study of Sub-Jails.

Summary: Sub-jails in India form a majority of prisons (60 per cent) and yet one of their distinguishing features is their limited capacity to hold prisoners (13.5 per cent) compared with other jails. The 115 sub-jails in Maharasthra (of a total of 153 prisons), for example, have an authorised capacity of 1,739 in contrast to the remaining 38 prisons with a capacity to house 19,162 prisoners. There is little information available in the public domain about sub-jails and their functioning. Perhaps because they house fewer prisoners, and that too for a short period compared to the central and district jails, neither the media nor civil society organisations have paid attention to these institutions. CHRI and Voluntary Action for Rehabilitation and Development (VARHAD) studied the sub-jails in Maharashtra to assess their condition and the rights of those who are housed in them. Maharashtra not only has the highest number of jails (153)in the country, but also records the highest number of sub-jails (114). For the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) - the only department that publishes national statistics on prisons - the high number of sub-jails in the state reveals “a well organised prison set-up even at the lower formation.” This report aims to provide a broad overview of the sub-jail system in the state and examine whether the NCRB is correct in inferring that the jail system at the “lower formation” is “well organised”. The sub-jails in the state are not administered by the prison department, but by the revenue department. This study examines the impact of placing the management of prisons in the hands of a department (revenue) that is not trained to administer them. It sheds light on the functioning of sub-jails in Maharashtra by focusing on the: rules and regulations applicable to their functioning; kinds of statistics that are available on these jails; administration of sub-jails in the state; oversight mechanisms like the Prison Visiting System; and general conditions in these jails, including food, clothing, basic amenities, sanitation, hygiene, medical facilities and security arrangements.

Details: New Delhi: Commonwealth Human Rights Inititaive, 2010. 62p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: India

URL:

Shelf Number: 119506

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Correctional Institutions
Jails (India)
Prisoners

Author: English, Kim

Title: Sexual Assault in Jail and Juvenile Facilities: Promising Practices for Prevention and Response: Final Report

Summary: Public Law 108-79, the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (also known as PREA), issued a call for correctional agencies nationwide to address prisoner sexual assault. This groundbreaking legislation required correctional administrators to identify, prevent, intervene and prosecute these incidents, and to ensure programs and services to meet the complex needs of victims and perpetrators. Soon after the passage of PREA, the National Institute of Justice sponsored several research activities to examine prisoner sexual assault within the culture of correctional institutions, within state department of corrections, and within jails and juvenile correctional facilities (the current project). This report presents the findings from a descriptive study of promising practices to prevent and respond to inmate-on-inmate sexual assault in jails and resident-on-resident sexual assault in juvenile correctional facilities, including a comprehensive literature review of institutional sexual assault which is included as Appendix A. Descriptive studies set the stage for more elaborate investigation later.

Details: Denver, CO: Colorado Division of Criminal Justice, Office of Research and Statistics, 2010. 356p.

Source: Internet Resource

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL:

Shelf Number: 119518

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Jails
Prison Rape
Prison Violence
Prisoners
Sexual Assault

Author: Western Australia, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services

Title: Thematic Review of Court Security and Custodial Services in Western Australia

Summary: Few publicly funded services have attracted as much attention as those involved in the custodial transport of Aboriginal elder Mr Ward on 27 January 2008. Mr Ward died a ‘terrible death’ i1from heatstroke at Kalgoorlie District Hospital following a journey from Laverton to Kalgoorlie. The service in question was provided under the Court Security and Custodial Services Contract. However, this Report extends into a much wider range of services conducted under the Court Security and Custodial Services Act 1999 (CSCS Act). These include services provided by the public sector as well as privately-provided services. The report includes the following chapters: Introduction; Court Operations; Transport Operations; Contract Management; The Contractor; Police Involvement; and Re-Tendering Court Custody and Security Services.

Details: Perth, WA: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, 2010. 132p.

Source: Internet Resource; Report No. 65

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL:

Shelf Number: 119568

Keywords:
Court Security (Western Australia)
Prisoner Transport
Prisoners
Privatization

Author: Stevenson, Nicky

Title: Reducing Re-Offending Through Social Enterprise: Social Enterprises Working with Prisons and Probation Services - A Mapping Exercise for National Offender Management Service

Summary: The primary purpose of this report is to inform the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) about the current level of activity of social enterprises working with prisons and probation services in England. Its secondary purpose is to assist the social enterprise sector to position itself to develop new opportunities identified by the findings. The report is structured to meet these two purposes. Chapters include: An executive summary – a short summary of the key findings and recommendations; Part 1 of the full report – background, methodology and context; Part 2 of the full report – detailed findings from the data collection; and Part 3 of the full report – analysis of the findings findings, signposting future opportunities, summary and recommendations. The research was carried out between May and August 2009 by Concilium, using a mixed methods approach. In undertaking this work, 100% of probation services and 72% of prisons were interviewed. In total, 38 extended interviews took place with prisons and probation services, 20 with prisons and 18 with probation services. 82 social enterprises completed the on-line survey and 18 social enterprises were interviewed. The full report includes an analysis of the data from each of these sources, a series of case studies showing examples of how social enterprises are currently working with prisons and probation services and a series of recommendations for NOMS and the social enterprise sector to address.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2009. 122p.

Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 10, 2010 at http://www.justice.gov.uk/social-enterprise-prison-probation.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/social-enterprise-prison-probation.pdf

Shelf Number: 117544

Keywords:
Ex-Offenders (U.K.)
Prisoners
Prisons
Probation
Voluntary and Community Organizations

Author: Nafekh, Mark

Title: Evaluation Report: Correctional Service Canada's Safer Tattooing Practices Pilot Initiative

Summary: "The practice of illicit tattooing in prison has been associated with high incidence and prevalence rates of blood borne infectious diseases within federal correctional institutions, a risk which is also extended to correctional staff members and to the general public. In response to the Federal National AIDS Strategy (1997) and the 31st Annual Report of the Correctional Investigator (2004), Correctional Service Canada (CSC) agreed to explore expanding its infectious disease control program to include Safer Tattooing Practices as a harm reduction initiative. In August 2005, CSC began its pilot of the Safer Tattooing Practices Initiative (STPI)2, which was implemented through an education component and an operational component. The operational component saw the implementation of tattoo rooms in six federal institutions – one men’s institution in each of the five regions (Atlantic, Cowansville, Bath, Rockwood and Matsqui Institutions) plus one women’s institution (Fraser Valley Institution for Women). The education component, delivered at CSC’s five regional reception centres, informed all inmates with a new federal offence about the risks of unsafe tattooing practices at the five regional reception centres. The education component also provided information through a guidelines document and pamphlets distributed at each of the six pilot sites. This report provides findings of the targeted evaluation of the STPI. The report measures achievements and outcomes as outlined in the Evaluation Framework (2005). The report is summative in nature even though it incorporates aspects of both the formative and summative approaches towards evaluation. Thus, most but not all of the immediate, intermediate and long term impacts were assessed. As such, the report includes findings and recommendations regarding the implementation of the STPI, however not all aspects of this area were examined in detail as they would in a purely formative evaluation. The findings and recommendations contained in this report are designed to guide decisions regarding the suitability of continuing the Safer Tattooing harm reduction initiative."

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, Evalution Branch, Performance Assurance Sector, 2009. 70p.

Source: Internet Resource; Accessed August 14, 2010 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pa/ev-tattooing-394-2-39/ev-tattooing-394-2-39_e.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/pa/ev-tattooing-394-2-39/ev-tattooing-394-2-39_e.pdf

Shelf Number: 114339

Keywords:
Corrections
Health Care
Inmates
Prisoners
Tattoos

Author: McCormick, Jim

Title: Learning in Custody: Report of the Offender Learning in Custody Workstream

Summary: Offender Learning was established in Scotland following a commitment in the Skills Strategy. This workstream study focused on men and women aged 18 and over currently held in Scotland's prisons. The review of the program provides an opportunity to see where reform in needed in order to provide the skills necessary for offenders to find employment upon release from custody.

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2009. 91p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2010 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/297466/0092538.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/297466/0092538.pdf

Shelf Number: 117749

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Education, Inmates (Scotland)
Ex-Offender Employment
Prisoners

Author: Zhang, Jessica

Title: An Analysis of Repeat Imprisonment Trends in Australia Using Prisoner Census Data from 1994 to 2007

Summary: Reducing the number of prisoners who are repeatedly imprisoned is one of the goals of any correctional system. However, while a period of imprisonment may deter some people from re-offending, in others it may foster further criminal behaviour. This paper presents the results of a study based on a longitudinal dataset constructed from 14 successive Prisoner Censuses between 1994 and 2007 to follow, over time, two cohorts of people who were 'released' from prison (where 'release' is a proxy measure derived from the absence of a prisoner's record in a subsequent Prisoner Census). This paper expands on an earlier study by the Australian Bureau of Statistics by using logistic regression models to examine the factors associated with repeat imprisonment and assess whether or not the propensity for reimprisonment has increased over time. This paper also examines trends in criminal career development using descriptive methods, looking at patterns of specialisation, and of movements from one type of offence to another. The study finds that reimprisonment is strongly associated with being young, being Indigenous, or having been previously imprisoned (that is, being a prisoner who had already served time in prison). In all jurisdictions except Queensland, the rate of reimprisonment in recent years was higher than in the mid-1990s.

Details: Canberra: Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2010. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/26D48B9A4BE29D48CA25778C001F67D3/$File/1351055031_aug%202010.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/26D48B9A4BE29D48CA25778C001F67D3/$File/1351055031_aug%202010.pdf

Shelf Number: 119689

Keywords:
Longitudinal Studies
Prisoners
Reoffending
Repeat Offenders

Author: Florida Department of Corrections. Bureau of Research and Data Analysis

Title: 2009 Florida Prison Recidivism Study: Releases From 2001 to 2008

Summary: The 2009 Florida Prison Recidivism Study is the first report to be produced annually that examines the issue of recidivism among Florida's released inmate population. The use of recidivism as a performance indicator of the state's rehabilitative efforts can be debated, but the analysis itself is of vital public importance. Basically, what is the likelihood that an inmate who is released today will come back to prison? This question is important for the state in terms of planning and budgeting, but more importantly to the public and elected officials in terms of public safety. Since 88% of inmates in Florida's prisons today will one day be released back into our communities, their success or failure comes at a cost to public order and public safety. This study finds that results for Florida are generally consistent with existing research of the factors that influence recidivism. The Bureau of Justice Statistics report, "Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 1994 (2002)" shows overall recidivism rates for releases from 15 different states. That report shows a 51.8% recidivism rate (return to prison for any reason within three years) for this group of inmates. Unlike most states, Florida paroles very few inmates and only about a third of released inmates have any community supervision sanction at all. Since those with supervision after release recidivate more often than those without supervision upon release, it is important to keep in mind that Florida's recidivism rate may be lower than another state due to this difference in release mechanisms.

Details: Talahassee, FL: Florida Department of Corrections, 2010. 18p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2010 at: http://www.dc.state.fl.us/secretary/press/2010/RecidivismStudy.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://www.dc.state.fl.us/secretary/press/2010/RecidivismStudy.pdf

Shelf Number: 119699

Keywords:
Parolees
Prisoners
Recidivism (Florida)

Author: Aebi, Marcelo F.

Title: Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics: Space 1. Survey 2007

Summary: The SPACE I data presented here were obtained by means of the revised version of the questionnaire (Document PC-CP (2008) 07) introduced in the 2004 survey and supplemented with new items for this year’s survey. The main goal of the revision was to include some questions in order to clarify precisely what is being counted in the statistics of each country. The answers to these questions are presented in Tables 1.5 and 15.2 and suggest that cross-national comparisons of prison population rates must be conducted cautiously as the categories included in the total number of prisoners vary from country to country. The same is true for cross-national comparisons of deaths and suicides in penal institutions as well as of staff working in penal institutions. In former SPACE questionnaires there was a slight difference between the French and the English definition of assault. This problem has now been solved and both questionnaires refer to assault and battery (coups et blessures volontaires). Some clarifications were also introduced for other items (i.e. counting units, reference dates etc.). Finally, four detail questions were added on the structure of the requested data (distinction between juveniles and young adults, between criminally liable and noncriminally liable mentally ill offenders, and between aliens on administrative detention held in prisons and those held in special units for administrative detention). All these new add-ins will allow more accurate comparisons between Council of Europe Member States. Prison population figures (stock) as well as the staff working in penal institutions relate to the situation on 1st September 2007, while flow of entries, total number of days spent in penal institutions, and incidents (escapes, deaths and suicides) relate to the whole 2006 year. The forty-seven Member States of the Council of Europe at the end of 2007 include fifty prison administrations that are under their control and thirty-nine answered the 2007 SPACE I Survey. The following countries did not answer the survey: Albania, Andorra, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina (State level), Croatia, Greece, Malta, Montenegro, Russia, Ukraine, and Northern Ireland. For administrative reasons, data were not available for the following countries or areas: Northern Cyprus, Kosovo, Transdniestria, Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Montenegro became the 47th Member State of the Council of Europe on May, 11, 2007; therefore data for this country were not included in this year’s edition of the Survey.

Details: Strasbourg; Council of Europe, 2009. 99p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 6, 2010 at: http://www.coe.int/t/f/affaires_juridiques/coop%E9ration_juridique/emprisonnement_et_alternatives/statistiques_space_i/PC-CP_2009_%2001Rapport%20SPACE%20I_2007_090505_final_rev.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.coe.int/t/f/affaires_juridiques/coop%E9ration_juridique/emprisonnement_et_alternatives/statistiques_space_i/PC-CP_2009_%2001Rapport%20SPACE%20I_2007_090505_final_rev.pdf

Shelf Number: 118330

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Fitzgerald, Jacqueline

Title: Why are Indigenous Imprisonment Rates Rising?

Summary: Between 2001 and 2008 the adult Indigenous imprisonment rate rose by 37 percent in Australia and 48 percent in New South Wales. This paper looks at the reasons behind this rise in New South Wales. The evidence suggests that most of the increase is due to increased severity by the criminal justice system in its treatment of Indigenous offenders. One quarter of the increase has come from remandees and three quarters from sentenced prisoners. The increase in the number of remandees appears to be due to a greater proportion of Indigenous defendants being refused bail and an increase in the time spent on remand. Similarly, the number of sentenced Indigenous prisoners has increased because more Indigenous offenders are receiving a prison sentence and for longer periods. With the possible exception of offences against justice procedures, it does not appear that the increase in imprisonment is due to increased offending.

Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: Bureau Brief, Issue Paper no. 41: Accessed October 11, 2010 at: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb41.pdf/$file/bb41.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/bb41.pdf/$file/bb41.pdf

Shelf Number: 118555

Keywords:
Incarceration Rates
Indigenous Peoples
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Bannon, Alicia

Title: Criminal Justice Debt: A Barrier to Reentry

Summary: Many states are imposing new and often onerous “user fees” on individuals with criminal convic­tions. Yet far from being easy money, these fees impose severe – and often hidden – costs on com­munities, taxpayers, and indigent people convicted of crimes. They create new paths to prison for those unable to pay their debts and make it harder to find employment and housing as well to meet child support obligations. This report examines practices in the fifteen states with the highest prison populations, which to­gether account for more than 60 percent of all state criminal filings. We focused primarily on the proliferation of “user fees,” financial obligations imposed not for any traditional criminal justice purpose such as punishment, deterrence, or rehabilitation but rather to fund tight state budgets. Across the board, we found that states are introducing new user fees, rais­ing the dollar amounts of existing fees, and intensifying the collection of fees and other forms of criminal justice debt such as fines and restitution. But in the rush to collect, made all the more intense by the fiscal crises in many states, no one is considering the ways in which the resulting debt can undermine reentry prospects, pave the way back to prison or jail, and result in yet more costs to the public.

Details: York: Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, 2010. 63p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 11, 2010 at: http://brennan.3cdn.net/c610802495d901dac3_76m6vqhpy.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://brennan.3cdn.net/c610802495d901dac3_76m6vqhpy.pdf

Shelf Number: 119916

Keywords:
Prisoners
Reentry
Supervision Fees
User Fees

Author: Carson, Scott Alan

Title: African-American and White Inequality the American South: Evidence from the 19th Century Missouri State Prison

Summary: The use of height data to measure living standards is now a well-established method in economic history. Moreover, a number of core findings in the literature are widely agreed upon. There are still some populations, places, and times, however, for which anthropometric evidence remains thin. One example is 19th century African-Americans in US border states. This paper introduces a new data set from the Missouri state prison to track black and white male heights from 1829 to 1913. Where modern blacks and whites come to comparable terminal statures when brought to maturity under optimal conditions, whites were persistently taller than blacks in this Missouri prison sample. Over time, black and white adult statures remained approximately constant throughout the 19th century, while black youth stature increased considerably during the antebellum period and decreased during Reconstruction.

Details: Munich, Germany: CESifo Group, 2007. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: CESifo Working Paper No. 1954: Accessed October 14, 2010 at: http://www.ifo.de/pls/guestci/download/CESifo%20Working%20Papers%202009/CESifo%20Working%20Papers%20December%202009/cesifo1_wp2876.pdf

Year: 2007

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ifo.de/pls/guestci/download/CESifo%20Working%20Papers%202009/CESifo%20Working%20Papers%20December%202009/cesifo1_wp2876.pdf

Shelf Number: 119957

Keywords:
Health
Historical Studies
Inmates
Prisoners
Socioeconomic Status

Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: An Inspection of Prisoner Escort and Court Custody Arrangements in Northern Ireland

Summary: The provision of safe, humane and efficient custody transport arrangements provides an important contribution to the efficient operation of the criminal justice system. This inspection reviewed the provision of court custody and transport services to determine whether the treatment and conditions experienced by prisoners and other court users in court custody are decent, respectful, safe and secure. In addition we also sought to determine whether the service was undertaken in an efficient manner that supported the administration of justice across Northern Ireland. The assessment framework used during the inspection focused on the treatment of prisoners at court and during transport, court custody facilities and conditions, safety and security and the overall efficiency of the service provided. Our overall assessment is that the current court custody and transport arrangements are operated to an acceptable standard in terms of the service provided to prisoners and the courts service, although the quality of court facilities was extremely variable. In the main, prisoners are treated in a safe and humane manner and the service in general meets the needs of the court system. In 2009 escapes were kept to a minimum, no releases were made in error and prisoners in the majority of cases turned up at court on time for their court appearance. The number of assaults on prisoners by prisoners was low. The inspection identified a number of areas where the treatment of prisoners could be improved including the need for a more consistent approach to the handcuffing of prisoners by the service providers. Good practice suggests, and we would endorse, that prisoners should not be routinely handcuffed when travelling in secure vehicles unless individual risk assessments demonstrate a high level of risk. Male and female prisoners should always be transported separately. The overall efficiency of the escorting and court custody service is not easily measured, comprising as it does of four main agencies and a number of providers, each with their own way of undertaking business. In line with practice elsewhere we suggest there would be benefits in undertaking a full market test of the court custody services currently undertaken on behalf of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Youth Justice Agency.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2010. 47p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2010 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/cc/cc81a484-6109-4d33-95db-5b9d71df3883.PDF

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/cc/cc81a484-6109-4d33-95db-5b9d71df3883.PDF

Shelf Number: 119979

Keywords:
Court Custody
Prisoner Escort
Prisoners
Prisoners, Treatment

Author: Centre for the Human Rights of Imprisoned People

Title: Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Women in Victorian Prisons

Summary: The number of women imprisoned in Victoria has increased by 25% over the past year, with a disproportionate number of the women imprisoned coming from Calturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. The number of women born in Vietnam who are imprisoned in Victoria has almost doubled during the period of June 2008 to June 2009. There are currently more than 300 women imprisoned in Victoria, which is the highest number of women imprisoned in the state at any one time since prior to Federation. This dramatic increase is therefore unprecedented and extremely alarming, particularly as it affects women of CALD backgrounds. This project examines the situation of CALD women who are imprisoned in Victoria. To do this, the project follows up the serious issues of discrimination raised in the Request for a Systemic Review of Discrimination against Women in Victorian Prisons, made in 2005 by the Federation of Community Legal Centres FCLC and Victorian Council of Social Services VCOSS to the Equal Opportunity Commission Victoria (EOCV). The 2005 Request for Systemic Review raised significant allegations of discrimination affecting the women held in custody in Victoria. Although this discrimination was attributed firstly to the gender of prisoners, the Request also identified specific areas of discrimination on the basis of race and cognitive ability by the State Government of Victoria in its management of the Victorian women’s prisons at Tarrengower and the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre at Deer Park. In relation to women from CALD backgrounds, the 2005 Request for Systemic Review contained significant anecdotal evidence highlighting incidents and practices of direct and indirect discrimination on the basis of race and religion that impacted on the day-to-day life of imprisoned CALD women. The report remains significant as the only detailed investigation and documentation of the treatment of CALD women in the Victorian prison system.

Details: Flemington, VIC, AUS: Centre for the Human Rights of Imprisoned People, 2010. 51p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 26, 2010 at: http://www.apo.org.au/research/culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-women-victorian-prisons

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.apo.org.au/research/culturally-and-linguistically-diverse-women-victorian-prisons

Shelf Number: 120089

Keywords:
Discrimination
Female Inmates
Female Offenders
Minority Groups
Prisoners

Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General. Audit Division

Title: Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Furlough Program

Summary: The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) furlough program allows “an authorized absence from an institution by an inmate who is not under escort of a BOP staff member, U.S. Marshal, or state or federal agents.” In general, the BOP grants two types of furloughs – transfer and non-transfer. Non-transfer furloughs are used whenever an inmate leaves and returns to the same institution and are generally used to strengthen an inmate’s family ties or to allow inmates to receive medical treatment or participate in educational, religious, or work-related activities. Transfer furloughs are generally used to transfer an inmate to: (1) another BOP institution; (2) a medical facility for treatment; or (3) a Residential Re-entry Center, or “halfway house.” Halfway houses are used to prepare inmates for reentry into society by helping them adjust to life in the community and find suitable post-release employment. For fiscal years (FY) 2007 through 2009, the BOP reported that it granted 162,655 transfer and non-transfer furloughs to 90,002 inmates. Each year, the BOP granted furloughs to approximately 13 percent of its inmate population. The objective of this audit was to determine whether the BOP has implemented effective internal controls related to its furlough program, including adequate safeguards to ensure furloughed inmates are sufficiently monitored, and whether the BOP adequately coordinates with other agencies regarding inmate furloughs and escapes. To accomplish these objectives, we interviewed more than 30 BOP officials regarding the use of furloughs, including Community Corrections Managers and individuals in the Correctional Programs Division. We also met with officials from the United States Marshals Service (USMS) to assess BOP and USMS coordination efforts related to escaped prisoners. In addition, we performed audit work at two BOP institutions: (1) Bryan Federal Prison Camp (Bryan FPC) in Bryan, Texas; and (2) Victorville Federal Correctional Complex (FCC Victorville) in Victorville, California. We also obtained and analyzed BOP data related to furloughs granted during the period FY 2007 through FY 2009, and we reviewed BOP policies related to the furlough program.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, 2010. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Audit Report 10-44: Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/a1044.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/a1044.pdf

Shelf Number: 120122

Keywords:
Prison Furloughs
Prison Inmates
Prisoners
U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons

Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General. Audit Division

Title: Follow-up Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Efforts to Management Inmate Health Care

Summary: The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is responsible for delivering medically necessary health care to inmates in accordance with proven standards of care. To accomplish this task, the BOP has established policy to hire appropriately trained, skilled, and credentialed staff. The policy identifies lines of authority and accountability to provide for appropriate supervision of health care practitioners. To verify and monitor its health care practitioners’ knowledge and skills in providing health care, the BOP implemented its policy for Health Care Provider Credential Verification, Privileges, and Practice Agreement Program. During fiscal year (FY) 2009, the BOP obligated about $865 million for inmate health care. In February 2008, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) completed an audit of the BOP’s efforts to manage inmate health care. Among other issues, our 2008 audit found that the BOP allowed health care providers to practice medicine without valid authorizations such as privileges, practice agreements, or protocols. In addition, some providers had not had their medical practices evaluated by a peer as required by BOP policy. Allowing practitioners to provide medical care to inmates absent current privileges, practice agreements, or protocols increases the risk that the practitioners may provide medical services without having the qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experience necessary to correctly perform the services. Absent a current peer review, the BOP has a higher risk of providers giving inadequate professional care to inmates. Also, if inadequate professional care goes undetected, the providers may not receive the training or supervision needed to improve the delivery of medical care. We initiated this audit to follow up on the BOP’s corrective actions on the recommendations in our 2008 audit report related to maintaining current privileges, practice agreements, protocols, and peer reviews. While performing the follow-up audit, we also assessed the BOP’s use of National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) reports to ensure health care providers have not been involved in unethical or incompetent practices. The NPDB is maintained by the Department of Health and Human Services and is a central repository of information about: (1) malpractice payments made for the benefit of physicians, dentists, and other health care practitioners; (2) licensure actions taken by state medical boards and state boards of dentistry against physicians and dentists; (3) professional review actions primarily taken against physicians and dentists by hospitals and other health care entities, including health maintenance organizations, group practices, and professional societies; (4) actions taken by the Drug Enforcement Administration; and (5) Medicare and Medicaid Exclusions. The BOP requires its institutions to query the NPDB at the initial appointment of health care providers, and no less than once every 2 years thereafter to identify adverse actions by the providers.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, 2010. 51p.

Source: Internet Resource: Audit Report 10-30: Accessed october 29, 2010 at: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/a1030.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://www.justice.gov/oig/reports/BOP/a1030.pdf

Shelf Number: 120123

Keywords:
Inmates
Prison Health Care
Prisoners
U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons

Author: Sadlier, Greg

Title: Evaluation of the Impact of the HM Prison Service Enhanced Thinking Skills Programme on Reoffending Outcomes of the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) Sample

Summary: This research examined the impact of the Enhanced Thinking Skills (ETS) programme on the one-year reconviction outcomes of 257 prison-based participants between 2006 and 2008. Radius propensity score matching was used to match a comparison group that had no statistically significant difference (at the means) to the treatment group on any matching characteristic. ETS was found to significantly reduce both the reconviction rate (six percentage points) and frequency (60 reoffences per 100 released prisoners) of general reoffending of participants. No statistically significant impact was found on the severe offences reconviction rate. Almost identical impacts were found for completers. A stronger reduction in reconviction was found for participants meeting the suitability criteria. Though the programme has been shown to be effective in practice, the findings suggest that a stricter application of the targeting criteria might have further enhanced the effectiveness of the programme.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2010. 56p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 19/10: Accessed November 5, 2010 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/eval-enhanced-thinking-skills-prog.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/eval-enhanced-thinking-skills-prog.pdf

Shelf Number: 120196

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prisoners
Recidivism
Rehabilitation
Reoffending

Author: Hedderman, Carol

Title: Building on Sand: Why Expanding the Prison Estate Is Not The Way To Secure The Future

Summary: This briefing argues that the UK government's analysis of factors driving up the prison population is `inadequate' and `highly misleading' . It argues that the contrary to claims in Lord Carter's Review of Prisons that the increased use of imprisonment is not due to more offences being brought to justice; that prison reconviction rates have escalated as the population has increased; and that the public appetite for prison is more limited and susceptible to reasoned arguement than the government acknowledges. Finally it suggests a number of possible policy reforms to slow the rise in prison numbers.

Details: London: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, King's College London, 2008. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: Briefing 7: Accessed December 9, 2010 at: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/opus733/Builtonsandbriefing.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/opus733/Builtonsandbriefing.pdf

Shelf Number: 120431

Keywords:
Prisoners
Prisons (U.K.)

Author: Weatherburn, Don

Title: Why Does NSW Have a Higher Imprisonment Rate Than Victoria?

Summary: This study examines the influence of sentencing practice and other factors on the difference between NSW and Victoria in their imprisonment rates. The report includes a descriptive analysis of national crime, court and prison data. Findings show that the NSW court appearance rate is 26 per cent higher than that in Victoria. The overall conviction rate in NSW is 85.7 per cent, compared with 79.0 per cent in Victoria. The overall percentage imprisoned is significantly higher in NSW (7.5%) than in Victoria (5.4%). The mean expected time to serve among prisoners dealt with by Victorian courts is slightly longer than the mean expected time to serve among prisoners dealt with by NSW courts. The NSW remand rate is approximately 2.5 times the Victorian remand rate. The study concludes that the higher NSW imprisonment rate is attributable to a higher rate of court appearance, a slightly higher conviction rate, a higher likelihood of imprisonment and a higher likelihood of remand in custody.

Details: Brisbane: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2010. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: Crime and Justice Bulletin, No. 145: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_mr_cjb145

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/pages/bocsar_mr_cjb145

Shelf Number: 120696

Keywords:
Bail (New South Wales)
Conviction Rates
Imprisonment
Prisoners
Sentencing

Author: Canada. Public Safety Canada

Title: The Investigation, Prosecution and Correctional Management of High-Risk Offenders: A National Guide

Summary: This guide has been prepared to provide police, prosecution, correctional and other criminal justice officials with an overview of the Canadian Criminal Code provisions designed to respond to sexual predators and other high-risk offenders. The interventions discussed are: Dangerous offender designations that can result in the worst offenders being indeterminately detained or placed under long-term supervision where a conviction for a breach could result in indeterminate detention; Long-term offender designations where high-risk offenders are sentenced to two or more years imprisonment plus up to ten (10) years of supervision that begins after both the prison sentence and any period of parole have been served; and Peace bonds that allow the courts to impose conditions on an individual’s movement and activities if there is reason to believe that the person will commit violent crimes if not restrained.

Details: Ottawa: Her Majesty the Queenin Right of Canada, 2010. 197p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2011 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/ipcmg-gepgc-eng.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/ipcmg-gepgc-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 120753

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Dangerous Offenders
Inmates
Offenders (Canada)
Prisoners

Author: Wells, Heather

Title: Minority Overrepresentation in Colorado's Criminal Justice System: An Interagency Report to the Colorado Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice

Summary: There are racial and ethnic inequalities in the U.S. criminal justice system. A disproportionately high number of African Americans are arrested, convicted, incarcerated, denied early parole and rearrested. There is some evidence of ethnic (Hispanic vs. non-Hispanic) disparities. However, many government agencies do not collect ethnicity data, so it is more difficult to draw firm conclusions about ethnic disparity. There is a similar lack of information about American Indian or Alaska Natives and Asians due to their relatively small percentages in the population, but there is some evidence that American Indian or Alaska Natives are overrepresented, whereas Asians’ criminal justice outcomes are similar to those of Whites. However, there is a lot of variability in culture and socioeconomic status between different Asian subgroups, so it is likely that their experiences in the criminal justice system vary widely. This report was mandated by HB 08-1119, which states that the Colorado Criminal Commission on Criminal & Juvenile Justice should conduct and review studies and make recommendations regarding the reduction of racial disparities in the criminal justice system. This paper focuses on adult offenders. For information about how juvenile offenders’ race affects their criminal justice outcomes, please see the bibliography released by the Technical Assistance and Research Center (TARC) at New Mexico University (Bond-Maupin et al., n.d.). For information about minority overrepresentation among juveniles in Colorado, please see Colorado’s Three-Year Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Plan (Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Council & Office of Adult and Juvenile Justice Assistance, 2009). This paper defines race and ethnicity, explores the extent of the problem in each stage of the criminal justice system nationwide (policing, pre-trial detention, sentencing and court processing, community supervision, prison and the death penalty), discusses possible reasons why such disparities occur, and describes Colorado’s efforts to reduce the problem. The current study explores criminal justice outcomes in Colorado by race and ethnicity; staff diversity at Colorado’s Department of Corrections (CDOC), Division of Probation Services, and state court system; and probation and parole release types by race and ethnicity. The paper concludes with recommendations for reducing racial and ethnic disparities in Colorado.

Details: Colorado Springs, CO: Colorado Department of Corrections, Office of Planning and Analysis, 2010. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2011 at: http://cdpsweb.state.co.us/cccjj/PDF/Research%20Documents/MOR_2010.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://cdpsweb.state.co.us/cccjj/PDF/Research%20Documents/MOR_2010.pdf

Shelf Number: 120774

Keywords:
Criminal Justice, Administration of (Colorado)
Discrimination
Minorities
Prisoners
Race/Ethnicity

Author: Porter, Nicole D.

Title: The State of Sentencing 2010: Developments in Policy and Practice

Summary: Today, 7.2 million men and women are under correctional supervision. Of this total, five million are monitored in the community on probation or parole and 2.3 million are incarcerated in prisons or jails. As a result the nation maintains the highest rate of incarceration in the world at 743 per 100,000 population. The scale of the correctional population results from a mix of crime rates and legislative and administrative policies that vary by state. In recent years, lawmakers have struggled to find the resources to maintain state correctional systems; 46 states are facing budget deficits in the current fiscal year, a situation that is likely to continue, according to the National Governors Association. Many states are looking closely at ways to reduce correctional costs as they seek to address limited resources. States like Kansas, Michigan, New Jersey, and New York have successfully reduced their prison populations in recent years in an effort to control costs and effectively manage prison capacity. Overall, prison populations declined in 24 states during 2009, by 48,000 persons, or 0.7 percent. During 2010, state legislatures in at least 23 states and the District of Columbia adopted 35 criminal justice policies that may contribute to reductions in the prison population and eliminate barriers to reentry while promoting effective approaches to public safety. This report provides an overview of recent policy reforms in the areas of sentencing, probation and parole, drug policy, the prison census count, collateral consequences, and juvenile justice. Highlights include: South Carolina equalized penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses as part of a sentencing reform package that garnered bipartisan support. New Jersey modified its mandatory sentencing law that applies to convictions in “drug free school zones,” and now authorizes judges to impose sentences below the mandatory minimum in appropriate cases. Prior to the reform, more than 3,600 defendants a year were convicted under the statute, 96% of whom were African American or Latino. During 2010, state legislatures in at least 23 states and the District of Columbia adopted 35 criminal justice policies that may contribute to reductions in the prison population and eliminate barriers to reentry while promoting effective approaches to public safety. This report provides an overview of recent policy reforms in the areas of sentencing, probation and parole, drug policy, the prison census count, collateral consequences, and juvenile justice.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2011. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2011 at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/publications/Final%20State%20of%20the%20Sentencing%202010.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/publications/Final%20State%20of%20the%20Sentencing%202010.pdf

Shelf Number: 120882

Keywords:
Alternatives to Incarceration
Corrections
Criminal Justice Policy
Inmates
Parole
Prisoners
Probation
Sentencing

Author: National Advisory Committee on Health and Disability (National Health Committee)

Title: Review of Research on the Effects of Imprisonment on the Health of Inmates and their Families

Summary: Around the developed world, a growing and changing prison population has given rise to renewed interest in the effects of incarceration on the health of inmates. This is a population with many complex and often co-morbid health needs, and the difficulty in separating and determining causal links has led many to conclude that health needs are „imported‟ by inmates rather than being a product of their experience of incarceration. The truth is almost certainly a combination. Prisoners comprise a number of more vulnerable population groups such as young people, older people, people with intellectual or physical impairments, women, and Māori and Pacific people (both overrepresented among the prison population). Each group has particular health vulnerabilities and needs which must be met within an institutional environment designed, by and large, for adult men of European descent who are „sound‟ in „mind and body‟. Although prison is sometimes a setting for health improvement, the environment is in many ways a severe risk to the prisoner and to his or her family. Suicide and self-harm can be more likely among inmates. Mental health problems and addictions are prevalent and often co-morbid in prisons. Prisoners are at far greater risk of death immediately after release, supporting the view that the health of prisoners must be treated within a broader context which incorporates connections with family and continuity of care from community to prison and back to community. Communicable diseases and the behaviours that spread them are commonly developed within the prison environment. The conditions of prison can exacerbate deterioration in older prisoners and those with pre-existing health conditions. Evidence suggests that the emotional and psychological pressures of incarceration; health issues in their own right; are also linked to the development of many chronic conditions. The experiences of life within the custodial world can also be psychologically damaging – triggering memories of past trauma or abuse, inspiring behavioural adaptations (hyper-vigilance, secretiveness, aggression, and so on) that translate poorly into family life, and undermine the prisoner‟s roles in the family and community and ultimately, their identity. The families and children of inmates suffer from a range of factors associated with both the removal and the re-entry of a family member. Financial pressures and deterioration of social ties while a partner is incarcerated can lead to significant psychological strain for parent and children alike. For children, poor outcomes that have been linked with the imprisonment of a parent include behavioural problems such as aggression, hyperactivity and delinquency; mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders and low self-esteem; and developmental problems such as regression and difficulty in school. Incarceration has been shown to have a deleterious effect on vulnerable communities, in which erosion of social networks and social capital are incorporated into a cycle – often intergenerational – of criminality, reduced life chances and imprisonment. Large gaps remain in the body of research, notably collection of basic health status and health needs, benchmarking to evaluate improvement and information sharing among agencies and between agencies and health professionals. Furthermore, due to an overwhelming assumption that health issues are completely imported, the question of the health effects of prison is not being adequately addressed anywhere in the world. Although there are many omissions in the international literature, the most glaring include the impact of imprisonment on oral health, the quantification of physical injuries in prisons, the effects on or deterioration of (existing) disabilities including vision and hearing and the medical impacts on the children and families of inmates. All of these are also missing from local information. There are also many debates New Zealand is failing to engage in. These include: the experience of imprisonment; the collateral consequences of incarceration and its effect on the children, families and communities of prisoners; the experience and effects of home detention; the influence prison has during different developmental stages and the implications for categorisation, legislation and penal design; the experience of elderly prisoners and the needs of the greying prison population; the rate of violence, bullying and sexual abuse in New Zealand prisons; the experience and health needs of prison staff; the post-release experience - including mortality - and the health and service delivery outcomes for prisoners with disabilities.

Details: Wellington, NZ: National Health Committee, 2008?. 66p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 11, 2011 at: http://www.nhc.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7506/$File/prisoner-health-review-aug08.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://www.nhc.health.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagescm/7506/$File/prisoner-health-review-aug08.pdf

Shelf Number: 120973

Keywords:
Disability
Health Care
Inmates (New Zealand)
Mental Health
Prisoners

Author: Stadler, William Andrew

Title: Empirical Examination of the “Special Sensitivity” to Imprisonment Hypothesis

Summary: Quantitative research concerning white-collar offenders has received little attention in recent years. Research that has been conducted has primarily focused on the social and behavioral characteristics of these individuals, as well as the etiology of white-collar offending. In this regard, comparisons have been drawn between conventional street offenders and those convicted or sentenced for white-collar offenses with respect to demographic, social, and criminal history information. However, virtually no research has investigated the attributes and experiences of white-collar inmate within the prison environment. Moreover, there have been few attempts to draw comparisons among samples of imprisoned white-collar offenders and their street offender counterparts. While informative, studies that have examined incarcerated white-collar offenders have largely been guided by a qualitative research methodology that does little to inform the predictive validity of white-collar offender characteristics with respect to their subsequent prison experiences. As a result, the hypothesis that white-collar offenders are particularly sensitive to prison environments, because they are thought to be from backgrounds of privilege and hold higher rank on the social status spectrum, has remained untested. Because of this lack of research, the view that white-collar offenders experience more frequent and significant prison adjustment problems in the form of physical and mental health harms, social isolation, victimization, and institutional misconducts largely remains unchallenged. However, more rigorous investigation of the experiences of incarcerated white-collar offenders could have far-reaching implications with respect to how the justice system wishes to sanction white-collar offenders, how correctional facilities might go about addressing the needs of this special inmate population, and how the prison experience might impact the lives of white-collar offenders, both in prison and upon their release from incarceration. In an attempt to investigate these issues and address the special sensitivity hypothesis, the current study utilizes a male sample of incarcerated federal corrections inmates to explore differences between white-collar and street offenders. Specifically, demographic and social characteristics, as well as those involving attitudes, motivations, self-control, and personality attributes are examined among a male-only sample of prisoners incarcerated for white-collar offenses and non-white-collar offenses. Moreover, the current study examines the hypothesis that white-collar offenders are somehow more sensitive to the pains of imprisonment than offenders of the non-white-collar variety. The subsequent prison experiences of these offenders is examined and measured through a variety of prison adjustment measures during the course of their prison stay. Finally, implications of the findings are discussed with respect to how the justice and correctional systems may be affected by, and how they choose to respond to, white-collar offending populations with different management, supervision, and treatment strategies.

Details: Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, School of Criminal Justice, 2010. 216p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 14, 2011 at: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=ucin1281991890

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://etd.ohiolink.edu/view.cgi?acc_num=ucin1281991890

Shelf Number: 121000

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisonization
White-Collar Crime
White-Collar Offenders

Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Probation

Title: A Joined-Up Sentence? Offender Management in Prisons in 2009/2010

Summary: This report is the first to be published from our joint Prison Offender Management Inspection programme and reflects our findings from the first 13 establishments inspected. In these inspections we have examined how well prisoners are being managed under Phases II and III of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Offender Management Model. We have also examined a number of cases which fell outside the model. Although in this report we have aggregated our findings, we found that practice varied widely. This is perhaps inevitable given the different nature of the establishments, and it is worth adding here that these 13 were not necessarily representative of all the prison establishments in England and Wales. Nevertheless, some common themes emerged. • The NOMS model envisaged that offender managers in the community would be responsible for assessing the prisoner and for driving the management of the case. In practice we found that this was rarely happening. Offender supervisors were often expected to take on this role but some lacked the appropriate training and little guidance was available. For those who were prison officers, other operational duties sometimes took priority. • Some prisons had worked hard to ensure that all relevant prisoners had an OASys assessment, even where these should have been prepared by the offender manager. The quality of these assessments varied, and they were rarely seen as a key document within the establishment. Sentence planning was often driven more by the availability of activities than by the assessment. Objectives were rarely outcome-focused and this meant that progress was measured by the completion of activities rather than by evidence of change. • We were disappointed to find that few establishments made strategic use of the OASys database to identify and provide for key areas of need in the prisoner population. • Information about prisoners was held in different locations within the establishment. Worryingly, public protection information was sometimes kept separate from offender management. The fragmentation of records impeded the safe and effective management of prisoners. P-NOMIS had the potential to act as an integrated recording system, but implementation had been delayed and there needed to be a culture shift to ensure that it was used routinely to record significant events and contact with prisoners. • Despite these criticisms, we found some Offender Management Units which were well integrated into the establishment and where core custodial functions sat effectively alongside offender management. However, there needs to be considerable progress across the custodial estate before the NOMS vision of a ‘joined up sentence’ is realised and Offender Management Units operate as a hub within the establishment.

Details: London: Criminal Justice Joint Inspection: 2011. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Prison Offender Management Inspection 2: Accessed March 16, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/docs/A_Joined_Up_Sentence-rps.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/inspectorates/hmi-probation/docs/A_Joined_Up_Sentence-rps.pdf

Shelf Number: 121039

Keywords:
Prison Administration
Prisoners
Probation (U.K.)

Author: King, Dervla

Title: Parents, Children and Prison: Effects of Parental Imprisonment on Children

Summary: Research conducted in several other countries has highlighted the negative impact that a parent's imprisonment can have on children. Among the key findings to emerge from the studies are the fact that parental imprisonment can have a negative effect on the financial situation of children, that it can give rise to changes in children's behaviour, and that it can fundamentally alter and sometimes lead to a breakdown in parent-child relationships. In addition, children may be placed under a great deal of stress if they are stigmatised as a result of their parent's imprisonment, or if they feel that they have to keep the sentence a secret from their peers and from others. These themes were reflected in the design of the instruments used for this study. The research was conducted in the Mountjoy Prison complex during the summer months of 2001. During this period, interviews were conducted with caregivers who use the Visitors' Centre in the prison complex and with parents in prison. A total of 26 prisoners (5 female, 21 male) agreed to participate in the study. Interviews were also carried out with 19 caregivers (18 female, male). Data were collected by means of a questionnaire that was administered on a one-to-one basis. Informal discussions took place with children who use the Visitors' Centre, with childcare workers and staff members from the Visitors' Centre, with staff of the Probation and Welfare Office, with ex-offenders, and with prison officers. This report ends with a number of recommendations to better address this issue.

Details: Dublin: Dublin Institute of Technology, Centre for Social & Educational Research, 2002. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 17, 2011 at: https://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=cserrep

Year: 2002

Country: Ireland

URL: https://arrow.dit.ie/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&context=cserrep

Shelf Number: 121056

Keywords:
Children of Prisoners (Ireland)
Prisoners

Author: Offender Health Research Network

Title: A National Evaluation of Prison Mental Health In-Reach Services

Summary: This report describes a study evaluating prison mental health in-reach, comprising three inter-linked, yet discrete, elements. * A national survey of prison in-reach teams: consisting of a national survey of in-reach team leaders, concentrating on considerations of team size and professional composition; team functioning; barriers to successful operation; and relationships with the wider NHS. * Case studies of in-reach teams: consisting of detailed case studies of the operation of in-reach services in eight prisons. * Longitudinal cohort study of prison in-reach services: identifying a cohort of prisoners received into custody with severe and enduring mental illness and tracking their progress in prison, examining whether they were assessed and/or taken onto the caseloads of in-reach services. In addition, a "snapshot" view was taken of the caseloads of the in-reach teams at each of the study sites, to establish the diagnostic breakdown of their clientele.

Details: Manchester, UK: Offender Health Research Network, 2009. 159p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2011 at: http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/resource/Research/Inreach.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.ohrn.nhs.uk/resource/Research/Inreach.pdf

Shelf Number: 121066

Keywords:
Inmates (U.K.)
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Correctional Association of New York

Title: Treatment Behind Bars: Substance Abuse Treatment in New York Prisons

Summary: Substance abuse is a daunting problem for the majority of prison inmates nationally and more than three-quarters of those in New York State. The devastation that often accompanies substance abuse places notoriously heavy demands on the criminal justice, correctional and substance abuse treatment systems, as well as on inmates, their families and their communities. The prison system has the unique potential to provide effective drug treatment to this captive population, addressing not only the individual needs of inmates but public health and public safety as well. Not only is the prison system in a unique position to provide drug treatment, but a substantial body of research documents that treatment is, on the whole, more effective than incarceration alone in reducing drug abuse and criminal behavior among substance abusers and in increasing the likelihood that they will remain drug- and crime-free. The need to provide more comprehensive substance abuse treatment services in New York State prisons, similar to the increasing need to provide mental health services in prisons as a result of deinstitutionalization of mental hospital patients, has directly been impacted by the Rockefeller drug laws. With their rigid requirements of mandatory minimum sentencing, the Rockefeller drug laws of 1973 radically restricted judicial discretion in utilizing alternatives to incarceration as a response to drug offenses. The result: 11% of the total prison population in 1980 were individuals incarcerated for drug-related offenses; as of January, 2008, that figure was 33%. Though this past year brought significant reform to the Rockefeller Drug Laws, several mandatory minimum sentences are still on the books and a large number of individuals remain ineligible for alternative to incarceration programs. The considerable increase in this population illustrates one of the many factors that make provision of prison-based substance abuse treatment paramount, as the majority of incarcerated individuals will participate in treatment due to the nature of their offense. As of April 2010, the New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) operated 68 facilities, with 57,650 inmates under custody. Eighty-three percent of inmates were designated by DOCS as “in need of substance abuse treatment.” To address their needs, DOCS operates 119 substance abuse treatment programs in 60 of its facilities. As of April l, 2009, two of those programs were licensed as treatment programs by the State’s Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS); the remainder are operated solely under the aegis and oversight of DOCS. The 2009 reforms to the Rockefeller drug laws call for change, however, requiring OASAS to guide, monitor and report on DOCS substance abuse treatment programs. In 2007, the Correctional Association launched a project to evaluate the needs of inmates with substance abuse problems and the State’s response to their needs. The information presented in this report is a result of this effort and presents our findings and recommendations based on visits to 23 facilities, interviews with experts, prison officials and correction officers, more than 2,300 inmate surveys and systemwide data provided by the Department of Correctional Services.

Details: New York: Correctional Association of New York, 2011. 325p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2011 at: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/publications/download/pvp/issue_reports/satp_report_and_appendix_february_2011.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/publications/download/pvp/issue_reports/satp_report_and_appendix_february_2011.pdf

Shelf Number: 121107

Keywords:
Drug Abuse and Crime
Drug Abuse Policy
Drug Abuse Treatment (New York State)
Drug Offenders
Inmates
Prisoners
Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Argentina. Chief National Cabinet of Ministers

Title: Public Policies for Health Care in Prison Settings

Summary: The Argentine Republic throughout the 1994 reform of the National Constitution has incorporated with constitutional hierarchy by the article 75, clause 22, international instruments of Human Rights, which are part of the constitutional body. The National Government takes as an essential axis in its policies the promotion and assurance of Human Rights in prison settings and guarantees the dignity of persons deprived of their freedom and other rights that act as their support, such as the right of life, of physical integrity and of health care. In this constitutional frame, it has been a concern not only the protection of health, but also the support of a policy that insures the highest possible level of physical and mental health (art. 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), which would provide, in a prison setting, the same quality of health that the rest of the community have (principle of universality and equivalence). At first stage, it was crucial to consider health in prisons as a public policy and necessary for the Ministry responsible for the Public Health to assume the responsibility and dictate the protocols by which prevention and assistance in prisons must be guided. Moreover, coordination must exist among the different government agencies to guarantee the right to health care, as well as social inclusion of inmates. Therefore, on the 29th.July 2008, the Ministries of Justice, Security and Human Rights, Health and the Scientific Consultant Committee for Control of Illegal Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and Complex Crimes (nowadays depends on the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers), they signed the framework agreement of cooperation in order to coordinate and improve the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation, throughout the implementation of programs, activities and plans on integral policies for health care and social inclusion (education, work and social development). On the one hand, in order to modify the health penitentiary paradigm and guarantee health post-penitentiary mechanisms for the people deprived of their freedom, the creation of "Inter-Ministerial Office for the Social Inclusion of People on Freedom Situation" has been proposed, which coordinates the different Ministries involved. On the other hand, being Argentina a federal country, on 29th December 2009, it was signed an Agreement for Cooperation and Assistance in Prisons, of which the Chief of the Cabinet Ministers, the Ministry of Justice, Security and Human Rights, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Development and the Provinces of Salta, Mendoza, Tierra del Fuego and Buenos Aires; the Committee on Public Policies for Prevention and Control of Transnational Illegal Drug Trafficking, Organized Crime and Corruption was the technical consultant. Finally, this change of state policies, that is that Ministry of Health is the one who establishes the strategies for assistance and prevention in prisons, through coordinated actions with the Ministries of Justice, Social Development, Work and Education, enabling the access of persons deprived of their freedom to health, in accordance with the obligations assumed by our country by the International Covenants of Human Rights.

Details: Buenos Aires, Argentina: Chief National Cabinet of Ministers, 2010. 45p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2011 at: www.jgm.gov.ar/archivos/jgm/public_policies_health_prison_en.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Argentina

URL:

Shelf Number: 121113

Keywords:
Correctional Management
Inmates
Prison Health Care (Argentina)
Prisoners

Author: Serin, Ralph C.

Title: Offender Incentives and Behavioural Management Strategies

Summary: This review juxtaposes several themes across more than three decades in an effort to highlight consensus in the published literature regarding factors that might influence offender behaviour. To reduce the occurrence of misconducts and violence in prisons, various strategies have been explored. Contingency management programs in the form of individual and systemic incentives are the focus of this discussion, with examples drawn from both correctional and non-correctional settings. It is clear that the development of behavioural management strategies is complex in that only a minority of offenders commit serious misconducts and that issues of fairness are often compromised when broad-based discipline strategies are attempted. Overall, the results regarding the effectiveness of incentive systems to manage offender behaviour is mixed. There is increasing consensus regarding what not to do but far less consensus regarding viable next steps. This review sets the stage for discussions about effectiveness; policy development; policy implementation; and context. Liebling’s (2008) paper is perhaps the most ambitious and salient among all published work in that it provides a meaningful context to appreciate the purpose and challenges of implementing a standardized incentive model in a correctional setting. Much of her comments mirror discussions that have surrounded this topic in Canada and at Correctional Service of Canada for the past decade. From that perspective, it is a useful start point for the subsequent aspects of this work (consultation, identification of offender-centric incentives, measurement of offender compliance, etc.).

Details: Ottawa: Research Branch, Correctional Service of Canada, 2009. 77p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 N° R-214: Accessed March 26, 2011 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r214/r214-eng.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r214/r214-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 121119

Keywords:
Correctional Programs (Canada)
Prisoners
Rehabilitation

Author: Powell, Jenelle

Title: Self-Injurious Behaviour: A Review of the Literature and Implications for Corrections

Summary: The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment in which offenders can work towards becoming law-abiding citizens. Self-injurious behaviour (SIB) poses a serious challenge to CSC’s ability to provide this safe environment for offenders as well as for institutional staff. SIB can be defined as any type of direct bodily harm or disfigurement that is deliberately inflicted on oneself that is not considered to be socially acceptable, such as cutting, head banging, hair pulling, and ligature use. This literature review was undertaken to determine what is currently known about SIB and what gaps exist in order to inform future research and intervention strategies in federal institutions. Several attempts have been made to develop a classification system that would be useful for researchers and clinicians. Currently no adequate system has been developed and no one system is in widespread use. An empirically-derived classification system that accounts for the unique environment of a correctional facility would help increase understanding of the behaviour and target treatment to the particular needs of at risk individuals. It is difficult to ascertain an accurate prevalence rate of participation in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The best estimate of prevalence rate for the general adult population is 4%. Prevalence rates of SIB occurring while incarcerated in the general population of correctional institutions range from 1-5%. Rates for women offenders are likely higher, with best estimates being around 23%. Offenders with mental health issues have increased rates that may be as high as 53%. Skin cutting has been found to be the most common type of NSSI. Numerous correlates of self-injurious behaviour have been found, including borderline personality disorder, history of trauma and abuse, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, eating disorders, same-sex attraction, and homosexuality, impulsivity, anger and aggression. Suicide has been found to be a correlate, but is a behaviour distinct from NSSI. Research has yet to determine the process by which NSSI is initiated and maintained. A wide variety of motivations for engaging in SIB have been proposed, although few have been empirically validated. The strongest support has been found for the use of SIB as a method of coping with negative emotions. While there is likely a large amount of overlap in motivations for self-injury between institutionalized and non-institutionalized populations, some unique motivations may exist in institutional populations. The current literature lacks large-scale, empirical research with incarcerated populations that adequately assesses NSSI. An increased understanding of NSSI within federal institutions could improve the safety of offenders and staff, as well as the treatment, management and prevention of NSSI in federal correctional facilities. Research is needed to determine the prevalence of NSSI, to establish a classification system that can be used with incarcerated populations, and determine the effect, if any, of institutionalization on NSSI. Most importantly, an increased understanding of the development and maintenance of NSSI is imperative for the development of appropriate strategies to manage this behaviour, including efforts to reduce and ultimately prevent its occurrence. Research is currently underway within CSC to address these gaps.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2010. 67p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2010 No. R-216: Accessed March 29, 2011 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r216/r216-eng.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r216/r216-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 121199

Keywords:
Mental Health Care
Prisoners
Self-Harm
Self-Injury, Inmates (Canada)

Author: Austin, James

Title: Orleans Parish Prison Ten-Year Inmate Population Projection

Summary: Prior to Katrina the Orleans Parish population had gradually declined from 483,663 to 455,188. The at-risk population was also declining at that time. Post Katrina the Orleans Parish population has returned to approximately 80% of its former size. It is not clear the extent to which the population will continue to grow. The repopulation of Orleans Parish has resulted in a population that has a higher rate of home ownership, higher education level, lower poverty rate, and higher median household income. All of these factors are associated with lower crime rates. Despite significant increases in the Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), both the number and rate of serious crimes reported to police have significantly declined. The number of arrests have declined from their peak of nearly 140,000 in 2004 to 92,500 in 2009. More recently, the first ten months of 2010 show a 18% decrease in arrests as compared to the first ten months of 2009 – a drop of 14,646 arrests. The current demographic trends of the Parish as well as the declining reported crime and arrest trends suggest a downward trend in OPP admissions. The report includes an analysis of the current prisoner population, a comparison with other parishes, a detailed assessment of admissions and releases, and policy options which the Orleans Parish could adopt to further reduce the current prison population.

Details: Washington, DC: The JFA Institute, 2010. 39p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 7, 2011 at: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/233722.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/233722.pdf

Shelf Number: 121262

Keywords:
Crime Rates
Inmates (New Orleans)
Prisoners

Author: Chapman, Steven F.

Title: Evaluation of the Behavior Modification Unit Pilot Program at High Desert State Prison

Summary: The Behavior Modification Unit (BMU) Pilot Program was implemented at High Desert State Prison (HDSP) on November 21, 2005. This program was developed and implemented to respond to disruptive inmate behavior that was not serious enough to warrant placement in the Administrative Segregation Unit (ASU) or Security Housing Unit (SHU), but was disruptive to the general population. The BMU was designed to provide alternative general population housing and programming for inmates deemed program failures. The goals of the BMU program are to: • modify recalcitrant inmate behavior, • eliminate and reduce the opportunity to repeat the behavior, and • provide non-disruptive inmates the ability to participate in programming without continual interruptions. Inmates are eligible for placement into the BMU if they fall into any of the five following categories: 1. Program failure, 2. SHUable offense per California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 3341.5, 3. Organized criminal activity, 4. Refusal to double cell or participate in the department’s racial integration program, or 5. Indecent exposure. The Institutional Classification Committee (ICC) or Unit Classification Committee (UCC) has the responsibility of placing inmates into the BMU program who meet placement criteria. Inmates are initially placed in Work Group C, in which inmates receive zero work credit, and Privilege Group C, in which inmates’ personal privileges are limited, for at least 90 days. Subsequent BMU placements are for a minimum of 180 days. Upon placement in the BMU, inmates forfeit most personal property, including appliances. A total of 164 inmates were placed in the BMU program at HDSP during the period between November 21, 2005, and July 31, 2007. The findings indicate that the BMU program was associated with a reduction in the recalcitrant behavior of the 76 inmates who successfully completed the program and were present at HDSP for at least one month before entering and one month after completing the program. Specifically, the inmates who completed the BMU program had almost six times fewer Rules Violation Reports after completing the BMU program than before entering it. However, the results also suggest that, for the 137 inmates who were placed in the BMU and were present at HDSP for at least one month before and one month after entering the program, it was not effective in reducing recalcitrant behavior. Although these findings are encouraging, it is important to note that, due to the quasi-experimental nature of the research design, it is not possible to attribute the observed positive effects to participation in the BMU program. Because it was not feasible to randomly assign inmates to the program, the observed effects might have been due to events unrelated to it (e.g., changes in institution policy, correctional staff behavior toward inmates, or inmate behavior not directly related to the BMU program).

Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Research, Adult Research Branch, 2008. 81p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2011 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/Behavior%20Modifcation%20Unit%20Evaluation%20July%202008.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: United States

URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/Behavior%20Modifcation%20Unit%20Evaluation%20July%202008.pdf

Shelf Number: 121360

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Correctional Programs (California)
Inmate Behavior
Inmate Discipline
Prisoners

Author: California. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Research

Title: 2010 Adult Institutions Outcome Evaluation Report

Summary: To comport with national best practices, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) now measures recidivism by tracking arrests, convictions and returns to prison. Although all three measures are displayed in charts and tables in Appendix A, CDCR uses the latter measure, returns to prison, as the primary measure of recidivism for the purpose of this report. We chose this measure because it is the most reliable measure available and is well understood and commonly used by most correctional stakeholders. CDCR has reported recidivism rates for felons released from custody since 1977. Prior to this report, CDCR provided recidivism rates only for felons paroled for the first time on their current term during a specified calendar year. Parolees were only tracked until they discharged from parole. CDCR is now expanding the cohort to include direct discharge, first-release and re-released felons who are released during a State Fiscal Year (FY), beginning with FY 2005-06. All felons are tracked for the full follow-up period, regardless of their status as active or discharged. In addition, recidivism rates are presented based on numerous characteristics (e.g., commitment offense, length-of-stay). This report is intended to provide more detailed information about recidivism to CDCR executives and managers, lawmakers and other correctional stakeholders who have an interest in the dynamics of reoffending behavior and recidivism reduction.

Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2010. 66p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2011 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/ARB_FY0506_Outcome_Evaluation_Report.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/ARB_FY0506_Outcome_Evaluation_Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 121369

Keywords:
Corrections (California)
Inmates
Prisoners
Recidivism
Rehabilitation

Author: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)

Title: Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate, Under Educate

Summary: For 102 years, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has played a pivotal role in shaping a national agenda to ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of African Americans and others who face a history of discrimination in the United States. In this new report, Misplaced Priorities: Over Incarcerate, Under Educate, NAACP researchers assembled data from leading research organizations and profiled six cities to show how escalating investments in incarceration over the past 30 years have undermined educational opportunities. Misplaced Priorities represents a call to action for public officials, policymakers, and local NAACP units and members by providing a framework to implement a policy agenda that will financially prioritize investments in education over incarceration, provide equal protection under the law, eliminate sentencing policies responsible for over incarceration, and advance public safety strategies that effectively increase healthy development in communities. Misplaced Priorities echoes existing research on the impact excessive prison spending has on education budgets. Over the last two decades, as the criminal justice system came to assume a larger proportion of state discretionary dollars nationwide, state spending on prisons grew at six times the rate of state spending on higher education. In 2009, as the nation plummeted into the deepest recession in 30 years, funding for K–12 and higher education declined; however, in that same year, 33 states spent a larger proportion of their discretionary dollars on prisons than they had the year before.

Details: Baltimore, MD: NAACP, 2011. 57p.

Source: Internet Resource: April 25, 2011 at: http://naacp.3cdn.net/01d6f368edbe135234_bq0m68x5h.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://naacp.3cdn.net/01d6f368edbe135234_bq0m68x5h.pdf

Shelf Number: 121488

Keywords:
Costs of Criminal Justice
Education
Minority Groups
Prison Expenditures
Prisoners
Race/Ethnicity
Racial Discrimination

Author: Te Puni Kōkiri, the Ministry for Māori Development

Title: Māori Designed, Developed and Delivered Initiatives to Reduce Māori Offending and Re-offending

Summary: This report covers the proceedings of the wānanga (conference) hosted by Te Puni Kōkiri 24 June 2010 Brentwood Hotel Wellington. The purpose of the wānanga was primarily an opportunity to share the learning from Māori designed, developed and delivered initiatives with policy analysts and others working to address the drivers of crime and with an interest in reducing the over-representation of Māori in the criminal justice system. The impetus for this work began three or four years ago when the former government was concerned about high rates of Māori imprisonment. It became clear that Māori wanted an opportunity to design, develop and deliver initiatives themselves to address the problems leading to high levels of imprisonment. The way policy development works is premised on research evidence but there is little evidence-based information on what works for Māori. Most of the evidence that informs what is designed for Government is from overseas and not based on actual Māori experience. It is important to look at how Māori see the world and the solutions that Māori design for their communities. Māori tend to develop initiatives based on hypotheses, but do not have the resources to research them or fully evaluate them. They then find that government funders say that there is no evidence to support the initiatives. However, in practice there is much to be learnt from Māori designed, developed and delivered initiatives and early evaluations have shown promising results.

Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Government, 2010. 50p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 26, 2011 at: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/maori-designed-developed-and-delivered-initiatives-to-reduce-maori-offending-and-re-offending/download/tpk-reduceoffend-2010-en.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://www.tpk.govt.nz/en/in-print/our-publications/publications/maori-designed-developed-and-delivered-initiatives-to-reduce-maori-offending-and-re-offending/download/tpk-reduceoffend-2010-en.pdf

Shelf Number: 121499

Keywords:
Crime Prevention
Indigenous Peoples (New Zealand)
Minority Groups
Prisoners
Recidivism
Reoffending

Author: Aromaa, Kauko

Title: Survey of United Nations and other Best Practices in the Treatment of Prisoners in the Criminal Justice System Proceedings of the workshop held at the Twelfth United Nations Congress on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Salvador, Brazil, 12-19 A

Summary: There is enormous variation in the way the world’s ten million prisoners are treated. Some young men do drill in military style boot camps while others are counselled in therapeutic communities. Prisoners deemed dangerous may be held in almost total isolation in the highest “supermax” conditions of security; low risk prisoners approaching their date of release go out to work during the day from open establishments. Some convicted prisoners can spend years in remote labour colonies, pre trial detainees a few weeks in city centre lock ups. In consequence of this almost infinite variety, any attempt to survey best practices in the treatment of prisoners within the criminal justice system in the course of a one day meeting is destined to be partial at best. Yet the presentations and discussions in this workshop make an important contribution to identifying priorities for UN member states and the international community in the field of penal reform. The substantive themes addressed in the workshop fall into three broad categories. The first concerns the best framework of international law and regulation which governs the treatment of prisoners and the practice of detention. The second concerns the way these international norms are implemented in reality, particularly in respect of the way prisons seek to rehabilitate offenders, promote their good health and meet the needs of the most vulnerable prisoners. The third theme is the contribution that wider society makes to the treatment of prisoners and the ways in which both prison systems and individual prisons relate to the broader community which they serve.

Details: Helsinki: European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control, affiliated with the United Nations (HEUNI), 2010. 150p.

Source: Internet Resource: Publications Series No. 65: Accessed April 27, 2011 at: http://www.heuni.fi/Satellite?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&SSURIapptype=BlobServer&SSURIcontainer=Default&SSURIsession=false&blobkey=id&blobheadervalue1=inline;%20filename=Taitto_65_Final_Painoon_Lis%C3%A4ys_030111.pdf&SSURIsscontext=Satellite%20Server&blobwhere=1295264950807&blobheadername1=Content-Disposition&ssbinary=true&blobheader=application/pdf

Year: 2010

Country: International

URL: http://www.heuni.fi/Satellite?blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobcol=urldata&SSURIapptype=BlobServer&SSURIcontainer=Default&SSURIsession=false&blobkey=id&blobheadervalue1=inline;%20filename=Taitto_65_Final_Painoon_Lis%C3%A4ys_030111.pd

Shelf Number: 121507

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prisoners
Prisons
Rehabilitation

Author: Gear, Sasha

Title: Situational Analysis of Boksburg Youth Centre Sexual Violence in Prison Pilot Project (Dec 2004 – Jan 2005)

Summary: This report details the results of a piece of research or “situational analysis” that aimed to gather information mainly on issues related to violence, sex and sexual violence as experienced by the young men held at Boksburg Youth Centre (BYC). It also touched on some of their characteristics and experiences in the institution more broadly. This information will be used to direct a project to address sexual violence happening in BYC that the Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR) is embarking on with the youth centre. Down the line, it will also assist in assessing the progress and impact of the project. The goal of the pilot project is to develop and test management strategies for the prevention of sexual violence and destructive sexual practices in Boksburg Youth Centre (BYC). The main objectives are:  To develop an understanding of the nature and extent of sexual violence and destructive sexual practices in Boksburg Youth Centre (Boksburg Correctional Centre B).  To identify issues and challenges which contribute to the problem.  To raise awareness about sexual violence, destructive sexual practices and related issues amongst personnel and inmates.  To develop and test management strategies for the prevention of, and appropriate responses, to sexual violence and destructive sexual practices in BYC.

Details: Johannes, South Africa: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, 2006. 89p.

Source: Internet Resoruce: Accessed April 27, 2011 at: http://www.csvr.org.za/docs/consolidated1208.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: South Africa

URL: http://www.csvr.org.za/docs/consolidated1208.pdf

Shelf Number: 115380

Keywords:
Prison Rape ( South Africa)
Prisoners
Sexual Violence

Author: Oklahoma. Department of Corrections

Title: Managing Increasing Hispanic/Latino Inmate Populations

Summary: The Hispanic/Latino inmate population in Oklahoma prisons is the fastest growing racial/ethnic population in DOC. While the numbers are not a large proportion of the total inmate population at this time, their growth and rate of increase pose definite questions for effective and efficient management of department institutions. Among the questions are (1) accurate and complete collection of data on their actual numbers and (2) sufficient awareness and application of necessary language and cultural needs to prevent inappropriate planning for and responses to the day-to-day operations of facilities with growing numbers of Hispanics and Latinos. DOC might address these concerns by assigning investigation and recommendations of future concerns and needs to a committee with a timetable for a report on the best ways to meet the challenges of this increasing population.

Details: Oklahoma City, OK: Oklahoma Department of Corrections, 2008. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: DOC White Paper: Accessed April 27, 2011 at: http://www.doc.state.ok.us/adminservices/ea/Hispanic%20Inmate%20Paper.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: United States

URL: http://www.doc.state.ok.us/adminservices/ea/Hispanic%20Inmate%20Paper.pdf

Shelf Number: 121514

Keywords:
Hispanic Americans
Inmates (Oklahoma)
Prisoners

Author: Silva, Romesh

Title: State Coordinated Violence in Chad under Hissene Habre: A Statistical Analysis of Reported Prison Mortality in Chad's DDS Prisons and Command Responsibility of Hissene Habre, 1982-1990

Summary: This report documents the death of prisoners inside Chad's Direction de la Documentation et de la Securite (DDS) prisons between 1982 and 1990, and the extent to which former Chadian president Hissene Habre and senior officials within his government are responsible for human rights violations committed by the DDS. The report presents evidence which is consistent with the hypothesis that the policies and practices of Hissene Habre and senior DDS officials, whom Habre appointed, contributed to deaths in custody on a level substantially higher than the adult mortality rate of Chad at the time. The analysis tests the hypotheses that Habre had a superior-subordinate relationship with senior DDS officials and had knowledge of their actions, which resulted in substantial deaths in custody. The available evidence also suggests Habre's "failure to act" in his lack of action to prevent these deaths or reprimand his subordinates who were charged with day-to-day oversight of DDS prisons. The conclusions of the report are developed by analyzing official records of the DDS and other government departments, which were recovered by Human Rights Watch (HRW) in 2001 from the abandoned DDS headquarters in N'Djamena, the Chadian capital. Hissene Habre assumed the presidency of Chad in 1982 and immediately set up the DDS. From the documents recovered from the DDS and coded by HRW to extract data from the narrative, we show that while the DDS was originally part of the Ministry of Interior, within 6 months of its founding Habre re-organized it to operate as a special unit outside of the Ministry of Interior with direct reporting lines to Habre himself. From analysis of routine DDS records, including Situation Journals and death certificates which were recovered and coded, we found that the observed mortality rate within the DDS prisons varied from 30 per 1,000 to 87 per 1,000 prisoners. This rate is substantially higher than the crude death rate of Chad in the 1970's and 1990's which was less than 25 per 1,000, see section 5.2 The crude death rate for the whole of Chad, unlike DDS prison mortality, is mainly driven by high infant mortality. A total of 12,321 individual victims were mentioned in the recovered and coded documents, including documentation of 1,208 deaths in detention. From these documents, we verified that President Habre received 1,265 direct communications about 898 DDS prison detainees. This is direct evidence that Habre's subordinates within the DDS communicated detailed information about the ongoing practices and events within the DDS prisons. The recovered and coded DDS documents provide evidence that the DDS operations were carried out across the di erent provinces of Chad, and that the senior leadership of the DDS was informed about these operations in different regions. Acts of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture are mentioned in the documents. It is not possible to determine how representative these recovered and coded documents are of all DDS documents ever written. Yet, these documents provide evidence of the type of acts which were carried out by the DDS and that the senior leadership, including President Habre, were continuously informed about such acts. Furthermore, among the recovered documents is an Oath of Allegiance in which officials, upon their recruitment into the DDS, swear "their honor, faithfulness and dedication to the President of the Republic..." and solemnly "promise to never betray and keep secret all the activities of the DDS." This suggest how closely President Habre was involved with the operations of the DDS and its oversight. To further assess command responsibility of the DDS, we analyzed the document flow into and out of the DDS. Of the 2,7331 official documents recovered from the former DDS headquarters and coded by HRW, 384 were direct communications from the DDS to President Habre. The bulk of the remaining documents (for which authorship and recipients were readily identifiable) were internal communications within the DDS. These internal documents were usually from the BSIR (Chad's Special Rapid Action Brigade) to the DDS leadership, or from the different service units to the Director of the DDS. Our analysis of document flow shows that -- The Director of the DDS (who was appointed directly by President Habre) received regular written communications from the service units of the DDS. -- President Habre continuously received ad-hoc communications from the DDS Director and its service units about its policies and practices. -- President Habre was directly informed about the status of 898 prisoners, including 38 deaths in detention. -- There is a notable difference between written communication from the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to President Habre and the communication from the DDS to President Habre. This suggests that the DDS was not a regular line ministry (like the MoI), but rather operated like a special unit of the office of the President. This suggests a clear superior-subordinate relationship between President Habre and the DDS. -- President Habre and the Director of the DDS had direct authority for the promotions and transfers of the senior DDS leadership. Our analysis shows evidence that -- Large-scale human rights violations were carried out inside the DDS prisons. -- Both President Habre and the Director of the DDS were well informed of DDS operations and prisoner deaths. -- There was a superior-subordinate relationship between President Habre and the DDS senior leadership. There are several limitations of our findings. Foremost is the fact that we are unable to estimate the total magnitude of violations carried out by DDS officials and the full extent of President Habre's knowledge of these acts. However, our analysis of the DDS's own records does show evidence that large-scale human rights violations were committed by the DDS, that the DDS was under President Habre's command, and that Habre was continuously informed about DDS operations. Also, although we identified some instances of officials being relieved of their duties by their superiors, it is not clear on what basis such actions were taken.

Details: Palo Alto, CA: Human Rights Data Analysis Group, Human Rights Program, Benetech, 2010. 73p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2011 at: http://www.hrdag.org/about/downloads/State-Violence-in-Chad.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Chad

URL: http://www.hrdag.org/about/downloads/State-Violence-in-Chad.pdf

Shelf Number: 121718

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (Chad)
Human Rights
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Indig, Devon

Title: 2009 NSW Inmate Health Survey: Aboriginal Health Report

Summary: The 2009 NSW Inmate Health Survey: Aboriginal Health Report is the first report to provide an Aboriginal-specific focus on inmates of NSW. The report complements the findings of the 2009 NSW Inmate Health Survey: Key Findings Report and provides greater insights into the health of Aboriginal people in custody. Mental health problems, drug and alcohol dependence, and blood borne viruses are all highly prevalent among Aboriginal inmates. Smoking rates remain high at 83% among men and 88% among women. Half of Aboriginal women and one third of Aboriginal men demonstrated signs of moderate to severe depression and multiple risk factors for chronic diseases. This survey shows that the health needs of Aboriginal people in custody are growing. The prevalence of mental health issues, chronic disease and high risk alcohol use (by Aboriginal men) has increased since previous surveys. Aboriginal women in particular reported poorer general health; 23% reported fair to poor health in 1996 compared to 32% in 2009. This disparity in health for Aboriginal people in custody cannot be explained by socio-economic disadvantage alone. This population is most often affected also by structural disadvantage such as lower educational attainment, higher unemployment, poor or overcrowded housing, geographic isolation and barriers to accessing health services. High rates of hazardous alcohol and drug use, violence (both victims and perpetrators) and mental health and well-being problems are both a cause and effect of health inequality. The complexities of these issues present ongoing challenges for Justice Health and our key stakeholders. Adding to the health burden is the increasing number of Aboriginal people coming into custody and staying for longer periods.

Details: Sydney: Justice Health, 2010. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2011 at: http://www.justicehealth.nsw.gov.au/publications/Inmate_Health_Survey_Aboriginal_Health_Report.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.justicehealth.nsw.gov.au/publications/Inmate_Health_Survey_Aboriginal_Health_Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 121972

Keywords:
Health Care
Indigenous Peoples
Inmates (Australia)
Prisoners

Author: Gabhann, Conn Mac

Title: Voices Unheard: A Study of Irish Travellers in Prison

Summary: The Travellers in Prison Research Project, (TPRP), an initiative of the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, (ICB), conducted research across prisons in England and Wales during the period August 2010 to March 2011 in order to establish an accurate picture of prisoners from an Irish Traveller background. The culmination of this research, Voices Unheard, is the first study of Irish Travellers in prison in England and Wales. It is first and foremost a presentation of data regarding Irish Travellers in prison. By accurately describing the situation of Irish Travellers in prison, it is hoped that the report proves to be a catalyst for effective monitoring of this prisoner group and consequently, the efficient re-deployment of available resources for Irish Travellers in prison. Effective service delivery to Irish Travellers in prison can result in a reduction in re-offending amongst this group and a corresponding reduction in the harm done to society in general. Voices Unheard, thereby, can represent a positive way forward for both the Irish Travelling community and wider society. Since 2003, HM Prison Service has been aware of the failure to adequately address the needs of Irish Travellers in prison in England and Wales. Irish Travellers suffer unequal hardship in prison. Poor levels of literacy, mental illness, limited access to services, discrimination and prejudicial licence conditions for release, disproportionately affect Traveller prisoners. Despite official recognition of these issues and the size of the Traveller population perhaps being as high as 1% of the overall prison population, little intervention has taken place to encourage rehabilitation amongst this group. Without appropriate strategies for Travellers in prison, society will continue to bear the social and economic burden of warehousing an ethnic group who cannot access education courses because they cannot read; a group that cannot complete rehabilitation programmes because they cannot write; and a group that cannot file their grievances because they cannot complete forms. Irish Travellers are members of a legally recognised ethnic group which has been a part of British society for centuries. Irish Travellers were, until the 1950s, an integral part of the rural economy in Britain, providing a wide range of skills and labour. Urbanisation, mass production of plastics, the mechanisation of agriculture and the bureaucratisation of society have undermined the traditional basis of the Traveller economy. Irish Travellers, as a result, have become marginalised economically and in turn, have become increasingly marginalised socially. A hostile media and definitively anti-nomadic legislation such as the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994, have exacerbated the precarious condition of this group. Irish Travellers have not always adapted to the dynamics of contemporary life in Britain. Committed to retaining their strong family bonds and nomadic way of life, many Travellers have refused to assimilate into British society. On occasion, maintaining the Traveller way of life, has, for some Travellers, meant living apart from mainstream society. Experiences of pervasive prejudice from within mainstream society, for example, in terms of accommodation or educational opportunities, have conditioned some in this community to become less concerned with society’s rules and more interested in their own survival and prosperity. TPRP found that this narrative frequently results in the imprisonment of Irish Travellers. Overall, TPRP found that prisons are ill-prepared to deal with this distinctive prisoner group, failing to address the needs of Irish Traveller prisoners and consequently, failing in broader ambitions to reduce recidivism. Voices Unheard enumerates the challenges facing Irish Travellers in prison and makes initial recommendations for the improved delivery of services to this prisoner group, for the benefit of the Irish Traveller community and wider society.

Details: London: Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, 2011. 91p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2011 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Voices_Unheard_June_2011.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Voices_Unheard_June_2011.pdf

Shelf Number: 122109

Keywords:
Ethnic Groups
Gypsies (U.K.)
Inmates
Minority Groups
Prisoners

Author: John Howard Society of Toronto

Title: Homeless and Jailed: Jailed and Homeless

Summary: Previous research has established that being homeless increases the likelihood of ending up in jail, while imprisonment increases the risk of homelessness and the length of time that homeless people spend in shelters. The number of homeless prisoners in Toronto area jails is increasing. And a small, but growing, number of men are caught in a revolving door between jails and shelters. This report explores the housing situation of adult men serving sentences in Toronto area jails, focusing on those who are homeless. These prisoners‘ housing plans on discharge, as well as their immediate and anticipated service needs in the months after release, are documented. Their residential locations are mapped in relation to selected neighbourhood characteristics. The survey results are based on interviews with 363 sentenced prisoners who have spent a minimum of five consecutive nights in custody and who are within days of scheduled release from one of four provincial correctional facilities in the Greater Toronto Area. Among this group, 22.9 percent, or roughly one of every five prisoners, was homeless when incarcerated, that is they were staying in a shelter, living on the street (in places considered unfit for human habitation), in a treatment facility, or staying at the home of a friend, paying no rent. The latter situation is a common form of hidden homelessness; if persons in that situation are excluded, in line with a more conservative definition of homelessness, a total of 19.3 percent were homeless. The average stay in custody was a little more than two months. Within days of discharge, the prisoners‘ housing plans indicate that their overall projected rate of homelessness would increase by 40 percent. Half of them plan to return to their pre-custody housing situation, even if it meant staying in a shelter, on the street, or using a friend‘s couch. Of those who were homeless before being incarcerated, the majority, 85.5 percent, anticipate being homeless again on discharge. Among prisoners who were housed before being incarcerated, 16.4 percent anticipate being homeless upon discharge. Thirteen percent of the survey respondents were homeless both before and after being incarcerated. Overall, 32.2 percent, or almost one of every three prisoners had plans upon discharge to go a shelter, live on the street, or couch-surf at the home of a friend. Another 12 percent of these prisoners are at risk of being homeless since they do not know where they will go. If these two groups are combined, a total of 44.6 percent are homeless or at risk of homelessness. This is a large, identifiable stream of people who should be targeted for assistance to reduce chronic homelessness. Analysts have pointed out repeatedly that relative to other homeless sub-groups, those who are chronically homeless have the greatest need for appropriate housing and services, an investment that would provide the largest social returns (Trypuc and Robinson 2009). Homeless prisoners are a vulnerable group – they tend to be older, 22.3 percent are 50 years of age or older. A high proportion of them, 43.3 percent, have severe health impairments. Most of them rely on income support programs, whose benefits they lose while in jail; in many cases, they must re-apply for these benefits after they are discharged. Homeless prisoners requested more types of service to deal with community re-entry than housed prisoners. Yet, almost all the prisoners (95 percent) said they needed various kinds of support. Overall, the survey respondents were only slightly more likely than the general population to have been living in low-income neighbourhoods that lack adequate services for the needs of residents. Homeless prisoners were most likely to have been living in downtown and City-designated priority neighbourhoods.

Details: Toronto: John Howard Society of Toronto, 2010. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2011 at: http://media.thestar.topscms.com/acrobat/ef/6e/a2fdc45d452d8cc6e23535371b07.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: Canada

URL: http://media.thestar.topscms.com/acrobat/ef/6e/a2fdc45d452d8cc6e23535371b07.pdf

Shelf Number: 122110

Keywords:
Homeless Persons (Toronto)
Homelessness
Housing
Inmates
Jails
Prisoners

Author: Hunter, Janine

Title: An Analysis of Independent Custody Visiting in Scotland

Summary: The Scottish Institute for Policing Research was commissioned by the Independent Custody Visiting Association (ICVA) in March 2010 to complete an evaluation of independent custody visiting in Scotland. Independent custody visiting (ICV) involves appointed members of the public (custody visitors) making unannounced visits to police detention facilities in order to establish that detainees are treated humanely and that the detention environment is adequate. ICV also provides an opportunity to scrutinise police practice and procedures in custody facilities and therefore provides a mechanism of accountability and reassurance to the public. The aims of this report are to: 1. Review the infrastructure for supporting independent custody visiting in Scotland at a national and local level 2. Provide an audit of the current operation of independent custody visiting in Scotland and identify any significant changes over time or differences of approach between police force areas 3. Carry out a case study analysis of the operation of independent custody visiting in one police force area 4. Provide a summary of main findings and recommendations for future development.

Details: Dundee, UK: Scottish Institute for Policing Research, University of Dundee, 2010. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed July 20, 2011 at: http://www.sipr.ac.uk/downloads/Research_Summaries/Custody_Visiting_Report.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.sipr.ac.uk/downloads/Research_Summaries/Custody_Visiting_Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 122128

Keywords:
Detention Facilities
Detention of Persons
Police Behavior
Police Detention Facilities (Scotland)
Prisoners

Author: Mathieson, David

Title: Dead Men Walking: Convict Porters on the Front Lines in Eastern Burma

Summary: For decades the Burmese army has forced civilians to risk life and limb serving as porters in barbaric conditions during military operations against rebel armed groups. Among those taken to do this often deadly work, for indefinite periods and without compensation, are common criminals serving time in Burma’s prisons and labor camps. Based on 58 interviews with convict porter survivors who escaped the Burmese army in 2010 and 2011, Dead Men Walking details the harsh treatment prisoners are forced to endure on military operations. Escaped convict porters described how the authorities selected them in a seemingly random fashion from prison and transferred them to army units fighting ethnic armed groups on the front lines. Soldiers force them to carry huge loads of supplies and munitions in mountainous terrain, giving them little food and no medical care. Often they are used as “human shields,” put in front of columns of troops facing ambush or sent first through heavily mined areas. The wounded are left to die; those who try to escape are frequently executed, beaten, or tortured. The use of convict porters is not an isolated, local, or rogue practice employed by some units or commanders, but has been credibly documented since as early as 1992, and has been reported in other conflict zones of Burma. As this report makes clear, serious abuses that amount to war crimes are being committed in Burma with the involvement or knowledge of high-level civilian and military officials. Officers and soldiers commit atrocities with impunity. The use of convict porters on the front line is only one of the brutal counterinsurgency practices Burmese officials have used against ethnic minority populations since Burma’s independence in 1948. These abuses have led to growing calls for the establishment of a United Nations commission of inquiry into longstanding allegations of violations of international humanitarian and human rights law by all parties to the armed conflicts in Burma.

Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2011. 70p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 20, 2011 at: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2011/07/12/dead-men-walking-0

Year: 2011

Country: Burma

URL: http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2011/07/12/dead-men-walking-0

Shelf Number: 122130

Keywords:
Convict Porters
Human Rights (Burma)
Prisoners

Author: Reiter, Keramet

Title: Parole, Snitch, or Die: California’s Supermax Prisons & Prisoners, 1987-2007

Summary: Supermax prisons across the United States detain thousands in long-term solitary confinement, under conditions of extreme sensory deprivation. They are prisons within prisons, imprisoning those who allegedly cannot be controlled in a general population prison setting. Most supermaxes were built in a brief period, between the late 1980s and the late 1990s. In 1988 and 1989, California opened two of the first and largest of the modern supermaxes: Pelican Bay and Corcoran State Prisons. Today, California houses more than 3,300 prisoners in supermax conditions. Each month, between 50 and 100 people are released directly from these supermaxes onto parole. Using statistics obtained from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, this paper explores who these parolees are: what race are these prisoners, how long did they spend in solitary confinement, how frequently are they released, and how frequently are they returned to prison? These supermax-specific statistics are then compared with publicly available state statistics describing the overall race and return-to-prison rates of parolees in California, revealing that supermax prisoners are disproportionately Latinos who have served long prison sentences, under severe conditions. The potential effects of supermax confinement on levels of violence within supermax institutions and throughout the state prison system are also explored, through the lens of prisoner death and assault statistics; no conclusive data establish a direct relationship between supermaxes and reductions in violence. Analysis of interviews with correctional department administrators about the original goals and purposes of the supermaxes further contextualizes these data, revealing that supermaxes today function rather differently than their designers envisioned twenty years ago. In sum, this research provides one of the first evaluations of how supermaxes function, in terms of whom they detain and for how long, and how these patterns relate to their originally articulated purposes.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Institute for the Study of Social Change, University of California Berkeley, 2010. 65p.

Source: Internet Resource: ISSC Fellows Working Papers: Accessed July 26, 2011 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/04w6556f`

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/04w6556f`

Shelf Number: 122154

Keywords:
Gangs
Inmates
Parolees
Prison Violence
Prisoners
Recidivism
Solitary Confinement
Supermax Prisons (California)

Author: Lindahl, Nicole

Title: Intimacy, Manipulation, and the Maintenance of Social Boundaries at San Quentin Prison

Summary: San Quentin is an infamous prison in US history, the subject of myths, cautionary tales, and cable network specials. And yet ask the men living inside its walls, and they will insist San Quentin is the best place to do time in California. Beginning in the mid-1990s, San Quentin’s gates were opened to volunteers from the San Francisco Bay Area interested in providing educational and therapeutic programs. The implementation of these programs disrupted the routines and norms governing social relations within San Quentin and provided a rich window into the daily operation of the prison as it responds to pressure. In this paper, I identify and analyze three narratives which surface in the official discourse used by institutional actors to describe the prison environment and compare these narratives with observations of daily life behind San Quentin’s walls. Ultimately, I argue that in contrast to popular portrayals of prisons, which depict prisoners and officers as locked in depraved and antagonistic relationship patterns, the very structure of San Quentin, and perhaps prisons more generally, is highly conducive to the development of intimate bonds between these groups.

Details: Berkeley, CA: Institute for the Study of Social Change, Unviersity of California Berkeley, 2011. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: ISSC Fellows Working Papers: Accessed July 26, 2011 at: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/15w491vk?query=lindahl

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/15w491vk?query=lindahl

Shelf Number: 122155

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons (California)
Rehabilitation
San Quentin

Author: Allen, Robert

Title: An Economic Analysis of Prison Education Programs and Recidivism

Summary: Previous research on criminal recidivism has attempted to quantify general socioeconomic factors that influence the decision to return to crime. This paper studies the specific effects of prison educational and vocational programs on recidivism using individual level data from a nationally representative sample of roughly 300,000 prisoners. In order to account for endogeneity problems that bias current studies, we use a two stage regression with the number of participants per state as an instrumental variable. Ultimately, we find insufficient statistical evidence to conclude that prison education courses have an effect on recidivism. This result suggests that such programs are either ineffective or their benefits are offset by a reduction in the deterrent value of prison.

Details: Atlanta, GA: Emory University, Department of Economics, 2006. 35p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 28, 2011 at: http://www.economics.emory.edu/Working_Papers/wp/Allen.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: United States

URL: http://www.economics.emory.edu/Working_Papers/wp/Allen.pdf

Shelf Number: 122188

Keywords:
Correctional Education (U.S.)
Correctional Programs
Prisoners
Recidivism

Author: Baidawi, Susan

Title: Older Prisoners -- A Challenge for Australian Corrections

Summary: Corrections statistics in Australia indicate a clear trend towards increased numbers of older prisoners and the growth of this inmate group is paralleled in prisons in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand. Older prisoner populations present a number of challenges for governments, correctional administrators, healthcare providers and community agencies. This paper looks at the issue of defining the older prisoner and explores the rise in older inmate populations throughout Australia — both at the national level and across the states and territories. The concerns pertaining to the management of older prisoners are examined, including the costs of responding to rising healthcare needs, as well as issues surrounding accommodation and correctional programs for older prisoners. Various solutions and strategies that have been adopted internationally in various correctional settings are also discussed, including the establishment of special needs units for older prisoners and the employment of specialist staff. Finally, the paper discusses the implications of the rise in older prisoner numbers for corrections policymakers and researchers in the Australian context.

Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 8p.

Source: Internet Resource: Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice No. 426: Accessed August 23, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/C/5/%7BFC556827-B995-497B-AE69-D2C2B85922C2%7Dtandi426_001.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/F/C/5/%7BFC556827-B995-497B-AE69-D2C2B85922C2%7Dtandi426_001.pdf

Shelf Number: 122464

Keywords:
Elderly Inmates (Australia)
Health Care
Prisoners

Author: McHutchison, Judy

Title: Outcomes for NSW Periodic Detention Orders Commenced 2003 - 2004

Summary: A periodic detention order is a sentencing option available to NSW courts which authorises the sentencing of offenders to a two day a week detention period for terms up to three years. The aim of this study was to use electronically available data to measure outcomes (i.e., successful completion or revocation) for periodic detention orders commenced in 2003-4. Periodic detention orders can be revoked if an offender is convicted on another matter and sentenced to a period of full-time custody greater than a month. Orders can also be revoked if offenders otherwise fail to comply with their obligations under an order including: 􀂃 non-attendance on three or more occasions 􀂃 offences in custody. The majority of data analysed in this study was extracted from the NSW Department of Corrective Service’s (NSWDCS) Offender Integrated Management System (OIMS) on the 30th May 2006. At this date 925 orders had been completed (13 orders remained unfinalised and these were not included in this study).

Details: Sydney: New South Wales Department of Corrective Services, 2006. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Publication No. 48: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: http://www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/_media/dcs/information/research-and-statistics/research-publication/RP048.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/_media/dcs/information/research-and-statistics/research-publication/RP048.pdf

Shelf Number: 122555

Keywords:
Imprisonment
Periodic Detention (Australia)
Prisoners
Sentencing

Author: McHutchison, Judy

Title: Indigenous Deaths in NSW Corrective Services Custody 1996-97 to 2006-07

Summary: This study seeks to establish the prevalence and causes of the deaths of Indigenous offenders in the full-time custody of the New South Wales Department of Corrective Services between 1996/97 and 2006/07. The study also describes the characteristics pertaining to the deceased Indigenous offenders.

Details: Sydney: New South Wales Department of Corrective Services, 2008. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Publication No. 49: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: http://www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/_media/dcs/information/research-and-statistics/research-publication/RP049.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.correctiveservices.nsw.gov.au/_media/dcs/information/research-and-statistics/research-publication/RP049.pdf

Shelf Number: 122556

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Deaths in Custody (Australia)
Indigenous Peoples
Prisoners

Author: Taxman, Faye S.

Title: Evaluating the Implementation & Impact of a Seamless System of Care for Substance Abusing Offenders: The HIDTA Model

Summary: By the end of the year 2000, more than 6.5 million adults were under the supervision of the correctional system, and more than half of these offenders are estimated to have significant substance abuse problems. Traditional, boundary-laden treatment and control strategies have been unable to change offender drug use and criminal behavior. Among the state probation populations, the proportion of offenders who successfully complete their supervision has dropped from seventy (70) percent to sixty (60) percent in the past decade, due in large part to offenders’ failure to abide by the conditions of their release related to abstinence from druglalcohol use and/or participation in treatment. In 1999 alone, fourteen (14) percent of the probation population (244,700) and forty two (42) percent of the parole population (173,800) were returneasent to prison for a rule violation and/or a new offense. Invariably, this is the result of the offender’s continued involvement in drug use and/or drug-related criminal behavior. Without significant increases in resource levels, treatment availability and quality will continue to be major barriers to offender change. The question that remains is how to utilize the leverage of the criminal justice system in a manner that supports-rather than subverts-treatment goals. In response, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) sponsored a demonstration project that commenced in 1994 to pilot new strategies to improve treatment services to offenders, specifically the formulation of a new model of incorporating treatment within the criminal justice system - the Seamless System of Care. The HIDTA Model was designed to target hard-core, substance abusing offenders who are both difficult clients for treatment providers and difficult offenders for community supervision agents. Part of this demonstration project was the restructuring of the treatment and supervision delivery systems for criminal justice offenders within the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program in the Washington, DC - Baltimore corridor. Each of the 12 participating jurisdictions (VA: Alexandria City, Arlington County, Fairfax/ Falls Church, Loudon County, Prince William County; MD: Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Charles County, Howard County, Montgomery County, Prince William County, and the District of Columbia) developed a seamless system tailored to their own socio-legal environment which included system reforms consistent with the core components of the HlDTA model. The HIDTA model is based on the concept of the boundaryless system that “transcends the traditional organizational boundaries to focus attention on improved outcomes”(Taxman & Bouffard:2000:41). Specifically, a main objective of the ONDCP demonstration project was to redefine the relationship between the criminal justice and treatment systems from one based on the brokerage of services (case management) to one defined by rationing and triage (systemic case management). The four key components of the HIDTA seamless system include: (1) continuum of care, (2) supervision, (3) urinalysis testing, and (4) compliance measures and graduated sanctions. This evaluation report provides a detailed examination of the development, implementation, and initial impact of the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) Model, based on a multi- site (12 jurisdictions) analysis of the program. Using a simple pre-post, non-experimental design, data were collected at each of these twelve sites on the total population of offenders admitted to the HIDTA program in 1997 (N=1,216). By using a non-experimental design to conduct our initial review, we could provide preliminary outcome data to jurisdictions while focusing our evaluation resources on the critical question of level of implementation. Data were collected on the following: (1) demographic and criminal history, (2) treatment placement and movement through treatment, (3) criminal justice supervision and services, (4) drug testing results, and (5) the use of graduated sanctions by either the treatment agency or the criminal justice agency. The integration of records from treatment providers and criminal justice agency providers was critical to assessing the impact of the HlDTA Model on the offenders included in this study.

Details: College Park, MD: University of Maryland Center for Applied Policy Studies, Bureau of Governmental Research, 2002. 56p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 26, 2011 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/197046.pdf

Year: 2002

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/197046.pdf

Shelf Number: 122557

Keywords:
Drug Abuse and Crime
Drug Abuse Treatment, Inmates (U.S.)
Drug Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Amnesty International

Title: Deadly Detention: Deaths in Custody Amid Popular Protest in Syria

Summary: Relentless repression has marked Syria since March 2011, as the government continues its efforts to stifle increasing numbers of pro-reform protests. Scores of people – believed to have been detained for their actual or suspected involvement in the protests – are reported to have died in custody. some were children. however, the Syrian authorities have failed to carry out credible investigations into any of the cases or ensure accountability for the perpetrators. In more than half of the cases, people filmed the bodies to record and show the world their injuries. many of them appear to have been tortured. Forensic experts contacted by amnesty international analyzed the footage to help determine possible causes of death. Amnesty International concludes that the torture reported here has been committed as part of a widespread, as well as systematic, attack on the civilian population – crimes against humanity. it is calling on the UN Security Council to refer the situation in Syria immediately to the prosecutor of the international criminal court.

Details: London: Amnesty International, 2011. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2011 at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE24/035/2011/en/e4ed18bf-25c6-4eba-af40-2995299c4eb1/mde240352011en.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Syria

URL: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/MDE24/035/2011/en/e4ed18bf-25c6-4eba-af40-2995299c4eb1/mde240352011en.pdf

Shelf Number: 122616

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (Syria)
Human Rights
Prisoners
Protestors
Torture

Author: Day, Andrew

Title: Assessing the Social Climate of Australian Prisons

Summary: Although in some ways communities appear to be increasingly more risk aversive and punitive in their attitudes toward offenders, the development and proliferation of a range of rehabilitation programs that aim to address the problems that lead to offending represents an important component of contemporary criminal justice policy in Australia. This research is based on the premise that the social climate of a prison will exert a profound influence on rehabilitative outcomes. In this paper, the authors present their validation of the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema (EssenCES) measure of prison social climates and the findings offer further support for measuring and identifying the means by which a prison’s social climate can be assessed. It is proposed that the measure be routinely used to audit the social climate of a prison or prison unit on an annual basis. This would enable changes over time to be assessed, standards and targets set, and the need for additional resources or interventions identified and responded to. Further research is required to establish how a social climate might be modified or changed in a way that would enhance rehabilitative outcomes.

Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2011. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: Trends & Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice no. 427: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/2/2/D/%7B22D2E61A-6308-4F18-AF3D-285723ED618E%7Dtandi427.pdf


Year: 2011

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/2/2/D/%7B22D2E61A-6308-4F18-AF3D-285723ED618E%7Dtandi427.pdf


Shelf Number: 122613

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prisoner Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Prisons (Australia)

Author: Savello, Caroline

Title: Offenders under Watch: A Quasi-Experimental Analysis of Camera Surveillance and Criminal Behavior

Summary: Does camera surveillance deter crime? A decade of empirical and theoretical exploration has failed to reach a consensus on the effect of camera surveillance on crime rates. Rational Choice Theory predicts that offenders under surveillance will choose not to commit a crime given the heightened riskiness associated with breaking the law, causing a localized decline in crime. I expand this theoretical framework through a game-theoretic interaction between police and offenders. Following surveillance implementation, police will reallocate away from the surveilled block, decreasing the equilibrium level of a crime in a fashion that does not manifest as a local treatment effect. The empirical analysis of this paper, using quasi-experimental matching methodologies, confirms that there is no local treatment effect of surveillance. These findings call for future research on general equilibrium effects in criminology as well as for randomized evaluations.

Details: New Haven, CT: Department of Political Science, Yale University, 2009. 50p.

Source: Internet Resource: Senior Essay: Accessed September 3, 2011 at: http://www.yale.edu/polisci/undergrad/docs/Savello_Caroline.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://www.yale.edu/polisci/undergrad/docs/Savello_Caroline.pdf

Shelf Number: 122627

Keywords:
Camera Surveillance
Prisoners
Prisons
Rational Choice Theory

Author: Great Britain. Ministry of Justice

Title: Monitoring Places of Detention: First Annual Report of the United Kingdom's National Preventive Mechanism 2009-10. Cm. 8010

Summary: In the UK and elsewhere there has been growing recognition of detainee's vulnerability and the need for robust, independent mechanisms to protect them from ill-treatment. This view was given formal recognition by the United Nations when it adopted the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) and its ratification by the UK in 2003. As detailed in 'Monitoring Places of Detention (Cm. 8010)', the basic premise of OPCAT is that protections for those who are detained can be strengthened by a system of regular visits to all places of detention. OPCAT requires the designation of a National Preventive Mechanism (NPM) to carry out such visits and to monitor treatment. The UK NPM was established in March 2009 when it was decided that the functions of the mechanism would be fulfilled by the collective action of 18 existing bodies with the HM Inspectorate of Prisons as co-ordinator. This is the first annual report from the NPM in the UK. It details the individual and collective activities of its members in the period 01 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. As well as providing background information on OPCAT and the role of the NPMs, it outlines the role of the individual members and their detention-related activities. The NPM also makes its first collective recommendation that the UK government identifies any places of detention not visited by the NPM and ensures that those gaps are addressed.

Details: London: The Stationery Office, 2011.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 6, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/guidance/inspection-monitoring/National_Preventive_Mechanism_Annual_report_2009-2010(web).pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/guidance/inspection-monitoring/National_Preventive_Mechanism_Annual_report_2009-2010(web).pdf

Shelf Number: 122662

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Prisoners
Prisons (U.K.)

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Bureau of Prisons: Improved Evaluations and Increased Coordination Could Improve Cell Phone Detection

Summary: BOP's rates for inmate telephone calls typically are lower than selected state and military branch systems that also use telephone revenues to support inmate activities; lowering rates would have several implications. Inmates would benefit from the ability to make cheaper phone calls, but lower rates could result in less revenue and lower profits, and therefore fewer funds available for inmate wages and recreational activities. According to BOP officials, when inmates have fewer opportunities for physical activity, idleness increases, and the risk of violence, escapes, and other disruptions also rises. BOP and selected states confiscated thousands of cell phones in 2010, and these entities believe that rising inmate cell phone use threatens institutional safety and expands criminal activity. All of the BOP officials, as well as officials from all eight of the state departments of correction with whom GAO spoke, cited cell phones as a major security concern, given the potential the phones provide for inmates to have unmonitored conversations that could further criminal activity, such as selling drugs or harassing other individuals. BOP and selected states have taken actions to address contraband cell phone use in their correctional institutions, but BOP could better evaluate existing technologies to maximize its investment decisions. BOP screens visitors and staff to detect contraband and has also tested multiple cell-phone detection technologies. However, BOP has not developed evaluation plans for institutional use to measure the effectiveness of these tests, which could help ensure that such tests generate information needed to make effective policy decisions. Moreover, while BOP has shared detection strategies with state agencies to some extent, BOP's regional offices have only had limited interaction with states, and could increase coordination and knowledge sharing to better identify and benefit from other strategies being used. This is a public version of a sensitive but unclassified - law enforcement sensitive report that GAO issued in July 2011. Information that the Department of Justice deemed sensitive has been omitted. GAO recommends that BOP's Director formulate evaluation plans for cell phone detection technology to aid decision making, require use of these plans, and enhance regional collaboration with states. The Department of Justice concurred with GAO's recommendations.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2011. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-11-893: Accessed September 7, 2011 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11893.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11893.pdf

Shelf Number: 122673

Keywords:
Cellular Telephones
Correctional Facilities
Prison Contraband
Prison Security
Prisoners
Risk Management
Smuggling

Author: Kujath, Carlyne L.

Title: Prison Violence: Preliminary Study

Summary: This report has three primary objectives: 1) to identify a sample of offenders for use in our study, 2) to examine characteristics of this sample, and 3) to explore how these characteristics might influence whether an offender is violent or nonviolent. The demographic characteristics examined in this report were age, race, and sex. The sample consisted of 25,273 offenders incarcerated in FY07 and/or FY08. Twelve percent of the sample were violent (n = 2985). The remaining 22,288 offenders comprised our comparison group of nonviolent offenders. Analyses indicated a negative relationship between age and violent behavior (e.g., as age increased, the number of violent infractions decreased). This suggests that older offenders are less likely than younger offenders, to be violent. In terms of racial differences, non-white offenders were significantly more likely to be violent than white offenders. Hispanic males, in particular, had the highest mean number of violent infractions compared to any other racial/gender group. And while male offenders were found to be more likely to engage in violent behavior than female offenders by a factor of nearly 4:1, there were statistically significant differences found between females of different racial groups. For example, black females seemed to be almost equivalent with male offenders in terms of their mean number of violent infractions. Findings within this report suggest there might be additional factors to examine in future studies of prison violence. For example, examining the prevalence of Security Threat Groups (STGs) among different racial groups can provide DOC with additional information on who to expect violence from.

Details: Olympia, WA: Department of Corrections, 2009. 10p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2011 at: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/PrisonViolence2009.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://www.doc.wa.gov/aboutdoc/measuresstatistics/docs/PrisonViolence2009.pdf

Shelf Number: 122758

Keywords:
Inmates
Prison Violence (Washington State)
Prisoners
Violent Offenders

Author: Porter, Lindsay

Title: Trends in the Use of Remand in Canada

Summary: Over the last decade, the composition of Canada’s correctional population has changed, most notably as a result of an increase in the number of adults admitted to custody on remand. Remand is the temporary detention of a person while awaiting trial, sentencing or the commencement of a custodial disposition. According to the Criminal Code, adults and youth can be admitted to remand for a variety of reasons, including to ensure attendance in court, for the protection or safety of the public or to maintain public confidence in the justice system. An increase in the adult remand population can have a number of repercussions on the operations of correctional services. For example, correctional costs can increase as can the challenges for managing the safety and well-being of the remand population. Also, planning correctional space can become increasingly difficult since the length of time an individual spends in remand is not predictable (Johnson, 2003). Using data drawn primarily from the Adult Correctional Services (ACS) Survey, the Youth Custody and Community Services (YCCS) Survey, the Integrated Correctional Services Survey (ICSS) and the Key Indicator Reports (KIR) for Adults and Youth, this Juristat article analyses recent trends in the use of remand in Canada. As the principles and legislation governing detainment differ for adults and youth, separate analyses are presented for each population group. This article makes use of two basic indicators that describe the use of correctional services: the average number or count of individuals in correctional facilities on a daily basis and the number of annual admissions. Admissions are collected each time a person begins any type of custodial or community supervision, and describe and measure the case-flow in correctional agencies over time. The same person can be included several times in the admission counts where the individual moves from one type of legal status to another (e.g., from remand to sentenced custody) or re-enters the system in the same year. It is important to note that the most recent year of data for the average number of those in correctional facilities is 2009/2010 whereas the most recent year of data for annual admissions is 2008/2009. Also, in some cases, not all jurisdictions were able to report complete data. Where this is the case, exclusions are noted.

Details: Ottawa: Statistics Canada, 2011. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Juristat Article: Accessed September 20, 2011 at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11440-eng.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2011001/article/11440-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 122795

Keywords:
Corrections (Canada)
Costs of Criminal Justice
Pretrial Detention
Prisoners

Author: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales

Title: Learning from PPO Investigations: Violence Reduction, Bullying and Safety

Summary: This report is focused on themes of violence, bullying and safety in custody. It has been produced as a result of the finding that 20 per cent of the PPO’s fatal incident investigations into self-inflicted deaths in custody have found evidence that the deceased was subject to bullying or intimidation by other prisoners in the three months prior to their death. This finding is placed within the wider context of violence in prisons, by exploring official statistics and considering prisoners’ own perceptions of safety. The national approach and local responses to violence in custody are then considered. Looking specifically at 42 self-inflicted death investigations, the PPO found that staff responses to allegations of bullying, assaults and other related incidents could have been better in 17 cases. The study found slightly higher proportions of self-harm history, mental health needs and suicide prevention measures at the time of death in cases where evidence of bullying or intimidation was found compared to cases where it was not. Whilst issues around bullying or intimidation by other prisoners were encountered more often in Young Offender Institutions (YOIs) and women’s prisons, learning could be found across all functional types. Seven fatal incident investigations are summarised as case studies, with learning highlighted. The cases covered address specific themes including: • Dynamic security and collating security information about safety concerns • Implementation of local violence reduction strategies • Locating vulnerable prisoners • Approaching the subject of intimate relationships formed between prisoners • Abusive shouting through cell windows • Defining and investigating bullying • The learning identified is categorised into three groups: the importance of recording and sharing information, improving understanding of violence reduction and the importance of protecting prisoners at specific risk of victimisation.

Details: London: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, 2011. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 18, 2011 at: http://iapdeathsincustody.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PPO-Report-on-Violence-Reduction-Bullying-and-Safety-October-2011.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://iapdeathsincustody.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/PPO-Report-on-Violence-Reduction-Bullying-and-Safety-October-2011.pdf

Shelf Number: 123044

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (U.K.)
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author:

Title: Reforming Pakistan's Prison System

Summary: A corrupt and dysfunctional prison system has contributed to – and is a manifestation of – the breakdown of the rule of law in Pakistan. Heavily overpopulated, understaffed and poorly managed, the prisons have become a fertile breeding ground for criminality and militancy, with prisoners more likely to return to crime than to abandon it. The system must be examined in the context of a deteriorating criminal justice sector that fails to prevent or prosecute crime, and protects the powerful while victimising the underprivileged. Yet, while domestic and international actors alike are devoting more resources to improve policing and prosecution, prisons continue to be largely neglected. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led government at the centre and the four provincial governments, as well as the country’s international partners, should make penal reform a central component of a criminal justice reform agenda. Pakistan lacks a systematic program for the capacity building of prison staff, while existing regulations on postings, transfers and promotions are frequently breached because of nepotism and political interference. Given weak accountability mechanisms for warders and prison superintendents, torture and other brutal treatment are rampant and rarely checked. Moreover, with out-dated laws and procedures, bad practices and poor oversight, the criminal justice system is characterised by long detentions without trial. As a result, prisons remain massively overcrowded, with nearly 33,000 more prisoners than the authorised capacity. The large majority of the total prison population – around 50,000 out of 78,000 – are remand prisoners awaiting or on trial. With more than two dozen capital offences, including many discriminatory provisions that carry a mandatory death penalty, the death-row population is the largest in the world, though the current government has placed an informal moratorium on executions. Circumventing the justice system, the military has detained thousands of people, ostensibly suspected of terrorism but including thousands of political dissidents and others opposed to the military’s policies, especially in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). Its methods include torture, collective justice and extrajudicial killings. By swelling public resentment, such practices are more likely to create terrorists than counter them. Instead of establishing parallel, unaccountable and illegal structures, countering militancy requires the reform of a dysfunctional criminal justice system. The separation of low-level offenders and suspects, particularly impressionable youth, from the criminal hardcore is particularly urgent. In violation of the Juvenile Justice System Ordinance (JJSO), children continue to be arrested for petty offences and illegally detained for days and even months; in the absence of adequate facilities, their exposure to hardened criminals, including jihadis, makes them more likely to embrace crime, including militancy, after they are released than before they were imprisoned. Yet, with jails overflowing, it is nearly impossible to isolate hardened criminals, including militants, from remand prisoners, juveniles and low-level or first-time offenders. Provincial governments are trying to reduce overcrowding by constructing more prisons and barracks. This strategy is not sustainable. The problem is not simply one of inadequate infrastructure. The prison population will continue to increase so long as bail rights are rarely granted, and accused persons are seldom brought to court on their trial dates. Recent legislation under the current government that makes it easier to obtain bail is a step in the right direction, but only if consistently applied by the courts. There is, however, an acute shortage of probation and parole officers and no systematic programs to rehabilitate released prisoners. In addition to improving police and judicial functioning, the national and provincial governments should invest in establishing an effective probation regime; creating alternatives to imprisonment for petty crimes, such as fines, community service, community confinement and mental health and drug treatment; and providing free legal aid to those who cannot afford it, including by fully resourcing public defenders’ offices. Strong action should also be taken against police and prison officials for often failing to get prisoners to court on their trial dates, or often only doing so after bribes have been paid. Like the police and courts, the prison system is a major contact point between citizen and state, reflecting the public’s access to justice. Major reforms are necessary to restore public confidence in the government’s ability to enforce the rule of law while protecting the rights of all citizens. Having ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) in June 2010, the government should allocate the necessary human and financial resources and meet its obligations under these international treaties, so as to ensure that torture and other ill-treatment of detainees are stopped and that officials and institutions responsible for such practises are held accountable. If Pakistan’s prison system remains brutal, opaque and unaccountable, it will continue to aggravate rather than help resolve the country’s major internal security challenges. RECOMMENDATIONS To the Federal Government of Pakistan and Provincial Governments: 1. Repeal the Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation 2011 for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Provincially Administered Tribal Areas, and replace the Frontier Crimes Regulations (FCR) 1901, with an updated Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and Evidence Act, in accordance with Article 8 of the constitution and internationally accepted human rights standards. 2. Commit to the abolition of torture and other ill-treatment of detainees in all places of detention, and with the necessary financial and human resources take tangible steps to implement international conventions that Pakistan has ratified, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). 3. Address overcrowding in prisons by: a) enforcing existing bail laws, and urging the high judiciary to hold trial court judges accountable for failing to grant bail according to the law; b) passing a new law requiring judges to allow bail unless there are reasonable grounds to believe the prisoner would abscond or commit further offences; and c) reforming the sentencing structure for non-violent petty crimes and first-time offenders to include alternatives to imprisonment, such as fines, probation, community service and psychological and drug treatment. 4. Implement the federal Public Defender and Legal Aid Office Act and pass and implement provincial equivalents without delay; and fund and support NGOs providing free legal aid to prisoners until such offices are established. 5. Improve the quality of prison staff by: a) making the inspectorate of prisons an autonomous organisation instead of an attached department of the provincial home ministry; b) raising salaries, and linking salaries and privileges to those of the police; c) ensuring recruitment on merit and streamlining promotion mechanisms to allow the most deserving to be rewarded with career advancement opportunities; d) building a training institution in each of the four provinces; and e) improving the quality of instruction provided to prison staff through the introduction of modern curricula, based on international standards. 6. Crack down on criminality and improve prison security by: a) taking action against prison officials for failing to enforce security-related regulations; b) preventing access to mobile phones; taking steps to reduce substance abuse and other criminal activity within prisons; and taking action against prison staff responsible for providing prohibited material to inmates; c) training prison staff to more effectively quell riots and repel attacks by prisoners and providing the staff with adequate equipment; and d) installing jamming devices and CCTVs in all major prisons. 7. Improve conditions for prisoners and ensure that they are consistent with legal requirements by: a) constituting criminal justice coordination committees at the national, provincial and district levels, as mandated by Police Order (2002), and authorising them to regularly visit prisons to examine conditions, determine prison administrators’ adherence to law and raise prison-related issues with responsible government officials and policymakers; b) constituting public safety commissions at the national, provincial and district levels, as mandated by Police Order (2002), and extending their authority to hold prison officials accountable for failure to uphold prisoners’ rights and to maintain required standards in prison administration; c) ending the practice of putting condemned prisoners in death row cells while their appeals are still pending, shifting them instead to general barracks; d) investing in better medical care for inmates by allocating more resources and engaging with philanthropists and NGOs to provide better facilities; e) building separate detention facilities for women prisoners and ending the practice of housing them in separate barracks within male prisons; f) eliminating the practice of keeping juveniles in regular prisons, including by establishing functional borstal institutions in each province; and g) amending the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA), 1997, to require juveniles charged under it to be tried in juvenile courts. 8. Take steps toward the reintegration and rehabilitation of released prisoners by: a) investing in education services and vocational training for inmates, particularly youth and women, to inculcate skills needed to re-enter the workforce; b) improving the functioning of probation and reclamation departments by developing specialised training and curriculums for probation officers and prison staff in the National Academy for Prisons Administration (NAPA), the Punjab Prisons Staff Training Institute and other training institutes; c) directing each provincial home ministry to assess the number of probation and parole officers required by existing and expected caseloads and to increase their numbers accordingly, while providing them with proper offices and adequate facilities, including transport; and d) engaging with probationers’ family members and encouraging community involvement in their rehabilitation and reintegration. 9. End military-devised “de-radicalisation” programs, developing instead a holistic policy aimed at preventing jihadi recruitment, including separating juveniles and other minor and first-time offenders from the adult prison population; making bail the norm rather than the exception; and establishing an effective probation and rehabilitation regime along the lines suggested above. To the International Community, in particular the U.S.: 10. Support the government’s reform agenda, allocating a substantial portion of civilian law enforcement assistance to prison reform, with a focus on: a) improving training programs for prison staff based on revised curriculums that bring existing prison procedures in line with international standards; b) supporting the computerisation of prison and probation records; c) working with training institutes to improve training for probation personnel and with reclamation officials/departments to rehabilitate and reintegrate released prisoners into society and the workforce; and d) supporting NGOs that provide legal aid, education, and vocational training to prisoners, particularly juveniles. 11. Urge the Pakistan military to provide international and domestic humanitarian agencies, including the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), complete access to the estimated thousands of detainees, including juveniles, under its custody, including that of its intelligence agencies, in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and FATA. 12. Condition military assistance on the Pakistani military immediately ending practices that violate international conventions and basic international legal standards, including illegal detention, collective justice, torture, and extrajudicial killings; and scrutinise the military’s actions when reporting on Pakistan’s compliance with the ICCPR, UNCAT and other treaties.

Details: Islamabad, Brussels: International Crisis Group, 2011. 41p.

Source: Internet Resource: Asia Report No. 212: Accessed October 18, 2011 at:

Year: 2011

Country: Pakistan

URL:

Shelf Number: 123053

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Prison Overcrowding
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons (Pakistan)

Author: Parkman, Tiffaney S.

Title: The Transition to Adulthood and Prisoner Reentry: Investigating the Experiences of Young Adult Men and their Caregivers

Summary: The issue of reentry has become an important topic to criminal justice scholars and to law makers due to the sheer number of incarcerated individuals being released and the rate in which they cycle back to incarceration. Despite the attention reentry issues have received recently in the areas of policy and criminal justice and recommendations offered to ameliorate problems associated with reentry, the landscape of reentry remains largely unchanged in that many prisoners are released from prison and significant numbers of them return (Austin, 2001). Approximately 700,000 inmates were released from prisons and jails to their families and communities in 2005 (Harrison & Beck, 2006). Of those inmates, roughly 1/3rd were young adults aged 24 or younger (Mears & Travis, 2004). The outcomes for young adults (age 18-24) incarcerated at such young ages put them at overwhelming risk of a life course trajectory that includes cycles of future imprisonment and poor life outcomes such as economic hardship, poor mental and physical well being and lower life expectancy (Mears & Travis, 2004; Uggen, 2000; Western, 2002) . This study examined the meanings of formerly incarcerated young adult men and their caregivers made in regard to reentry, caregivers’ ability to meet reentry needs, perceptions about reliance on family and the implications of a young adult child “returning home” within the context of release from incarcerative sentencing. This goal was achieved through conducting in-depth semi-structured interviews with formerly incarcerated men between the ages of 18 and 24 and their caregivers for a total of 18 individual interviews that reflect nine young men-caregiver dyads defined as families for this study. This qualitative study was informed using an integration of family life course perspective, symbolic interactionism and ecological theory. The theoretical amalgam provided the ability to examine the life course transitions of families impacted by incarceration, the perceptions and meanings made based upon the experience with incarceration while being imbedded within a socially stigmatized context of having a felony. The findings from this study suggest that upon reentry young adult men and their caregivers experienced ambivalence, happiness yet anxiety in moving forward after incarceration. This ambivalence was a major theme that was found not only in reunification, but in relying on family and in fostering independence. Caregivers were emotionally distressed as they juggled their feelings of wanting to help the young men with meeting the multiple demands placed on the family system with their concerns that he might return to his “old ways.” Young men were particularly distressed as they negotiated transitioning from a state of independence (prior to incarceration) to dependence as a prisoner in the criminal justice system, to depending on caregivers upon reentry. The young men in this study reported achieving financial independence from their families prior to incarceration as adolescents through illegal means which gave them adult status in their families. These “off-time” transitions before and after incarceration fueled the ambivalence and ambiguity in the young men-caregiver dyads, specifically in terms of the meanings these families made when thinking about reunification, relying on family and in fostering independence.

Details: Blacksburg, VA: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2009. 188p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed October 25, 2011 at: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04172009-123438/unrestricted/TIFFANEYSPARKMAN.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/theses/available/etd-04172009-123438/unrestricted/TIFFANEYSPARKMAN.pdf

Shelf Number: 123126

Keywords:
Families of Inmates
Family Process
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners

Author: Gendreau, Paul

Title: Managing Prisons Effectively: The Potential of Contingency Management Programs

Summary: There has been increasing interest in the prison management policy area to promote a course of action that holds inmates more accountable for their actions. It has been proposed that inmates need more structure and discipline and engage in activities that will demonstrate they truly earn privileges leading to early release. This study draws attention to a long forgotten prison treatment literature known as contingency management (e.g., token economies) which has the potential to meet the goals of an “accountability” management perspective. The contingency management (CM) literature was reviewed to assess its potency for improving inmates’ performance (e.g., prison adjustment, educational/work skills) and to generate a list of principles nominated by experts in the area for managing CM programs effectively. First, it was found that CM programs produced large positive gains in the range of 60%-70% which surpassed the effectiveness of other types of interventions. Secondly, the list of principles tabulated for delivering CM program were categorized as to how to implement them and deliver the service (i.e., strategies for what to do, not to do and problematic issues). It was concluded that following the course of action recommended by experts for running CM programs with fidelity placed tremendous demands on all of the prison stakeholders. Unless a number of conditions were met, CM programs should be approached with a great deal of caution given the nature of prison settings.

Details: Ottawa: Public Safety Canada, 2011. 18p.

Source: Internet Resource: Corrections Research:
User Report 2011-03: Accessed October 25, 2011 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/2011-04-mpe-eng.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/res/cor/rep/_fl/2011-04-mpe-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 123140

Keywords:
Correctional Administration (Canada)
Prison Administration
Prison Programs
Prisoners
Treatment Programs, Prisoners

Author: Ramsey, Malcolm

Title: The Early Years of the DSPD (Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder) Programme: Results of Two Process Studies

Summary: This summary is based on two linked studies of an innovative programme which took place between 2006 and 2009. The first focused on the treatment delivered to and experienced by Dangerous and Severe Personality Disorder (DSPD) prisoners/patients. It was called IDEA (Inclusion for DSPD: Evaluating Assessment and Treatment). The second study was concerned with management and staffing of the four high-secure DSPD units for men. It was called MEMOS (Management, Organisation and Staffing of DSPD). More detailed reports on each of these studies are available on request through the Personality Disorder website http://www.personalitydisorder.org.uk (Burns et al., 2011a; Burns et al., 2011b); Trebilcock and Weaver, 2011a). The conclusions showed the following results:  There was a significant reduction in Violence Risk Scale (VRS) scores (which are known to be associated with subsequent violent offending) over time, but it is not possible to conclude that these were the result of treatment delivered under the DSPD programme.  Sites delivered productive treatment, but organisational and therapeutic practice varied widely.  Findings from both studies suggested that prison units were better placed to provide the right context for treatment delivery and with a lower ratio of staff to prisoners.  Pathways out of the units were not well defined, and it was not clear how progress towards discharge was assessed.  Good multi-disciplinary working was crucial to the success of the units. Good working relationships between staff and the treatment population helped reinforce the formal treatment provided.  The units were successful in enabling the men to live well together, without resorting to institutional hierarchies, and irrespective of offending histories.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2011. 9p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Summary 4/11: Accessed October 25, 2011 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/early-years-dspd-programme-research-summary.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/early-years-dspd-programme-research-summary.pdf

Shelf Number: 123143

Keywords:
Correctional Treatment Programs
Inmates, Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders (U.K.)
Prisoners
Violent Offenders

Author: Bharadwaj, Priti

Title: Pre-trial Detention and Access to Justice in Orissa

Summary: Under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India, prisons come under the State List. These custodial institutions are governed by the Prisons Act of 1894 and the rules prepared by the state governments and the governments of the union territories. Each state has its own prison manual with detailed rules for administration and management, regulating every aspect of prison life, both for prisoners as well as prison staff. India has 3,76,396 prisoners in its 1,276 prisons. Of these prisoners, only 31.9 per cent have been proved guilty. The remaining 68.1 per cent are undertrials, detained but innocent in the eyes of the law. Orissa has the ninth highest prison population in the country with 15,368 prisoners. The undertrial population towers at 72 per cent which is higher than the average undertrial population of India. Undertrial prisoners are accused for offences ranging from petty offences such as ticket-less railway travel to higher gravity offences such as murder. “The primary reason for incarcerating people presumed to be innocent, therefore lies in the requirement to ensure the availability of the accused to meet the criminal charges against them.” They are among the most vulnerable sections in the prisons, whose right to liberty has been curtailed before their conviction. With imprisonment, a radical transformation comes over a prisoner, which can be described as prisonisation. He loses his identity. He is known by a number. He loses personal possessions. He has no personal relationships. Psychological problems result from loss of freedom, status, possessions, dignity and autonomy of personal life. Most undertrial prisoners are first-time offenders and their initial encounter with the harsh realities of our justice delivery system makes them disconcerted. It leaves an indelible mark not only on the prisoner’s personal and professional life, but also on those dependent on him/her. Since they are oblivious of their fundamental rights, it is the state’s responsibility to ensure that the inmates are made aware of their rights and the process of the delivery of justice. The Prison Reforms Programme of Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has established its presence in various states, such as Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, to name a few. This study is our first intervention in Orissa and hence it is intended to be a focused one. CHRI commenced this study to assess the implementation of Sections 436 and 436A of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), 1973 for the release of those undertrial prisoners who have been detained for an undue length of time. The study also aims to examine whether the prisons in Orissa house undertrial prisoners under the Preventive Detention Sections 107, 109 and 110 of the CrPC. It further seeks to identify the existing systemic provisions which, if revived, could facilitate the implementation of the above mentioned CrPC amendments. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) defines an undertrial prisoner as “a person kept in prison (judicial custody) while the charges against him are being tried”. It also defines another category – detenues as those “in prison on the orders of competent authority under the relevant preventive detention law”. For the purposes of this study, undertrial prisoners comprise both these categories and denote all those un-convicted prisoners, who have been detained in prison during the period of investigation, inquiry or trial for the offences they are accused to have committed. The study was conducted in two phases. In the first phase it focused primarily on those undertrial prisoners who would fall under the purview of Sections 436 and 436A of the CrPC as well as those under the Preventive Sections across two circle jails. On completion of the first phase, we felt the need to expand the scope of the study to include other types of prisons. To substantiate our findings and to be able to generalise it to the rest of the prisons in the state, CHRI designed Phase II of the study. In Phase II, we expanded our study to cover several other districts and obtained data from all categories of prisons, viz. circle jails, district jails, sub-jails, special jails and special sub-jails.

Details: New Delhi: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, 2010. 71p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 31, 2011 at: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/pre_trial_detention_&atj_in_orissa.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: India

URL: http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/publications/prisons/pre_trial_detention_&atj_in_orissa.pdf

Shelf Number: 123183

Keywords:
Pretrial Detention (India)
Preventive Detention
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Shanahan, Ryan

Title: Close to Home: Building on Family Support for People Leaving Jail

Summary: Most research and programming about incarcerated people and their family support systems focus on prison settings. Because jail is substantially different from prison — most notably, time served there is usually shorter — it is not clear that policies and practices that work in prisons can be applied successfully in jails. This report describes the Family Justice Program’s Close to Home project, which implemented the Relational Inquiry Tool (RIT) — a series of questions originally designed for and tested in prisons to stimulate incarcerated people’s thinking about supportive family members as a resource — in three jails in Maryland and Wisconsin. The report also discusses the results from qualitative and quantitative research at the three facilities, aimed at gauging the attitudes of jail staff, incarcerated men and women, and family members toward the RIT.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2011. 18p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 1, 2011 at: http://www.vera.org/download?file=3377/Close%2520to%2520home_report_v.5.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.vera.org/download?file=3377/Close%2520to%2520home_report_v.5.pdf

Shelf Number: 123190

Keywords:
Families of Inmates
Jail Inmates
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners

Author: Pew Center on the States

Title: Risk/Needs Assessment 101: Science Reveals New Tools to Manage Offenders

Summary: Over the past few decades, experts have developed and refined risk/needs instruments to measure the likelihood of an individual returning to crime, violence or drug use. These tools can help officials to better identify offenders at a high risk of reoffending, while also pinpointing the types of supervision and services that are most likely to prevent future criminal behavior and slow the revolving door of America’s prisons. Key Findings: • Risk/needs instruments measure an individual’s risk of reoffending and identify the specific risk factors that, if addressed, can reduce the likelihood of future criminal behavior. • Risk/needs assessment tools are used at many points in the corrections process by courts, probation and parole agencies, prison and jail systems and parole boards to inform decisions about offender management. • Differentiating offenders by risk level is important—intensive programming can work well with higher-risk offenders but can actually increase recidivism rates among lower-risk offenders. • Research has shown that a comprehensive evidence-based approach—assessing risk, matching supervision and treatment to an offender’s risk level and targeting criminal risk factors with proven programs—reduces recidivism.

Details: Washington, DC: Pew Center on the States, 2011. 8p.

Source: Internet Resource: Issue Brief: Accessed November 1, 2011 at: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Pew_Risk_Assessment_brief.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.pewcenteronthestates.org/uploadedFiles/Pew_Risk_Assessment_brief.pdf

Shelf Number: 123198

Keywords:
Classification of Offenders
Needs Assessment
Offender Management
Prisoners
Risk Assessment

Author: American Civil Liberties Union

Title: Banking on Bondage: Private Prisons and Mass Incarceration

Summary: The imprisonment of human beings at record levels is both a moral failure and an economic one — especially at a time when more and more Americans are struggling to make ends meet and when state governments confront enormous fiscal crises. This report finds, however, that mass incarceration provides a gigantic windfall for one special interest group — the private prison industry — even as current incarceration levels harm the country as a whole. While the nation’s unprecedented rate of imprisonment deprives individuals of freedom, wrests loved ones from their families, and drains the resources of governments, communities, and taxpayers, the private prison industry reaps lucrative rewards. As the public good suffers from mass incarceration, private prison companies obtain more and more government dollars, and private prison executives at the leading companies rake in enormous compensation packages, in some cases totaling millions of dollars.

Details: New York: ACLU, 2011. 57p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 5, 2011 at: http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/bankingonbondage_20111102.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/bankingonbondage_20111102.pdf

Shelf Number: 123238

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Prisoners
Private Prisons (U.S.)
Privatization

Author: Neal, Rosemary A.

Title: URICA: Assessing Readiness to Change among Male Offenders at Intake

Summary: The University of Rhode Island Change Assessment (URICA) is a self-assessment tool designed to measure the level of an individual's motivation to modify their behavior as they progress through a process known as the stages of change. In the present study, the stages of change included precontemplation, contemplation, action, and maintenance phases. This research investigated the readiness to change behavior among male offenders at intake at the Oregon Department of Corrections based on the stages of change approach.

Details: Monmouth, OR: Western Oregon University, 2011. 54p.

Source: Internet Resource: Master's Essay: Accessed November 29, 2011 at: http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/RESRCH/docs/URICA.pdf?ga=t

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.oregon.gov/DOC/RESRCH/docs/URICA.pdf?ga=t

Shelf Number: 123459

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Inmates
Offenders (Oregon)
Prisoners
Rehabilitation

Author: Prison Reform Trust. All-Party Parliamentary Penal Affairs Group

Title: Too Many Prisoners. The All-Party Parliamentary Penal Affairs Group January 2008 - March 2010

Summary: With the prison population at an all time high of around 85,000 and plans for further considerable expansion of the estate despite radical cuts elsewhere in public expenditure, there has never been a greater need for an active and informed group. This report revives the title of the group’s first publication in 1980 Too Many Prisoners. At that time the prison population in England and Wales stood at 44,000, a level that the then Home Secretary described as “dangerously high”. In a speech to the Conservative Central Council Willie Whitelaw said: “...we must ensure that prison is reserved for those whom we really need to contain in custody and that sentences are no longer than necessary to achieve this objective...” These are sentiments that remain relevant today. With an imprisonment rate of 154 per 100,000 England and Wales has become the top incarcerator in Western Europe. Rates in more moderate France and Germany are 96 and 88 per 100,000. Fevered prison building, at £170,000 per place, is now set to propel us past most of our Eastern European neighbours. It is hoped that this review will prove helpful in allowing parliamentarians an opportunity to pause and reflect on both the pace and nature of change. The report includes the presentation of each speaker in the past two years. Each meeting had a separate theme. It provides a clear indication of concerns – for the public in whose interest prisos exist, for prisoners, staff and those responsible for various aspects of the prisons in England and Wales.

Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2010. 110p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2011 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/APPPAG2010.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/APPPAG2010.pdf

Shelf Number: 118600

Keywords:
Prisoners
Prisons (U.K.)

Author: May-Chahal, Corinne

Title: OffGam: An Evidence Informed Approach to Addressing Problem Gambling in Prison Populations: Summary Report

Summary: A pilot study of men and women in two English prisons shows that prisoners have significantly higher levels of gambling problems than the general population. The study found that offending and gambling problems were frequently connected and suggests that at least 5% of offending could be reduced if gambling problems were effectively addressed. The pilot study found that 5.4% of all male and 3% of all female prisoners considered their current offence was linked to gambling. If representative this equals 5.275% of the total prison population at the time they responded to the study questionnaire. The prevalence of problem gambling in the two prison populations is more in line with international estimates than previous UK studies suggest. Over a quarter of male prisoners and just under a fifth of female prisoners were rated as medium risk and problem gamblers. In the two prisons which took part in the pilot study, 17.4% of males and 12.2% of females were defined as medium risk for problem gambling, and 10.4% of males and 5.9% of females were defined as problem gamblers. Total combined risk and problem gambling rates were 27.8% for men and 18.1% for women, bringing findings in England and Wales more in line with findings from other prison populations elsewhere in the world. The three-year pilot study by a research team at the University of Lancaster was funded by the Responsible Gambling Fund (RGF), the national charity that distributes funds for gambling research, education and treatment. A second study, funded by RGF and the Economic and Social Research Council, examining the questions raised by the pilot in more depth, is now under way. Almost 60 per cent of male and nearly 40 per cent of female prisoners had taken part in some form of gambling before going to prison. Researchers also found that attitudes to gambling were broadly comparable with the national averages in the British Gambling Prevalence Survey. However, prisoners tended to be more in favour of people having the right to gamble whenever they want and to be against banning gambling altogether. There was a significant difference between total attitudinal scores for women in prison and those in the community, with those in prison having more favourable attitudes towards gambling overall. There were no significant differences between the two male populations. Prisoners told researchers of some of the links prisoners made between gambling and their current crime. These included arguing with a partner and selling drugs to get money to gamble; stealing from family members to gamble; and getting into fights over gambling. One prisoner believed there is a link between her being a 'street working young woman' and gambling. Another regarded gambling in prison as a guilty pleasure, while recognising that it sometimes leads to potentially violent confrontations between prisoners.

Details: London: Responsible Gambling Fund, 2011. 10p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2012 at: www.rgfund.org.uk

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 124033

Keywords:
Gambling (U.K.)
Prisoners

Author: James, Nathan

Title: Federal Prison Industries

Summary: UNICOR, the trade name for Federal Prison Industries, Inc. (FPI), is a government-owned corporation that employs offenders incarcerated in correctional facilities under the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). UNICOR manufactures products and provides services that are sold to executive agencies in the federal government. FPI was created to serve as a means for managing, training, and rehabilitating inmates in the federal prison system through employment in one of its industries. By statute, UNICOR must be economically self-sustaining, thus it does not receive funding through congressional appropriations. In FY2009, FPI generated $885.3 million in sales. UNICOR uses the revenue it generates to purchase raw material and equipment; pay wages to inmates and staff; and invest in expansion of its facilities. Of the revenues generated by FPI’s products and services, approximately 80% go toward the purchase of raw material and equipment; 17% go toward staff salaries; and 4% go toward inmate salaries. Although there have been many studies on the recidivism rate and societal factors that may contribute to it, there are only a handful of rigorous evaluations of the effect that participation in correctional industries (i.e., FPI) has on recidivism. What research exists suggests that inmates who participate in correctional industries are less likely to recidivate than inmates who do not participate, but the results are not conclusive. The previous Administration made several efforts to mitigate the competitive advantage UNICOR has over the private sector. Going beyond the previous Administration’s efforts, Congress took legislative action to lessen the adverse impact FPI has caused on small businesses. For example, in 2002, 2003, and 2004, Congress passed legislation that modified FPI’s mandatory source clause with respect to procurements made by the Department of Defense (DOD) and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). In 2004, Congress passed legislation limiting funds appropriated for FY2004 to be used by federal agencies for the purchase of products or services manufactured by FPI under certain circumstances. This provision was extended permanently in FY2005. In the 110th Congress, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (P.L. 110-181) modified the way in which DOD procures products from FPI. In 2011, Congress granted FPI the authority to carry out pilot projects in partnership with private companies to produce items that are currently manufactured outside of the United States. There are several issues Congress might consider as it continues its oversight of FPI, including whether FPI should be involved in emerging technology markets as a way to provide inmates with more job-ready skills for post-release employment and how FPI implements the new authority Congress gave it to enter into partnerships with private manufacturers.

Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2011. 14p.

Source: CRS Report for Congress RL32380: Internet Resource: Accessed March 18, 2012 at http://www.ndia.org/Divisions/Divisions/SmallBusiness/Documents/Federal%20Prison%20Industries.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ndia.org/Divisions/Divisions/SmallBusiness/Documents/Federal%20Prison%20Industries.pdf

Shelf Number: 124582

Keywords:
Employment
Federal Prisons (U.S.)
Prisoners
Recidivism
Vocational Education and Training

Author: Axford, Marsha

Title: Homicide, Sex, Robbery and Drug Offenders in Federal Corrections: An End-of-2008 Review

Summary: One of the challenges confronting all Correctional Services in recent years is the effective management of offender populations. It has long been recognized that the demographic and offence-related characteristics of these populations influence institutional conduct as well as the safe transition of offenders to the community. As the characteristics of offenders and populations change, it creates the need to develop or refine correctional interventions to best respond to the needs and risks of these offenders. For example, an increase in the number of offenders admitted to prison with drug-related offences may indicate the need to develop and offer more addictions or substance-abuse programs. Moreover, an increase in the number of offenders sentenced with violent offences is typically associated with higher levels of institutional misconduct. As a result, it is important to monitor changes in the offender population. This study provides an overview of offenders convicted of homicide, sexual, robbery and drug-related offences on December 31, 2008. Of the 22,445 offenders under the supervision of the Service on that date, 5,540 had been convicted of a homicide offence, 3,154 were sexual offenders, 6,276 had a conviction for robbery, and 6,433 offenders had been convicted of a drug-related offence. In terms of population trends, the number of offenders sentenced on a homicide offence increased by 18% in the ten years prior to December 31, 2008. Part of this increase is because offenders convicted of first- and second-degree murder will remain under correctional supervision for the remainder of their lives. The number of sexual offenders, by contrast, decreased 14% during that same era, and this may be due to a decrease in the number of these offences reported to the police in the past decade (Dauvergne & Turner, 2010). The number of CSC offenders convicted of a robbery offence followed a similar trend, having decreased 8% from 1998 to 2008. However, during the same time period, the number of offenders who had been sentenced on a drug-related offence increased by 18%. Over the past ten years for which data are reported, there were a number of noteworthy changes in the management of these offenders. First, the number of homicide and drug offenders supervised in the community increased by 431 (+25%) and 117 (4%) respectively, while there were fewer offenders from the other groups who had been conditionally released: sex offenders (-268; -22%) and those convicted of robbery (-490; -18%), In addition, more offenders were placed in maximum security units in 2008 compared to 1998. In 2008, homicide (31%) and robbery (29%) offenders were more often housed in maximum security units than drug and sexual offenders (23% each). Last, the proportion of offenders released at their statutory release date (SR) had increased for all offence types, particularly for robbery offenders (50% in 1998 versus 63.1% in 2008). Altogether, there have been some significant changes in the characteristics of the federal offender population. These changes have resulted in a number of operational changes to better manage the risks that these offenders might pose in either institutions or the community. Basing these operational changes on the latest information about the offender population will enable the Service to focus on the safe transition of these offenders to the community.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2011. 53p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2011 No R-234: Accessed April 16, 2012 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r234/r234-eng.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r234/r234-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 124982

Keywords:
Drug Offenders
Inmates (Canada)
Prisoners
Robbers
Sex Offenders
Violent Offenders

Author: Farabee, David

Title: Expert Panel Study of the Inmate Classification Score System

Summary: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) uses an inmate classification system to ensure that inmates are properly housed and supervised. The proper housing and supervision of inmates serves goals that are paramount to the correctional setting: protecting staff and inmates from in-prison misconduct, protecting the public from inmate escapes, and safeguarding opportunities for inmates to benefit from rehabilitative programming. All three goals serve public safety by promoting institutional order and inmate rehabilitation. California’s prison system presents a multitude of housing and supervision options to achieve these goals. Housing types range from camps to open dormitories to cells. Some housing is protected by a low-security perimeter, some secured by an electrified fence. Some areas have armed coverage, others do not. Within those different types of housing, inmate supervision levels may vary as well, with some inmates more closely monitored than others. A successful inmate classification system utilizes this spectrum of choices to ensure an appropriate balance between liberty and security. Currently, CDCR uses a classification process that is based on two overlapping systems: the inmate’s placement score and the inmate’s Custody Designation. The placement score is determined by the Inmate Classification Score System (ICSS), which is further broken down into two parts – the preliminary score and any applicable Mandatory Minimums. The preliminary score predicts risk for institutional misconduct using several variables related to an inmate’s background and prior incarceration behavior. Additional Mandatory Minimum scores are then applied to inmates incarcerated for certain violent or sex crimes, crimes of public notoriety, or crimes carrying life sentences. Mandatory minimums restrict the housing level to which these inmates can be assigned. The final classification placement score is the maximum of either the preliminary or the Mandatory Minimum score. Final classification scores determine the institution or housing level in which an inmate will be placed by producing four levels of scores that correspond to four institutional housing security levels. Custody Designations attempt to mitigate an inmate’s risk for escape and threat to the community if escaped. They determine the level of in-prison supervision that inmates receive and also present a further opportunity for restricting program access and the housing levels to which certain inmates can be assigned. The purpose of this study was to evaluate CDCR’s classification system. The study aims to assist CDCR in best identifying factors that justify restrictions on liberty while avoiding factors that could lead to unwarranted impingements on inmate rehabilitation. Analyses focused on male offenders since the research design relied on the delineation between particular housing levels that are not applicable to female offenders. CDCR determined that the best strategy for carrying out the study was to work with outside correctional experts and statisticians. An “Expert Panel” was created, comprised of scholars with experience in studying correctional issues. To assist in conducting its analyses, the department contracted with the University of California (UC), Davis and UC Berkeley for statistical services. The major findings from this study are as follows: 1) There are no natural “breaks” in preliminary classification scores that indicate sharp changes in inmate behavior across housing levels, though the likelihood of behavioral infractions increases with preliminary score. 2) Mandatory Minimum scores appear to “trap” many well-behaving inmates into higher housing levels. Inmates crowded above the classification score cut points due to the Mandatory Minimum scores are relatively well behaved. This better behavior is explained entirely by age and the lower average preliminary scores of these inmates. In other words, age and the preliminary classification score provide a better predictor of behavior for those “trapped” at a specific placement classification score than does the actual placement classification score determined by binding mandatory minimums. 3) There is little evidence that housing inmates with preliminary scores slightly above the Classification Score Level I/II, Level II/III, and Level III/IV thresholds suppresses institutional misconduct. Furthermore, there is evidence of a criminogenic effect for inmates who have classification scores just above the Classification Score Level III/IV threshold who are placed in Level IV housing. 4) There are few escapes, particularly in institutions with electric fences. The risk of inmate escapes from facilities with electrified fences is nearly zero. Based on these findings, the Expert Panel developed the following recommendations: 1) Decisions to move inmates into lower housing levels should be guided by the safety risks those inmates pose to other inmates, staff, and the public. Estimates of risk should be grounded in the preliminary classification score and should not be overridden by CDCR Mandatory Minimum factors. Older inmates could also be given priority in downward housing placements. 2) Inmates with preliminary and placement scores at the threshold (or classification score cut points) of each housing level can be moved to lower levels with the expectation that it will not lead to increases in individual or overall rates of serious misconduct within levels. 3) CDCR should not use Custody Designation as a proxy for the risk of inmate misconduct. The custody classification system was not designed for this purpose and does not capture meaningful dimensions of an inmate’s likelihood of bad behavior. Downward movements in custody should be based upon preliminary classification score. 4) Moreover, Custody Designations may no longer be justified as a mechanism to reduce the likelihood of escape. CDCR should consider removing the use of Custody Designation as markers for escape risks. Changes to current policy need to be monitored. The Expert Panel advocates the use of random assignment as the best way to determine the impact. If that is not possible, quasi-experimental methods could provide some evidence of impact, although not as conclusive. Monitoring will require more extensive data collection on specifics of timing, location and the nature of violations than is currently collected in automated systems.

Details: Ssacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Office of Research, Research and Evaluation Branch, 2011. 160p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2012 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports/docs/2010-2011-Classification-Study-Final-Report-01-10-12.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports/docs/2010-2011-Classification-Study-Final-Report-01-10-12.pdf

Shelf Number: 125024

Keywords:
Inmate Classification (California)
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Stover, H., Weilandt, C.

Title: Final Report on Prevention, Treatment, and Harm Reduction Services in Prison, on Reintegration Services on Release from Prison and Methods to Monitor/Analyse Drug use among Prisoners

Summary: The main objective of this work package was to analyse the status-quo of prevention, treatment and harm reduction services for people in prisons and in reintegration services for persons on release from prisons. The report is based on data on health interventions targeting imprisoned drug users as well as on relevant information included in the national action plans on social inclusion prepared by the Member States within the context of the open method of coordination on social protection and social inclusion. A key result of this work package is that there is a need for more systematic research on the effectiveness of treatment for drug users in prison, as there is hardly any high-quality research in this field, especially in the EU. Although there exist a range of interventions for drug using inmates, the implementation is often sporadic and not sufficient to meet the needs. To promote and secure health in prison, testing for infectious diseases and vaccination is a major opportunity, and does have an impact on the health of the incarcerated, the correctional employees and the communities to which the inmates return. Vaccination for Hepatitis B and A is highly recommended for prisoners. Drug testing on the other hand, in particular mandatory drug testing in prison can have adverse effects, e.g. encourage people to switch from smoking drugs like Cannabis to injecting drugs like heroin, in order to avoid detection. It has been observed that mandatory drug testing is rather expensive and can be counterproductive, due to an increasing tension in the prison. Treatment for prisoners involves the treatment for drug dependency and infectious diseases. Upon entering the prison, prisoners with AIDS should be offered treatment with highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART), which is an effective treatment. Hence existing HAART should not be discontinued and prisoners not yet receiving HAART should be encouraged to start HAART. Similar to AIDS, treatment for HCV is safe and feasible. Although the establishment of prison-based substitution treatment proved to be as effective in reducing mortality, crime and re-incarceration rates and HCV as in the community, the implementation of prison-based substitution treatment is still not equally well accepted and realized. Concerning harm reduction measures in prison the implementation is fragmentary and often problematic, despite existing research on the topic. Evidence for the effectiveness of prison needle exchange programmes (PNEP) has been gathered in a number of very different prison settings: PNEP reduces needle sharing very effectively, can increase uptake of drug treatment as well as the safety in the prison, and can reduce abscesses and fatal overdoses. It does not increase injecting drug use, nor has it shown any other negative effects. No research was found explicitly evaluating the distribution of sterile tattooing equipment. Still this measure should be recommended to reduce the risk of transmitting diseases, as tattooing often occurs in prison. Condoms are likely to be the most effective method for preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). No serious negative effects of condom distribution in prisons have been found, and the free availability of condoms seems feasible in a wide range of prison settings.

Details: Bonn, Germany: WIAD Wissenschaftliches Institut der Ärzte Deutschlands gem. e.V., 2008. 281p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2012 at: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/drug/documents/drug_frep1.pdf

Year: 2008

Country: Europe

URL: http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_determinants/life_style/drug/documents/drug_frep1.pdf

Shelf Number: 113425

Keywords:
Drug Abuse and Addiction
Harm Reduction Programs
Infectious Diseases, Prisoners
Prison Health Care
Prisoner Reentry, Health Services
Prisoners

Author: California. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Office of Inspector General

Title: Special Report: Inmate Cell Phone Use Endangers Prison Security and Public Safety

Summary: According to numerous California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Department) officials, the possession of cell phones and electronic communication devices by California’s inmates is one of the most significant problems facing the Department today. Therefore, in February 2009, the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) began a review into the proliferation of contraband cell phones in California prisons and how their use puts Department staff, inmates, and the general public at risk. During 2006, correctional officers seized approximately 261 cell phones in the state’s prisons and camps. However, by 2008, that number increased ten-fold to 2,811 with no end in sight. Inmates’ access to cell phone technology facilitates their ability to communicate amongst themselves and their associates outside of prison, to plan prison assaults, plot prison escapes, and orchestrate a myriad of other illegal activity. In addition, these devices can provide an inmate unrestricted and unmonitored access to the Internet, whereby they can communicate with unsuspecting victims, including minors. According to the Department, inmates are paying those involved in smuggling cell phones into California prisons between $500 and $1,000 per phone. There are currently no criminal consequences for the introduction or possession of cell phones in prison, making this activity merely an administrative violation. Furthermore, current security entrance procedures provide ample opportunities for staff and visitors to bring contraband into prison facilities without fear of discovery. Therefore, the introduction of cell phones into state prisons is a low risk, high reward endeavor. In addition to staff, other conduits for smuggling cell phones include visitors, outside accomplices, minimum support facility inmates working outside perimeter fences, and contracted employees. In an effort to combat this growing threat, the Department is supporting legislation making it a crime to introduce or possess cell phones in California’s prisons. Unfortunately, previous efforts to pass similar legislation have failed. In addition, technology that detects or jams cell phone signals is commercially available but potentially expensive and would require federal authorization to place into use. Other detection methods that have been used or are now in sporadic use, such as hands-on searches, metal detectors, and x-ray equipment, are more labor intensive and would require an increase in staffing and funding.

Details: Sacramento: Office of the Inspector General, 2009. 18p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2012 at: http://www.oig.ca.gov/media/reports/BOI/Special%20Report%20of%20Inmate%20Cell%20Phone%20Use.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://www.oig.ca.gov/media/reports/BOI/Special%20Report%20of%20Inmate%20Cell%20Phone%20Use.pdf

Shelf Number: 125321

Keywords:
Cell Phones
Inmates
Prison Contraband
Prisoners
Prisons (California)

Author: Pavic, Sonja

Title: Upcoming Events Latest IHRP News • IHRP clinic student, Sylvie McCallum-Rougerie, reports back from Kenya • Canada’s management of prisoners with serious mental health issues viola

Summary: Keeping detainees in prison for long periods without trial is in violation of the Uganda Constitution and international human rights law, finds Avocats Sans Frontières (ASF) and the IHRP at the University of Toronto in a joint report released today. The report entitled “Presumed Innocent, Behind Bars: The Problem of Lengthy Pre-trial Detention in Uganda” is based on analysis of the situation in eight Ugandan prisons and calls on the Ugandan government to take urgent action to address this major problem in the justice system.

Details: Brussels: Avocats Sans Frontières asbl; Kampala, Uganda: Avocats Sans Frontières in Uganda, 2011. 66p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2012 at: http://www.utorontoihrp.com/index.php/resources/working-group-reports/cat_view/10-working-group-and-clinic-reports/31-presumed-innocent-behind-bars-the-problem-of-pre-trial-detention-in-uganda-

Year: 2011

Country: Uganda

URL: http://www.utorontoihrp.com/index.php/resources/working-group-reports/cat_view/10-working-group-and-clinic-reports/31-presumed-innocent-behind-bars-the-problem-of-pre-trial-detention-in-uganda-

Shelf Number: 125350

Keywords:
Human Rights
Pretrial Detention (Uganda)
Prisoners

Author: Pavic, Sonja

Title: Presumed Innocent, Behind Bars: The Problem of Lengthy Pre-trial Detention in Uganda

Summary: Keeping detainees in prison for long periods without trial is in violation of the Uganda Constitution and international human rights law, finds Avocats Sans Frontires (ASF) and the IHRP at the University of Toronto in a joint report released today. The report entitled - Presumed Innocent, Behind Bars: The Problem of Lengthy Pre-trial Detention in Uganda - is based on analysis of the situation in eight Ugandan prisons and calls on the Ugandan government to take urgent action to address this major problem in the justice system.

Details: Brussels: Avocats Sans Frontières asbl; Kampala, Uganda: Avocats Sans Frontières in Uganda, 2011. 66p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 17, 2012 at: http://ihrp.law.utoronto.ca/utfl_file/count/documents/WorkingGroup_Clinic/Presumed%20Innocent%20-%20report%20on%20lengthy%20pre-trial%20detention.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Uganda

URL: http://ihrp.law.utoronto.ca/utfl_file/count/documents/WorkingGroup_Clinic/Presumed%20Innocent%20-%20report%20on%20lengthy%20pre-trial%20detention.pdf

Shelf Number: 125340

Keywords:
Pretrial Detention (Uganda)
Prisoners

Author: Uchida, Craig D.

Title: Measuring Jail Recidivism in Montgomery County, Maryland

Summary: The jail recidivism study in Montgomery County, Maryland is a collaborative work between Justice & Security Strategies, Inc. (JSS) and the Pre-Release and Re-Entry Services Division (PRRS) of the Montgomery County Department of Correction and Rehabilitation (MCDOCR). The purposes of the study were to examine recidivism within a jail population, determine the research needs of a county jail system, and provide recommendations about how to deal with recidivism overall. To conduct the study, JSS and PRRS developed the research design, collected and analyzed the data, and wrote the final report. We collected and analyzed data of a sample of men (n=294) and women (n=282) who were released from MCDOCR from July 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004. JSS created an MS Access database specifically for this project. Doing so allowed us to combine information from nine (9) databases and to track offenders before and after their release. The data were drawn from: 1. FBI/NCIC criminal histories 2. Maryland State Record of Arrest and Prosecution (RAP) records 3. Maryland Department of Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA) 4. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) 5. Montgomery County CJIS 6. Maryland Judiciary Case Search 7. Diminution Reports 8. Commitment files 9. District Court cases The analysis included the use of survival and hazard models to estimate the failure rates of the offender population.

Details: Silver Spring, MD: Justice & Security Strategies, 2009. 81p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 27, 2012 at: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/docr/pdfs/finalrecidivismreport-dec-16-2009.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://www6.montgomerycountymd.gov/content/docr/pdfs/finalrecidivismreport-dec-16-2009.pdf

Shelf Number: 125423

Keywords:
Jail Inmates (Maryland)
Prisoners
Recidivism

Author: Mallender, Jacque

Title: Final Report: An Economic Analysis of Alternatives to Short Term Custody

Summary: The objective of this research was to generate evidence on the economic benefits of providing Intensive Alternatives to Custody (IAC order) as an alternative to short term custodial sentences. An IAC order is a comprehensive community based intervention which focuses on reducing the risk of reoffending. Typically an IAC order involves a combination of intensive supervision and a variety of requirements such as unpaid work, curfews, mandatory hours of structured activity per week, and enrolment in accredited programmes. The nature of the IAC order varies, however, between recipients and models of delivery. Practitioners of IAC orders maintain a high level of confidence in the programmes they are running and believe they make a measurable impact on reoffending. However, to date no evaluation has been done on the effect of IAC orders on reoffending. In this context, Matrix Evidence was commissioned by Make Justice Work to estimate the economic benefits of providing an IAC order in two pilot sites – Manchester and Bradford – in comparison to providing short term custodial sentences. The report then attempted to take these findings and consider what economic benefits could be generated if the IAC order were rolled out nationally. Specifically the economic benefits are estimated in terms of cost savings due to both reduced intervention costs and reduced reoffending.

Details: London: Make Justice Work and Matrix Evidence, 2012. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 5, 2012 at: http://www.matrixknowledge.co.uk/Documents/Matrix%20MJW_updated%20Final%20Report_June%202012%20(2).pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.matrixknowledge.co.uk/Documents/Matrix%20MJW_updated%20Final%20Report_June%202012%20(2).pdf

Shelf Number: 125475

Keywords:
Alternatives to Incarceration (U.K.)
Costs of Criminal Justice
Economic Analysis
Intensive Supervision
Prisoners

Author: Solvang, Ole

Title: Torture Archipelago: Arbitrary Arrests, Torture and Enforced Disappearances in Syria’s Underground Prisons since March 2011

Summary: Since the beginning of anti-government protests in March 2011, Syrian authorities have subjected tens of thousands of people to arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions, enforced disappearances, ill-treatment and torture using an extensive network of detention facilities, an archipelago of torture centers, scattered throughout Syria. Based on more than 200 interviews with former detainees, including women and children, and defectors from the Syrian military, intelligence and security agencies, Torture Archipelago: Arbitrary Arrests, Torture and Enforced Disappearances in Syria’s Underground Prisons since March 2011 focuses on 28 of these detention facilities. For each facility, most of them with cells and torture chambers and one or several underground floors, we provide the location, identify the agencies responsible for operating them, document the type of ill-treatment and torture used, and name, to the extent possible, the individuals running them. The facilities included in this report are those for which multiple witnesses have indicated the same location and provided detailed descriptions about the use of torture. The actual number of such facilities is likely much higher. The systematic patterns of ill-treatment and torture documented in this report clearly point to a state policy of torture and ill-treatment and therefore constitute a crime against humanity. The United Nations Security Council should refer the situation in Syria to the International Criminal Court, adopt targeted sanctions on officials credibly implicated in abuses, and demand that Syria grant recognized international detention monitors access to all detention facilties, including those mentioned in this report.

Details: London: Human Rights Watch, 2012. 84p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria0712webwcover.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Syria

URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria0712webwcover.pdf

Shelf Number: 125502

Keywords:
Detention Facilities
Human Rights
Prisoners
Prisons
Torture (Syria)

Author: Winterdyk, John

Title: Prison Gangs: A Review and Survey of Strategies

Summary: This study collected 34 completed surveys from a list of 50 states, two correctional corporations, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, for a response rate of 64 percent (these systems held 954,132 prisoners at midyear 2008). In addition, we conducted an extensive literature review on prison gang literature using North American and international sources. The design was based on a prior study conducted by Ruddell, Decker, and Egley (2006) and assistance in administering the survey was facilitated by the Director of Operational Research for the CSC. We believe that this is one of the most comprehensive surveys on American prison gang interventions. The objective of the study was to provide insight into the following research questions: (1) What different gang management strategies are currently in use in three main areas: a. Prevention (e.g., Thwarting gang recruitment of new members). b. Sanctions (e.g., The use of informal and formal methods of controlling existing gang members). c. Interventions (e.g., Treatment/therapeutic interventions that respond to the offender’s criminogenic needs). (2) What strategies have been used to identify and map gangs (e.g., gang structure and activities), including applications of new technology (e.g., tracking J-Pay funds from community sources to prisoners, or developing computerized databases to track the inter-relationships of offenders). (3) To determine whether any formal evaluations of these strategies have been conducted, and if so, whether these interventions have proven to be effective? (In the absence of formal evaluations, are there any strategies that seem to be effective or promising?) Some of the major findings, organized by the six main sections of the survey, include: 􀂙 Most prison systems have experienced some increase in Security Threat Group (STG) members over the past five years and this has been associated with an increased range of challenges including violence, disruptive behaviors, and threats to staff authority. 4 􀂙 While virtually all prison systems surveyed had management strategies to sanction gang members, the most common intervention still remains segregation and isolation followed by restrictions on privileges, and including gang membership in security rating or classification scores. 􀂙 Relatively few of those who responded acknowledged having formal orientation or reception strategies to inform and discourage gang and/or potential gang members from becoming involved in gangs. 􀂙 Approximately one-half of all prison gang members were thought to be unaffiliated with a gang when they were admitted to prison. According to almost two-thirds of respondents, the primary reason for joining a gang is fear of other inmates. 􀂙 Gang renunciation and treatment programs were present in approximately one-third of the prison systems, but for those jurisdictions that do have such programs their most effective strategy for reducing STG misconduct was the case management activities of counselors. 􀂙 While virtually all respondents collect data and information on STG members virtually no external evaluations were conducted on the relative effectiveness of prison-based gang interventions. 􀂙 The most common problem facing American prisons today, as identified by the 34 respondents, was a lack of dedicated resources to combat STG compounded by an increasing prison population, overworked staff, and changing dynamics of STGs. 5 􀂙 Overall, while there is clear evidence showing that prison gangs/STG represent significant challenges for American prison systems, there is no one clear strategy for the management, monitoring, or evaluating the relative effectiveness of current gang management interventions. The primary reason for the lack of coordination and/or investigation is attributable to a lack of resources for STG investigations and coordination between the different jurisdictions (e.g., local jails, as well as state and federal prisons).

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2009. 45p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2012 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/briefs/b43/b43-eng.shtml

Year: 2009

Country: United States

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/briefs/b43/b43-eng.shtml

Shelf Number: 125503

Keywords:
Inmate Management
Prison Gangs, Interventions (U.S.)
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: The Management of life and Indeterminate Sentence Prisoners in Northern Ireland

Summary: The management of life sentence prisoners is essential for public protection and public confidence in the criminal justice system. It is important that life sentence prisoners are subject to thorough assessment and testing before they can be considered for release as they have been convicted of the most serious offences. This inspection examined progress in implementing the recommendations of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland’s 2009 review1 of how life prisoners were prepared for release. We also assessed the Probation Board for Northern Ireland’s (PBNI) supervision of released life prisoners in the community. The 2009 CJI review made a total of 18 recommendations: 13 for the Northern Ireland Prison Service (NIPS) and five for the Parole Commissioners for Northern Ireland (PCNI). There were no recommendations for the PBNI. This inspection does not revisit matters that were addressed in CJI’s recent report on corporate governance in the Parole Commissioners.2 It does however, deal with the administration of the PCNI’s business and their operational engagement with other agencies. On this occasion Inspectors found strengths in a number of important areas. They were as follows: • the legislative basis for managing indeterminate sentenced prisoners in Northern Ireland was good, and had been informed by serious pitfalls that arose in England and Wales. The PBNI and the PCNI had comprehensive rules and standards to guide Probation Officers and Parole Commissioners in the detail of their work; • the NIPS had improved their response across a number of areas, including: - the NIPS arrangements for indeterminate sentence prisoners to progress and regress within the prison system were more systematic and transparent than in 2008; and - a dedicated lifer house at Maghaberry Prison was providing a better environment for many of the prisoners held there; • the Parole Commissioners administration and operational level contact with criminal justice agencies was much improved. This was leading to better case management; and • life licensees were being carefully supervised in the community by the PBNI. The inspection report did find a number of areas for improvement: • the NIPS Prisoner Assessment Unit (PAU) had serious problems and needed fundamental re-design. No effective action had been taken in respect of previous NIPS internal reviews or inspection recommendations into the PAU, and it was suspended in April 2011 when things reached crisis point. A pre-release scheme based at a step-down facility is a very important element of preparing life prisoners for release and continuing suspension of the PAU was a major problem; • current methods of delivering psychology services within the NIPS were not greatly valued. There were not enough psychologists to undertake all the forensic assessments, and while Offending Behaviour Programme (OBP) delivery had improved, external substitution was required and was proving costly; • there was scope to further develop prison lifer regimes, for example, for staff to actively engage with lifers at an earlier stage in their sentence, to better identify and respond to the needs of potential lifers, and to transfer more lifers to Magilligan Prison; and • the PBNI needed better access to victims’ relatives in order to offer a valuable service. This report makes a total of 14 recommendations. The three main strategic recommendations are for the NIPS and others to urgently establish a new step-down facility for lifers; to reconfigure the respective roles of the PBNI and the NIPS psychology; and to improve delivery of OBPs in the prisons. If properly implemented these should significantly enhance the quality of risk management and prisoner resettlement, while also delivering financial savings. While there were areas in which operational practice can be significantly improved, CJI’s overall conclusion is that indeterminate sentence prisoners were being well-managed in Northern Ireland, both in prison and while under supervision in the community. The improvements we recommend should be quite manageable in a small jurisdiction which has singular prison, probation and parole organisations.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2012.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 9, 2012 at: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/de/index/ni-prison-service/nips-publications/nips-cjini-inspection-reports/cjini-report---the-management-of-life-and-indeterminate-sentence-prisoners-in-northern-ireland-july-2012.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/de/index/ni-prison-service/nips-publications/nips-cjini-inspection-reports/cjini-report---the-management-of-life-and-indeterminate-sentence-prisoners-in-northern-ireland-july-2012.pdf

Shelf Number: 125521

Keywords:
Life Imprisonment
Life Sentences
Prisoners
Punishment
Sentencing (Northern Ireland)

Author: Kazemian, Lila

Title: The French Prison System: Comparative Insights for Policy and Practice in New York and the United States

Summary: In 2006, drawing on previous work by the European Convention on Human Rights and the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Council of Europe offered recommendations on basic standards that should be met in European correctional facilities, otherwise known as the European Prison Rules. These rules offer guidelines for the humane and just treatment of prisoners in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe. In 2009, France enacted a correctional law that guaranteed certain rights to incarcerated individuals, including the right to obtain identity papers, to vote, to gain access to social aid, to maintain family ties, to have reasonable access to telephone services, to be offered employment opportunities, to participate in training programs, and to benefit from reduced prison time for sentences of less than five years or for convictions involving individuals who are over 75 years of age. Despite these and other reform initiatives, European correctional administrations often turn to the United States and Canada for guidance on the effective management of prison populations. French correctional administrators express particular interest in correctional practices in the State of New York, as officials there are believed to value inmate rights and prisoner reentry initiatives. New York’s reputation for supporting research and for hosting diverse communitybased organizations focused on prisoner issues stimulates interest in correctional policies and programs in New York City and throughout the state. Officials in New York, however, have just as much to learn from correctional practices in France and other European countries. This report provides an overview of the French correctional system and highlights some of the innovations that characterize French prisons. Correctional trends and practices in France are compared with those of New York and the U.S. more generally.

Details: New York: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Research and Evaluation Center, 2012. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 12, 2012 at: http://johnjayresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rec20121.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: France

URL: http://johnjayresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/rec20121.pdf

Shelf Number: 125594

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Corrections
Prisoners
Prisons (France)

Author: Estep, Ben

Title: Economic Study of Integrated Family Support Programme (IFS)

Summary: nef consulting (the consultancy arm of UK think thank the new economics foundation) was asked in March 2012 to assess the potential socio-economic impact of the Prison Advice and Care Trust’s Integrated Family Support (IFS) programme. This assessment focuses on the economic impact of the work carried out by the programme on behalf of prisoners and their families. Our research is based on case studies, administrative data provided by the programme and interviews with programme staff. There is a sizeable body of literature on the varied needs of prisoners and their families and a growing recognition that these needs, particularly those related to the maintenance of productive family ties, are closely associated with successful resettlement. The importance of prisoner and family support work is underscored by the rapidly growing prison population. At the time of writing, there are just under 87,000 people in prison in England and Wales, an increase of 23 per cent over the last ten years and a population that has nearly doubled over the last two decades. Whilst delivering economic savings is not the primary motivation of IFS, in a climate of both reduced social spending and increasing prison populations this is an important and under-evidenced question to consider. For purposes of this analysis, we focus on IFS work in three prisons: HMP Swansea, HMP Wandsworth, and HMP Eastwood Park, and in three different areas: visits (including help arranging and supporting visits between offenders and their families and intermediary work between offenders and families); support to families (including provision of information, emotional support, referral to services and interfacing with social services); and resettlement-focused help (including housing and employment support, and benefits and debt advice). Based on our review of the support that IFS offers and accounting for multiple scenarios, we estimate that IFS delivers potential benefits to the State of between £515,465 and £3,479,294 over a one year period. Based on an annual cost per programme site of £40,368 in London and £35,972 elsewhere, and using our middle estimate, this represents a value of £1,281,240 or return of £11.41 for every £1 invested. The predominant source of this impact is in cost savings from reductions in reoffending due to IFS work toward the encouragement and supporting of visits, and the consequent maintenance of family ties. Potential social and health care savings related to prisoner’s families have also been identified, as well as cost avoidance based on resettlement-focused planning. It is worth noting that there are a number of other probable impacts connected to IFS that are beyond the scope of this study, and the existing literature, to capture. This includes the future potential positive impacts on children and their life chances, amongst others. This assessment demonstrates that IFS provides good value for money for the taxpayer. As IFS’s work continues, we would encourage recording client outcomes systematically and longitudinally in order to evidence the socio-economic impact of the programme. The way in which the support offered contributes separately and collectively to changes for offenders and families is in need of deeper investigation. A better understanding of the way in which individual IFS sites are developing their model to create change will both contribute to the on-going development of the programme and help its wider impact. This conservative assessment has been prepared using a portfolio analysis approach informed by Social Return on Investment (SROI) principles and cost-benefit analysis. Beyond the areas of support on which we focus here, case studies and conversations with IFS staff, as well as evidence in the research literature, suggests that IFS’s work also has a material impact on the well-being of prisoners and families. Moving forward, IFS may consider adopting a full social value analysis which could help evidence and value these additional benefits.

Details: London: nef (new economics foundation), 2012. 35p

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2012 at: http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/files/nef_Pact%20IFS%20Economic%20study.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.prisonadvice.org.uk/files/nef_Pact%20IFS%20Economic%20study.pdf

Shelf Number: 125593

Keywords:
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Families of Inmates (U.K.)
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Visitation

Author: GHK

Title: Prison Education and Training in Europe - A Review and Commentary of Existing Literature, Analysis and Evaluation

Summary: In February 2010, a European Conference on Prison Education and Training was held in Budapest. This conference, which was attended by over 200 delegates from 30 European countries, presented an opportunity to identify and share good practices from across Europe and delegates also stated that they had found inspiration for future projects. Nevertheless, a number of challenges and issues faced by prison educators were also highlighted at the event. In particular, issues such as overcrowding, the growing diversity of the prison population, increasing financial constraints and a more competitive job market were highlighted as key challenges at this present time and for the foreseeable future. One of the recommendations from the conference was that research in the area of prison education and training should be greatly expanded, in terms of both the issues addressed and the overall volume of analytical work conducted. In response, the European Commission‟s Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) commissioned GHK Consulting (GHK) to conduct a review and commentary of previous research, analysis and evaluation from Europe, relating to specific topics of current relevance to the field of prison education and training. An ambitious list of 16 themes was outlined in the original request for services. GHK proposed a revised list of 12 themes (agreed by the client) for an initial mapping exercise and selected four themes for more in-depth review, based on the availability of literature and an assessment of the added value which could be gained by conducting further research into the specific topics. In the future, it may be worth re-visiting the original list of twelve themes to identify where a further review of literature could provide informative results. This final report outlines the key issues emerging from the literature relating to the four topics selected for in-depth review. Three of the sections are based on a review of European literature and documentation, while one section (covering the effectiveness, cost-effectiveness and public value of prison education and training) also includes references to literature from the United States, to compensate for the lack of European research and evidence in relation to this specific topic. In addition, a reference list was collated for all of the agreed 12 topics. The list contains a brief description of the documents identified in relation to that topic during the inception phase. Documents from countries within (i.e. European countries) and outside of the scope of the study are included and the lists are separated according to whether the literature is available in the public domain, or not. The list can be found at the end of this document, after the bibliography. It is important to note that this report has certain limitations. The main focus has been on English-language sources, although some documents in other languages (mainly Norwegian and French, as well as some German-language documents) have been taken into account. This does not necessarily mean that the documents reviewed related only to countries where English is the main spoken language (i.e. a number of reports, although written in English, focus on one or more other European countries, but mainly the Nordic countries) although this was of course often the case. Thus the report has a certain „slant‟ towards these countries but this does not necessarily mean that the findings and recommendations are not transferable to others or are not valid at European level. Nevertheless this limitation should be borne in mind when reviewing the report.

Details: Birmingham, UK: GHK, 2011. 109p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2012 at: http://ec.europa.eu/education/grundtvig/doc/conf11/ghk_en.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Europe

URL: http://ec.europa.eu/education/grundtvig/doc/conf11/ghk_en.pdf

Shelf Number: 125630

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prison Education (Europe)
Prison Rehabilitation
Prisoners

Author: Blomberg, Thomas G.

Title: Correctional Operations Trend Analysis System (COTAS): An Independent Validation

Summary: This report provides research findings and recommendations from the Florida State University (FSU) Center for Criminology and Public Policy’s validation of the Florida Department of Corrections (DOC) Correctional Operations Trend Analysis System (COTAS). COTAS is designed to serve as a tool for DOC staff to aid in the prevention of violent events at institutional facilities. Using DOC’s large collection of historical and real-time data regarding characteristics about individual inmates, violent and non-violent incidents, and environmental characteristics of institutions, COTAS provides correctional administrators with trend analysis and risk assessment of inmates’ involvement in violent events. COTAS provides the regional and facility administrators with two types of statistics, namely descriptive and predictive. Descriptive statistics from COTAS provide a summary of violent and non-violent events that occurred within DOC regions or administrative areas within the prior 30 days. This data can be “drilled down” to examine the prevalence of events at the facility, dorm, and inmate levels. Additionally, COTAS can provide a 12-month trend analysis of facilities’ monthly count of specific violent and non-violent events. Predictive statistics from COTAS provide the predicted probability of individual inmates’ involvement in violent events. Predictions are generated by an algorithm, which uses historical data to examine the relationship between inmate and facility characteristics and inmates’ involvement in violent events. Both descriptive and predictive statistics are reported to the user in a web-based dashboard interface. Based on pre-defined thresholds, the interface (dashboard) displays the degree of concern that a particular administrator should have regarding the likelihood of violent events occurring during the next thirty days. A detailed description of the COTAS system is provided in Chapter 2 of this report.

Details: Tallahassee: Center for Criminology and Public Policy Research, College of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Florida State University, 2011. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: http://www.criminologycenter.fsu.edu/p/pdf/COTAS%20Validation%20Report%20-%20FINAL%20July%2010%202011.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.criminologycenter.fsu.edu/p/pdf/COTAS%20Validation%20Report%20-%20FINAL%20July%2010%202011.pdf

Shelf Number: 125688

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Inmate Discipline
Prison Administration
Prison Violence
Prisoners
Prisons (Florida)

Author: Klingele, Cecelia M.

Title: The Early Demise of Early Release

Summary: Reversing the tough-on-crime policies that have defined American criminal justice for the past two decades, cash-strapped states across the nation have begun reducing the number of people they confine in prisons and jails. In their efforts to reduce correctional populations, numerous states have passed laws that allow parole boards, prison officials, or judges to shorten the sentences of people already serving time in custody. These so-called "early release" laws have proven highly controversial, and in at least three states have been repealed outright. In others, they remain on the books but have provided less savings than anticipated because of the failure of decision-makers to utilize their newly-conferred authority. This Article examines the early demise of early release in several jurisdictions, identifying practical, political, and moral obstacles to the practice of early release that may account for the failure of recent legislation. Responding to those concerns, I suggest principles to guide future efforts to reduce custodial populations through the use of early release. These include drafting laws that respect the limits of institutional capacity, adopting principled rules about who may be released early and for what reasons, and emphasizing the moral concerns that justify efforts to reduce prison populations.

Details: Madison, WI: University of Wisconsin Law School, 2011. 46p.

Source: Internet Resource: Univ. of Wisconsin Legal Studies Research Paper No. 1179: Accessed August 7, 2012 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1968432

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1968432

Shelf Number: 125901

Keywords:
Costs of Criminal Justice
Early Release
Parole
Prisoners

Author: Lowen, Matthew

Title: Lifetime Lockdown: How Isolation Conditions Impact Prisoner Reentry

Summary: Imagine living completely alone 23 hours a day for several months or years, then being placed in a three-person cell in an overcrowded, noisy dormitory, or worse, released directly into society with no chance to adjust. This is the reality faced by many people in Arizona state prisons. In recent years, prisoner reentry has emerged as an area of concern for social service agencies, prisoner advocates, religious congregations, neighborhoods, and advocacy organizations across the country. Much of the discourse about prisoner reentry and recidivism has focused on what are referred to as “collateral consequences”: the structural barriers erected by institutions that bar people with criminal convictions from voting, housing, employment, welfare assistance, and other factors critical to ensuring success upon release. Rarely is there discussion of the direct impact that prison conditions have on a person’s cognitive, emotional, social, and behavioral functioning and therefore, on that person’s ability to function as a member of society post-incarceration. Yet, a growing body of research clearly demonstrates the deleterious mental health impacts of incarceration in super maximum-security—or “supermax”—environments, commonly referred to as “lockdown,” the “SHU,” or “Ad-Seg.” While there is some variation, these units generally employ long-term solitary confinement—prisoners are housed alone in small cells for 23-24 hours per day with no activities with other inmates (meals, recreation, etc.), for years at a time. These conditions amount to sensory deprivation and have been widely documented to produce a set of mental health symptoms that can be extremely debilitating to prisoners, including visual and auditory hallucinations, hypersensitivity to noise and touch, paranoia, uncontrollable feelings of rage and fear, and massive distortions of time and perception. Studies have found that supermax confinement increases the risk of prisoner suicides, and this research is borne out here in Arizona. A recent investigation found that Arizona's official prison-suicide rate is 60 percent higher than the national average, and that the majority of suicides took place in supermax units.1 Combining these crippling symptoms with the extensive legal and structural barriers to successful reentry is a recipe for failure. Prisoners in supermax are deeply traumatized and essentially socially disabled. When their sentence ends, they are given little or no preparation for release, and then return to their communities where they are expected to obtain housing and employment. This report represents the first effort to directly link conditions in Arizona’s supermax prisons with the state’s high recidivism rate. Because the statistical evidence of this link is already available, the basis of this report is qualitative research conducted by an anthropologist, Dr. Brackette F. Williams. Dr. Williams interviewed newly released individuals who had spent a significant portion of their time in prison in supermax facilities. This research demonstrates the “why” and “how” of this causal relationship, illustrating the impacts of long-term solitary confinement on actual re-entry experiences. The findings are a wake-up call to corrections officials, state leaders, and social service agencies, who are often completely unaware of the prison experiences of their clients or how to assist them in this transition. The American Friends Service Committee hopes that this research will add to the growing body of evidence that the practice of long-term solitary confinement in supermax units creates more problems than it is purported to solve and should be abolished.

Details: Tucson, AZ: American Friends Service Committee, Arizona Office, 2012. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2012 at: http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/AFSC-Lifetime-Lockdown-Report_0.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/AFSC-Lifetime-Lockdown-Report_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 125981

Keywords:
Maximum Security Prisons
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Solitary Confinement (Arizona)
Supermax Prisons

Author: Cooke, David J.

Title: Violence in Barbados Prisons: past, Present, and Future

Summary: On March 30 2005, according to local media reports, a fight broke out among a small group of prisoners in HMP Glendairy, Barbados. The fight, reportedly a retaliatory response by a group of younger prisoners on the perpetrator of a sexual assault on one of their number, was the catalyst for widespread prisoner disruption. Over the next three days, this single violent incident escalated to the point where a significant proportion of the prisoner population ─ which stood at the time at just over 1000 ─ took control of the prison and systematically engaged in a campaign of widespread destruction and arson. The consequence of this three-day riot was that the prison was damaged to such an extent that it was no longer habitable and Barbados lost its only prison. It is tempting to look for an explanation for such events in the actions of individual prisoners, and while there is no doubt that the events were sparked by individual action, our interviews with prisoners and staff would lead us to conclude that the reasons are more complex than that. Many prisoners chose to become part of the disruption because a sense of injustice pervaded the prison, a sense of injustice about the operation of the justice system in Barbados and the functioning of the regime in Glendairy. The main body of this report will explore these situational factors in more detail; this short section will set out our observations.

Details: Ottawa: International Corrections and Prisons Association, 2007. 3 vols.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 17, 2012 at: http://www.icpa.ca/tools/download/477/Violence_in_Barbados:_Past,_Present_and_Future

Year: 2007

Country: Barbados

URL: http://www.icpa.ca/tools/download/477/Violence_in_Barbados:_Past,_Present_and_Future

Shelf Number: 126061

Keywords:
Collective Violence
Correctional Administration
Inmates
Prison Violence (Barbados)
Prisoners
Victimization in Prisons

Author: Great Britain. Prisons and Probation Ombudsman

Title: Learning from PPO investigations: Natural cause deaths in prison custody 2007-2010

Summary: This report presents analysis of data collected from 402 PPO [Prison and Probation Ombudsman] investigations into deaths in custody from natural causes conducted between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2010.

Details: London: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, 2012. 19p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 28, 2012 at http://www.ppo.gov.uk/docs/learning_from_ppo_investigations-natural_cause_deaths_in_prison_custody.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.ppo.gov.uk/docs/learning_from_ppo_investigations-natural_cause_deaths_in_prison_custody.pdf

Shelf Number: 126157

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (U.K.)
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Rodas, Ana

Title: Supply, Demand and harm Reduction Strategies in Australian Prisons: An Update

Summary: This report provides an update of the 2004 study of supply, demand and harm reduction strategies in Australian prisons (Black, Dolan and Wodak, 2004). Since the 2004 report, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy (MCDS) launched the first National Corrections Drug Strategy in 2008, designed to guide the provision of supply, demand and harm reduction strategies in prisons throughout Australia (Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, 2008). The 2004 study examined supply, demand and harm reduction strategies within Australian prisons, their associated costs and evidence of their effectiveness. The current 2009 study examined supply, demand and harm reduction strategies within Australian prisons but did not include their associated costs. Instead the 2009 study included a section on Indigenous prisoners, programs for released prisoners such as re-entry programs, mortality among recently released prisoners, transitional and pre-release services, and services to which prisoners are referred upon release. The year 2009 was chosen as the comparison year for this report because it was the most recent year for which most jurisdictions were able to provide complete data. Since data were provided for the activities of prison departments and health departments in 2009, this report uses the relevant policy document at the time, which was the National Drug Strategy 2004–2009, as the basis for analysis of supply, demand and harm reduction strategies in Australian prisons. It is important, as always, to acknowledge the limitations of the data and results obtained. Comparison of strategies employed by different jurisdictions is difficult for several reasons. Firstly, much of the data collected were incomplete or from different time periods. Secondly, there are substantial differences in the characteristics of prison systems in different jurisdictions in Australia. Thirdly, the states and territories where the prisons systems are based also vary markedly. Some prison systems have large numbers of injecting drug users, while others have large numbers of Indigenous inmates.

Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre University of New South Wales, 2011. 141p.

Source: Internet Resource: ANCD Research paper 23: Accessed September 10, 2012 at: http://www.ancd.org.au/images/PDF/Researchpapers/rp23_australian_prisons.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.ancd.org.au/images/PDF/Researchpapers/rp23_australian_prisons.pdf

Shelf Number: 126288

Keywords:
Drug Abuse Treatment Programs
Drug Offenders
Indigenous Peoples
Prisoners
Prisons (Australia)

Author: Amnesty International

Title: Chad: ‘We Are All Dying Here’: Human Rights Violations in Prisons

Summary: Prison conditions in Chad are so deplorable that they amount to cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment. Cells are severely overcrowded, and food and drinking water are inadequate and sometimes not available. prisoners are dependent on family and friends to supplement their diet and provide other necessities, which means that those with no such support, or held in a prison far from their home, go without. Children including young girls are detained together with adults. Most prisoners are held in pre-trial detention, some for years. Health care and medical services do not exist in the majority of prisons in Chad. Amnesty International delegates found that in several prisons they visited, many prisoners required medical care and were suffering from skin diseases and rashes, for which no treatment was provided. Those suffering from serious transmissible diseases such as tuberculosis, or sexually transmitted infections and hiv, are particularly at risk. Riots due to the appalling conditions are common and have resulted in prisoners being shot dead by guards. Resources allocated to the prisons are limited and undermined by bribery and corruption. This report is based on prison visits, interviews and other research carried out by Amnesty International in November 2011 and March 2012. It documents the conditions in Chad’s prisons and exposes human rights violations committed inside them. The report calls on the government, with the assistance of the international community where necessary, to put in place urgent measures to reform the prison system.

Details: London: Amnesty International, 2012.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 12, 2012 at: https://www.amnesty.org/fr/library/asset/AFR20/007/2012/fr/de5e6bea-5e6d-4455-ad82-6ae6d08e6ab4/afr200072012en.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Chad

URL: https://www.amnesty.org/fr/library/asset/AFR20/007/2012/fr/de5e6bea-5e6d-4455-ad82-6ae6d08e6ab4/afr200072012en.pdf

Shelf Number: 126301

Keywords:
Human Rights
Prisoners
Prisons (Chad)

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Bureau of Prisons: Growing Inmate Crowding Negatively Affects Inmates, Staff, and Infrastructure

Summary: The Department of Justice’s Bureau of Prisons’ (BOP) 9.5 percent population growth from fiscal years 2006 through 2011 exceeded the 7 percent increase in its rated capacity, and BOP projects continued population growth. Growth was most concentrated among male inmates, and in 2011, 48 percent of the inmates BOP housed were sentenced for drugs. From fiscal years 2006 through 2011, BOP increased its rated capacity by about 8,300 beds as a result of opening 5 new facilities and closing 4 minimum security camps, but because of the population expansion, crowding (or population in excess of rated capacity) increased from 36 to 39 percent. In 2011 crowding was most severe (55 percent) in highest security facilities. BOP’s 2020 long-range capacity plan projects continued growth in the federal prison population from fiscal years 2012 through 2020, with systemwide crowding exceeding 45 percent through 2018. According to BOP, the growth in the federal inmate population has negatively affected inmates, staff, and infrastructure, but BOP has acted within its authority to help mitigate the effects of this growth. BOP officials reported increased use of double and triple bunking, waiting lists for education and drug treatment programs, limited meaningful work opportunities, and increased inmate-to-staff ratios. These factors, taken together, contribute to increased inmate misconduct, which negatively affects the safety and security of inmates and staff. BOP officials and union representatives voiced concerns about a serious incident occurring. To manage its growing population, BOP staggers meal times and segregates inmates involved in disciplinary infractions, among other things. The five states in GAO’s review have taken more actions than BOP to reduce their prison populations, because these states have legislative authority that BOP does not have. These states have modified criminal statutes and sentencing, relocated inmates to local facilities, and provided inmates with additional opportunities for early release. BOP generally does not have similar authority. For example, BOP cannot shorten an inmate’s sentence or transfer inmates to local prisons. Efforts to address the crowding issue could include (1) reducing the inmate population by actions such as reforming sentencing laws, (2) increasing capacity by actions such as constructing new prisons, or (3) some combination of both. Why GAO Did This Study BOP operates 117 federal prisons to house approximately 178,000 federal offenders, and contracts with private companies and some state governments to house about another 40,000 inmates. BOP calculates the number of prisoners that each BOP run institution can house safely and securely (i.e., rated capacity). GAO was asked to address (1) the growth in BOP’s population from fiscal years 2006 through 2011 and BOP’s projections for inmate population and capacity; (2) the effects of a growing federal prison population on operations within BOP facilities, and the extent to which BOP has taken actions to mitigate these effects; and (3) actions selected states have taken to reduce their prison populations, and the extent to which BOP has implemented similar initiatives. GAO analyzed BOP’s inmate population data from fiscal years 2006 through 2011, BOP’s 2020 long-range capacity plan, and BOP policies and statutory authority. GAO visited five federal prisons chosen on the basis of geographic dispersion and varying security levels. The results are not generalizable, but provide information on the effects of a growing prison population. GAO selected five states based on actions they took to mitigate the effects of their growing prison populations—and assessed the extent to which their actions would be possible for BOP. GAO makes no recommendations in this report. BOP provided technical clarifications, which GAO incorporated where appropriate.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2012. 92p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-12-743: Accessed September 17, 2012 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648123.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/650/648123.pdf

Shelf Number: 126353

Keywords:
Elderly Inmates
Prison Administration
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
U.S. Federal Bureau of Prisons

Author: California Council on Science and Technology

Title: The Efficacy of Managed Access Systems to Intercept Calls from Contraband Cell Phones in California Prisons

Summary: This report is in response to a July 7, 2011 letter of request to the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) from four California State Senators (Senators Elaine Alquist, Loni Hancock, Christine Kehoe and Alex Padilla). As detailed in the front of this report, the senators asked CCST to provide input on the best way to prevent cell phones from getting into the hands of inmates and, if they do, how best to prevent calls from being completed without impairing the ability of prison authorities to make and receive official business cell phone calls. In addition, they asked CCST to undertake a study on the feasibility of Managed Access Systems (MAS) technology as an effective strategy to curtail the use of contraband cell phones in the California State Prisons. In their letter the senators indicated that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) had issued an Invitation for Bid (IFB), for replacement of the Inmate and Wards Telephone System (IWTS) including a requirement and specifications for the installation and operation of a MAS at each of the 33 State Prison sites to combat the problem of contraband cell phones in the California State Prison system. In exchange for the MAS system, the successful bidder/vendor would receive the right to operate and collect revenues from the IWTS landline phone system. Across all of the California prison facilities this IWTS use is estimated to be approximately 99 million minutes of landline calls. The CDCR IFB defines in detail the required parameters for the IWTS and the MAS.

Details: Sacramento, CA; California Council on Science and Technology, 2012. 78p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 23, 2012 at http://www.ccst.us/publications/2012/2012cell.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ccst.us/publications/2012/2012cell.pdf

Shelf Number: 126411

Keywords:
Cell Phones (California)
Evaluative Studies
Inmates
Prison Contraband (California)
Prisoners
Prisons (California)

Author: Coles, Deborah

Title: Learning from Death in Custody Inquests: A New Framework for Action and Accountability

Summary: For thirty years INQUEST has monitored inquests into deaths in custody. One of the striking features of this work has been our repeated experience of attending inquest after inquest where the same issues are identified as possibly contributing to the death. A number of factors explain this including: the narrow and restricted remit of the inquest; the prevention of discussion or reference to previous similar deaths; and the lack of an effective mechanism to ensure action is taken on the basis of inquest findings. This feature of our work has contributed to the development of our critical analysis of the investigation of deaths in custody and also to our work to improve the current system. This report aims to be part of that process. While the coronial service can and does make a vital contribution to the prevention of deaths and the conditions of safe custody, that input is at risk of being critically undermined by the failure (1) to recognise the value of properly-collected data; and (2) to monitor compliance with and/or actions based on the findings and reports that emerge from inquests. The essential argument of this report can be expressed in compressed form: the more effective use of narrative verdicts and Coroners Rule 43 reports1 is overwhelmingly likely to assist in the saving of lives. This matter is not simply a technical question, nor one of mere procedure, but rather a matter of foremost importance that goes to the heart of the United Kingdom’s treaty obligations as a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to foster, maintain and scrutinise its article 2 ECHR duties in mediating the relationship between the state and the citizen. The critical evaluation and onward dissemination of the combined findings of the inquest – both the verdict and rule 43 report – constitute a powerful tool for harm prevention embedded within the inquest system. This report identifies and explains why this tool has proved largely ineffectual historically. In short, this is because the existing system is flawed. The lessons to be learned from the contents of these verdicts and reports are far too frequently lost: they are analysed poorly or ignored; misunderstood or misconstrued; dissipated or dismissed. Consequently, there is an overwhelming case for the creation of a new mechanism. The indispensable constituent parts of this fresh structure are that there should be a central oversight body tasked with the duty to collate, analyse critically and report publicly on the accumulated learning from coronial narrative verdicts and rule 43 reports. Further, there must be public accountability, accessibility and transparency. The conclusions of this report are based on a critical review of the evolution of the law and practice relating to narrative verdicts and the use by coroners of rule 43 powers in inquests into deaths in prison and in police custody or following police contact and a unique analysis of a sample of narrative verdicts and coroners’ rule 43 reports arising from such inquests. The report presents the data in a range of formats to demonstrate and illustrate the detail included in narrative verdicts and rule 43 reports. The report also documents recent developments and changes in law and practice. Whilst this report does not include the outcomes of inquests into deaths in mental health detention, we think the conclusions and recommendations are equally applicable to these deaths and would be usefully read by those involved in relevant regulation and inspection bodies including the Care Quality Commission. Most deaths in state detention or involving state agents take place within a system of dependency and control. There is a body of statutory and common law authority that recognises the special role of an inquest when someone dies in situations where they are dependent upon or subject to the control of the state. In addition the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) obliges the coroner to consider whether the deceased died as a result of the state violating her or his right to life (article 2) and whether the state subjected the deceased to inhuman or degrading treatment (article 3). Deaths in custody represent the extreme end of a continuum of near deaths and injuries and a proactive post-inquest strategy in response to verdicts and reports can not only avert deaths but also risks to custodial health and safety generally. In the past, narrative verdicts and/or rule 43 reports produced by inquests have informed changes to custodial policies and practices. However, such positive developments have been piecemeal and often in spite of rather than because of the current system. This report argues that this vital learning – the accumulated knowledge we as a community have gleaned collectively when contact between the citizen and the state has ended in disaster, death or tragedy – must be put on a more secure footing. We have before us an unmatched opportunity to make changes for the better in this intensely sensitive and important area. We urge that the opportunity is not squandered.

Details: London: INQUEST, 2012. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 3, 2012 at:

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL:

Shelf Number: 126546

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (U.K.)
Human Rights
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Kim, Scarlet

Title: Boxed In: The True Cost of Extreme Isolation in New York's Prisons

Summary: This report, Boxed In: The True Cost of Extreme Isolation in New York’s Prisons, is the product of an intensive, year-long investigation that involved communication with more than 100 people who have spent significant amounts of time – in one case, more than 20 years – in extreme isolation. The authors interviewed prisoners’ family members and corrections staff, and analyzed thousands of pages of Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) records obtained through the state’s open records laws. The report is accompanied by a website – www.nyclu.org/boxedin– featuring excerpts of prisoners’ letters about life in extreme isolation, a library of DOCCS data and records, statistical analyses and a video featuring the voices of family members whose loved ones have been held in extreme isolation. Over the past 20 years, New York has spent hundreds of millions of dollars to build and operate an extensive network of extreme isolation cells, which DOCCS calls “Special Housing Units” or “SHUs” – and prisoners call “the Box.” New York has nearly 5,000 SHU beds located in 39 prisons across the state, including two dedicated extreme isolation prisons – Upstate and Southport Correctional Facilities – that combined cost about $76 million a year to operate. New York practices a unique brand of “solitary confinement.” About half of the 4,500 prisoners in solitary confinement spend 23 hours a day in an isolation cell completely alone. The other half are confined in an isolation cell the size of a parking spot with another prisoner, a practice that forces two strangers into intimate, constant proximity for weeks, months and even years on end. The NYCLU uses the term “extreme isolation” to capture the practice of subjecting one or two people in a cell to the conditions most commonly understood as solitary confinement. Based on a year of study and analysis, the NYCLU found that: •New York’s use of extreme isolation is arbitrary and unjustified. Extreme isolation is too frequently used as a disciplinary tool of first resort. Corrections officials have enormous discretion to impose extreme isolation. Prisoners can be sent to the SHU for prolonged periods of time for violating a broad range of prison rules, including for minor, non-violent misbehavior. •Extreme isolation harms prisoners and corrections staff. It causes grave emotional and psychological harm even to healthy and mentally stable inmates. For the vulnerable, particularly those suffering from mental illness, extreme isolation can be life-threatening. The formal and informal deprivation of human necessities, including food, exercise and basic hygiene, compounds the emotional and psychological harm. Prisoners in extreme isolation often lack access to adequate medical and mental health care. For corrections staff, working in extreme isolation has lasting negative consequences that affect their lives at work and home. •Extreme isolation negatively impacts prison and community safety. The psychological effects of extreme isolation can fuel unpredictable and sometimes violent outbursts that endanger prisoners and corrections staff. Prisoners carry the effects of extreme isolation into the general prison population. They also carry them home. Nearly 2,000 people in New York are released directly from extreme isolation to the streets each year. While in the SHU, prisoners receive no educational, vocational, rehabilitative or transitional programming, leaving them less prepared to successfully rejoin society. Extreme isolation is different than prisoner separation, which has long been an accepted corrections practice. Corrections officials can separate and remove violent or vulnerable prisoners from the general prison population without subjecting them to the punishing physical and psychological deprivation of extreme isolation – a point of consensus among corrections officials in other states, legal scholars and international human rights bodies. The NYCLU recommends that New York end its dependence on extreme isolation by: 1.adopting stringent criteria, protocols and safeguards for separating violent or vulnerable prisoners, including clear and objective standards to ensure that prisoners are separated only in limited and legitimate circumstances for the briefest period and under the least restrictive conditions practicable; and 2.auditing the current population in extreme isolation to identify people who should not be in the SHU, transitioning them back to the general prison population, and reducing the number of SHU beds accordingly.

Details: New York: New York Civil Liberties Union, 2012. 72p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 4, 2012 at: http://www.nyclu.org/files/publications/nyclu_boxedin_FINAL.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.nyclu.org/files/publications/nyclu_boxedin_FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 126553

Keywords:
Human Rights
Prisoners
Prisons (New York State)
Solitary Confinement

Author: Sexton, Lori

Title: Under the Penal Gaze: An Empirical Examination of Penal Consciousness Among Prison Inmates

Summary: This dissertation develops a new theoretical framework that examines the ways in which prisoners orient to and make meaning of their punishment in order to more fully understand the nature of penality writ large. The framework, which I call penal consciousness, moves beyond the limited, objective view of punishment as legal sanction to a more expansive view of penality that privileges subjectivity and meaning. Through the inductive analysis of 80 in-depth, qualitative interviews with Ohio state prisoners, I investigate the ways in which penality— defined here that which is experienced as punishing or recognized as punishment—is understood by different populations of prisoners in different carceral settings. This design allows me to examine the patterned nature of punishment across populations (male and female prisoners) and settings (traditional indirect and innovative direct supervision carceral environments) while setting the stage for a broadly applicable theoretical framework. The penal consciousness framework examines punishment along two key dimensions: salience and severity. Through an examination of the level of abstraction at which punishment is experienced, as well as what I call the “punishment gap” between an individual’s expectations and experiences of punishment, variation in severity and salience can be better understood. The examination of the interplay between severity and salience reveals four distinct narratives of penal consciousness. Each narrative of penal consciousness is a story that prisoners tell about the meaning and place of punishment in their lives. These narratives differ according to the ways in which prisoners situate their punishment in the larger landscape of their lives, with punishment viewed as part of life, a separate life, suspension of life, or death. By examining punishment as the nexus between the objective and the subjective and locating punishment in prisoners’ lives, the penal consciousness framework allows us to map variation in the lived experience of punishment and makes visible the processes by which penality is constructed.

Details: Irvine, CA: Department of Criminology, Law and Society, University of California, Irvine, 2012. 217p.

Source: PhD Dissertation: Internet Resource: Accessed October 16, 2012 at https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/239671.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/239671.pdf

Shelf Number: 126739

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Punishment, Experience of

Author: Boudin, Chesa

Title: Prison Visitation Policies: A Fifty State Survey

Summary: This paper presents a summary of the findings from the first fifty-state survey of prison visitation policies. Our research explores the contours of how prison administrators exercise their discretion to prescribe when and how prisoners may have contact with friends and family. Visitation policies impact recidivism, inmates’ and their families’ quality of life, public safety, and prison security, transparency and accountability. Yet many policies are inaccessible to visitors and researchers. Given the wide-ranging effects of visitation, it is important to understand the landscape of visitation policies and then, where possible, identify best practices and uncover policies that may be counterproductive or constitutionally infirm. Comparative analysis of the sort we have undertaken will, we hope, not only inform academics but empower regulators and administrators of prisons to implement thoughtful reforms. Our paper and data set allow for state-by-state comparison across a group of common categories of visitation-related policies. In addition, we identify commonalities and variation in the categories we tracked, and also documented outlier policies revealed in the course of our research. We worked with the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) to track down difficult-to-find policy documents, and received written feedback from nearly all fifty state departments of corrections to ensure accuracy. The paper is organized as follows. Part I describes the methodology we employed and considers its potential limitations. Part II provides our key substantive findings, presents a few highlights of the data, and discusses the basic commonalities of the policies, while noting the divergence in other key areas. Part III provides a detailed description of two sub-policy areas within visitation regulations. Here we analyze in more detail the range of approaches that states take to two contrasting forms of visitation: video visitation and overnight family (“conjugal”) visitation. Part IV outlines possible next steps for research on this topic.

Details: New Haven, CT: Yale University, School of Law, 2012. 62p.

Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper Series: Accessed November 20, 2012 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2171412

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2171412

Shelf Number: 126939

Keywords:
Prisoners
Prisons (U.S.)
Visitation

Author: Williams, Kim

Title: Prisoners’ Childhood and Family Backgrounds: Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) Longitudinal Cohort Study of Prisoners

Summary: This report examines the childhood and family background of prisoners, their current family relationships, and associations between these characteristics and reoffending. It also estimates the number of children in England and Wales who experience parental imprisonment. It is based on Wave 1 of a longitudinal cohort study (Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR)). SPCR tracked the progress of newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales. The report finds that many prisoners came from problematic backgrounds, and that prisoners with background experiences such as having been in care, been abused, or been excluded from school, were more likely to be reconvicted than those without. The report also finds that many prisoners have children and value their families now, and see the support of their families as important in stopping them from reoffending in the future. Based on prison data and SPCR data, the report estimates that approximately 200,000 children were affected over the course of 2009 by a parent being in, or going to, prison.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 38p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 4/12; Accessed November 24, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/prisoners-childhood-family-backgrounds.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/prisoners-childhood-family-backgrounds.pdf

Shelf Number: 126986

Keywords:
Background, Prisoners
Families
Families of Inmates
Family Histories
Longitudinal Studies (U.K.)
Parental Influence
Prisoners

Author: Dolovich, Sharon

Title: Exclusion and Control in the Carceral State

Summary: Theorists of punishment typically construe the criminal justice system as the means to achieve retribution or to deter or otherwise prevent crime. But a close look at the way the American penal system actually operates makes clear the poor fit between these more conventional explanations and the realities of American penal practice. Taking actual practice as its starting point, this essay argues instead that the animating mission of the American carceral project is the exclusion and control of those people officially labeled as criminals. It maps the contours of exclusion and control, exploring how this institution operates, the ideological discourse that justifies it, and the resulting normative framework that has successfully made a set of practices that might otherwise seem both inhumane and self-defeating appear instead perennially necessary and appropriate. Appreciating the “cognitive conventions” by which current penal practices are rendered at once logical and legitimate proves to shed light on a number of mystifying features of the Americanpenal landscape, including why LWOP and supermax have proliferated so widely; why sentences are so often grossly disproportionate to the offense; why, given the multiple complex causes of crime, the state persists in responding to criminal conduct by locking up the actors; why prison conditions are so harsh; why recidivism is so high; why extremely long sentences are so frequently imposed even for relatively non-serious crimes; and even why the people we incarcerate are disproportionately African-American. Without claiming to provide comprehensive answers to these vexing questions, this essay offers a framework that helps to explain these striking aspects of the American carceral system. This framework takes as its starting point the practical demands incarceration imposes on the state itself: the exclusion and control of the people sentenced to prison. But as will be shown, in the American context, efforts to make sense of this way of responding to antisocial behavior quickly lead beyond practicalities to a moral economy on which the incarcerated lose not only their liberty but also their full moral status as fellow human beings and fellow citizens. What happens to them is thus no longer a matter for public concern. And as a consequence of this collective indifference, penal practices that may otherwise seem counterproductive, unnecessarily harsh, and even cruel become comprehensible and even inevitable. Part II of this essay sketches the structure of the American carceral system, exposing both its dependence on the logic of exclusion and control and the moral economy that drives it. Part III explores the self-defeating nature of current carceral practices — the way the combination of prison conditions and postcarceral burdens ensures that many people who have done time will return to society more prone to criminal activity than previously. Part IV considers the question of how such an evidently self-defeating system has been able to sustain itself, and locates the answer in the radically individualist ideology, pervasive in the criminal context, that construes all criminal conduct as exclusively the product of the offender’s free will. Part V illustrates the way this individualist discourse constructs criminal offenders as not just unrepentant evildoers but also sub-human — a process referred to as “making monsters” — and examines the work this normative reframing does both to vindicate the penal strategy of exclusion and control and to justify the arguably inhumane treatment of prisoners. Part VI explores the way that perceiving criminal offenders as moral monsters makes it difficult to distinguish the relatively few individuals who are genuinely congenitally violent and dangerous from the vast majority who are not; through this ideological (re)construction, all people who persist in committing crimes, even nonviolent offenders, can come to seem appropriate targets for extended and even permanent exclusion. Part VII considers the racial implications of exclusion and control, in particular the way the cultural construction of African Americans as “incorrigible” may explain why members of this group are overrepresented as targets of the American carceral system. Part VIII shifts the focus to the prison itself, where the self-defeating logic of exclusion and control has reappeared behind bars in the form of the supermax prison. Finally, the Conclusion considers how the destructive and self-defeating dynamic of exclusion and control may be disrupted. It argues that a political strategy emphasizing the financial costs of incarceration is bound to fail unless it also generates an ideological reorientation towards recognizing the people the state incarcerates as fellow human beings and fellow citizens, entitled to respect and consideration as such.

Details: New York: New York University School of Law, 2012. 82p.

Source: Internet Resource: UCLA School of Law Research Paper No. 12-25;
NYU School of Law, Public Law Research Paper No. 12-60: Accessed November 24, 2012 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2171862


Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2171862


Shelf Number: 126994

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons
Punishment (U.S.)

Author: Amnesty International

Title: The Edge of Endurance: Prison Conditions in California's Security Housing Units

Summary: More than 3,000 prisoners in California are held in high security isolation units known as Security Housing Units (SHUs), where they are confined for at least 22 and a half hours a day in single or double cells, with no work or meaningful rehabilitation programs or group activities of any kind. Over 1,000 are held in the SHU at Pelican Bay State Prison, a remote facility where most prisoners are confined alone in cells which have no windows to the outside or direct access to natural light. SHU prisoners are isolated both within prison and from meaningful contacts with the outside world: contact with correctional staff is kept to a minimum, and consultations with medical, mental health and other staff routinely take place behind barriers; all visits, including family and legal visits, are also non-contact, with prisoners separated from their visitors behind a glass screen. Under California regulations, the SHU is intended for prisoners whose conduct endangers the safety of others or the security of the institution. Around a third of the current population are serving fixed SHU terms of SHU confinement (ranging from a few months to several years) after being found guilty through the internal disciplinary system of specific offences while in custody. However, more than 2,000 prisoners are serving “indeterminate” (indefinite) SHU terms because they have been “validated” by the prison authorities as members or associates of prison gangs. According to figures provided by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) in 2011, more than 500 prisoners serving indeterminate SHU terms had spent ten or more years in the Pelican Bay SHU; of this number, more than 200 had spent over 15 years in the SHU and 78 more than 20 years. Many had been in the SHU since it opened in 1989, held in conditions of extreme isolation and environmental deprivation. No other US state is believed to have held so many prisoners for such long periods in indefinite isolation. The main route out of the SHU for prisoners with alleged gang connections has been to “debrief”, a process requiring them to provide information on other gang members which many decline to undertake because of the threat of retaliation. Although prisoners may also be released from the SHU if they have been “inactive” as a gang member or associate for six years, many prisoners have been held long beyond this period. Until now, these prisoners have had no means of leaving the SHU through their own positive behaviour or through participating in programs. Many prisoners have spent decades in isolation despite reportedly being free of any serious rule violations and - if they are serving a “term to life” sentence – without any means of earning parole. Prisoner advocates and others have criticized the gang validation process as unreliable and lacking adequate safeguards, allowing prisoners to be consigned to indefinite isolation without evidence of any specific illegal activity, or on the basis of tenuous gang associations, on evidence often provided by anonymous informants. In March 2012, the CDCR put forward proposals which, for the first time, would provide a “step-down program” (SDP) for prisoners serving indeterminate SHU terms, using what the department has called a “behaviour-based model” to enable them to earn their way back to the general prison population. Amnesty International welcomes in principle plans to provide a route out of isolation through prisoners’ own behaviour. However, the SDP – which would take place in four stages, each lasting a minimum of one-year – does not allow any group interaction for at least the first two years. No changes to the physical conditions of confinement are proposed for the Pelican Bay SHU, where prisoners would spend at least two years in the same isolated conditions of cellular confinement as they are now. Prisoners could still be held in indefinite isolation if they fail to meet the criteria for the SDP. In continuing to confine prisoners in prolonged isolation – albeit with shorter minimum terms than under the present system – California would still fall short of international law and standards for humane treatment and the prohibition of torture and other ill-treatment. Amnesty International does not seek to minimize the challenges faced by prison administrators in dealing with prison gangs and individuals who are a threat to institutional security and recognizes that it may sometimes be necessary to segregate prisoners for disciplinary or security purposes. However, all measures must be consistent with states’ obligation under international law and standards to treat all prisoners humanely. In recognition of the negative effects of such treatment, international and regional human rights bodies and experts have called on states to limit their use of solitary confinement, so that it is imposed only in exceptional circumstances for as short a period as possible. As described below, Amnesty International considers that the conditions of isolation and other deprivations imposed on prisoners in California’s SHU units breach international standards on humane treatment. The cumulative effects of such conditions, particularly when imposed for prolonged or indefinite periods, and the severe environmental deprivation in Pelican Bay SHU, in particular, amounts to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, in violation of international law. Amnesty International’s recommendations to the California authorities, developed in more detail at the end of the report, include:  Limiting the use of isolation in a SHU or similar environment so that is it imposed only as a last resort in the case of prisoners whose behaviour constitutes a severe and ongoing threat to the safety of others or the security of the institution.  Improving conditions for all prisoners held in SHUs, including better exercise provision and an opportunity for more human contact for prisoners, even at the most restrictive custody levels.  Allowing SHU prisoners to make regular phone calls to their families.  Reducing the length of the Step down Program and providing meaningful access to programs where prisoners have an opportunity for some group contact and interaction with others at an earlier stage. Immediate removal from isolation of prisoners who have already spent years in the SHU under an indeterminate assignment.

Details: London: Amnesty International, 2012. 58p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2012 at: http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/california_solitary_confinement_report_final.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.amnestyusa.org/sites/default/files/california_solitary_confinement_report_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 127135

Keywords:
Pelican Bay State Prison
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons (California, U.S.)
Solitary Confinement

Author: Minnesota Sex Offender Program

Title: Options for Managing the Growth and Cost of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program: Facility Study

Summary: Throughout Minnesota, managing sexual offenders and combating sexual violence is a complex issue with a wide scope and multi-agency approach. For years, Minnesota has been a leader on many fronts in this area from specialized caseloads for supervision agents, to the development of one of the first actuarial risk tools in the field (MNSOST-R). The Minnesota Legislature has requested several studies related to sexual violence and sexual offenders in the past 15 years which is indicative of its commitment to continue to evaluate and strengthen current practice and to develop strategies consistent with advancements in the field. Many recommendations from these reports have been implemented and have resulted in an improved system. Minnesota is one of 20 states that enacted civil commitment statutes to indeterminately detain individuals for treatment to address their sexual dangerousness and as part of a broader strategy to manage the risks presented across the continuum of sexual offenders. The civil commitment program is expensive to maintain and the program continues to expand because more sexual offenders are entering than are being released. The cost and growth of the Minnesota Sex Offender Program (MSOP) continues to be an area of concern particularly given the current economic issues facing the state. Public safety cannot be compromised yet the growth of this program creates a strain on the state budget as the per diem for MSOP clients is $328 and projections indicate an expected annual growth of at least 50 additional clients. To address future growth and cost, the 2010 Legislature included a subdivision in the capital investment bonding bill requiring the commissioner of the Department of Human Services (DHS) to submit a report to the Legislature by January 15, 2011. The commissioner tasked MSOP with the completion of this study. MSOP then convened four topical teams to provide analysis and recommendations for sex offender treatment, the civil commitment process, sexual abuse perpetration prevention, and bed space options for MSOP clients. These other facets of this issue were incorporated in this study to paint a complete picture of the growth of Minnesota’s civil commitment program for sexual offenders and its subsequent need for expansion. Developing options to manage the growth and decrease the cost of MSOP was the charge for each topical team as they researched and provided analysis of their topic. The treatment topical team found treatment systems in Minnesota have the potential to further reduce the need for civil commitments and to help support the release of some civilly committed individuals if they have made sufficient progress to warrant any court ordered release to society from MSOP. This results in an increased reliance on community-based treatment to manage higher risk sexual offenders. To make this shift responsibly, Minnesota should work to strengthen its community-based treatment options in several ways. These changes will require additional resources but it is likely that these additional costs will be more than offset through reductions in expected future MSOP operating costs and capital costs associated with program expansions. The team that reviewed the current civil commitment process concluded these programs for sexual offenders are an expensive yet necessary tool in an effective, comprehensive statewide management strategy. The challenge for the State of Minnesota is to utilize MSOP efficiently while maintaining public safety in a fiscally responsible manner. Opportunities exist to impact the future cost and growth of MSOP by making modifications and revisions in the current process of civil commitment. Evaluating the application of commitment criteria in the referral process and considering options to indeterminate commitment would impact the number of new clients admitted to MSOP. Enhancing coordinated community-based resources would increase the ability to manage this challenging population at a decreased cost. Once modifications and new policies are in place, an ongoing evaluation of the statewide management system for sex offenders would assist in maintaining efficiency and better ensure public safety. Managing the growth and decreasing the cost of MSOP could be most effectively achieved if sexual abuse was prevented before someone perpetrated sexual harm. Prevention of sexual abuse perpetration was included in this study and report to illuminate the importance of preventing the creation of civilly committed sex offenders as well as preventing recidivism once MSOP clients are reintegrated into the community. By investing in a population-based public health approach to sexual violence prevention, Minnesota will be investing in long-term cost-savings for the state. A complex web of social norms, environmental factors, peer influence and individual decision-making that precedes an act of sexual violence. Ample opportunities for intervention and prevention exist. After reviewing several options for renovation and expansion, the bed space options topical team concluded that both a short-term and a long-term solution are needed to address the projected growth of MSOP. In the short-term, MSOP should work with the Minnesota Security Hospital to move clients out of the Shantz building on the St. Peter campus. This allows MSOP to request asset preservation funds from the Legislature to complete the infrastructure renovations of the Shantz building. This will increase the capacity of MSOP by 55 additional beds, which will accommodate MSOP’s bed space needs for one more year. This timing allows MSOP to review next year’s projections and develop a bonding request for the 2012-2013 legislative sessions. The low operating costs of this recommendation will assist MSOP in lowering the overall per diem. The long-term solution is the lowest on-going operating cost per client in adding a 400 bed living unit within the original design of the MSOP Moose Lake facility. This allows MSOP to take advantage of existing support infrastructure, security perimeter and administrative staff. The MSOP Moose Lake facility expansion also allows for building only 200 or 100 beds. The 200 bed addition would include adding only two of the five housing wings. The 100 bed option only builds one of the wings. These options will still require building the additional support infrastructure, but require less bonding dollars in the near term and still allow for the additional expansion of the other wings. Minnesota would do well to continue to strengthen its multi-faceted, multi-agency approach to the issue of sex offender management and also, in preventing sexual violence. In moving forward, Minnesota should create and fund an on-going entity to coordinate, assess and improve statewide responses to sex offender management as well as to identify new and emerging issues. As this report demonstrates, the issue of sexual violence is exceedingly complex and thus requires an approach equal in its complexity including prevention, intervention and response. It should be noted that the Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA) is in the process of conducting a program evaluation of MSOP. The OLA report to the Legislature will likely address some of these areas in further detail as well as provide suggestions and or recommendations for future direction.

Details: St. Paul: Minnesota Department of Human Services, 2011. 58p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 7, 2012 at: http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2011/mandated/110064.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://archive.leg.state.mn.us/docs/2011/mandated/110064.pdf

Shelf Number: 127187

Keywords:
Civil Commitment of Sex Offenders
Correctional Supervision
Costs of Criminal Justice
Prisoners
Risk Assessment
Sex Offenders (Minnesota, U.S.)
Sexual Violence

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

Title: Prisons and Drugs in Europe: The Problem and Responses

Summary: This Selected issue starts off by reviewing the available data on drug use among prison populations in Europe, focusing on injecting drug use and other health risk behaviours. Major health risks for drug-using prisoners, including blood-borne infections and infections that can affect all prisoners equally, such as tuberculosis, are discussed. Also mentioned is the role of prison environments, where overcrowding and unsanitary conditions are not uncommon, and the higher-than-average occurrence of psychiatric problems among prisoners. The first section concludes by describing the increased risk of death among prisoners, both in custody and after release. The second part of the report focuses on responses to the health needs of drug-using prisoners in European countries. The study looks at how the internationally recognised rights of prisoners and the European and international rules that set standards for the care of prisoners apply to those with drug problems. The administration of prison healthcare in European countries is examined, and national policies are reviewed. This is followed by an overview of the available information on drug-related service provision in Europe, from prison entry to prison release, addressing counselling, treatment of drug dependence and the prevention of infectious diseases and drug overdose.

Details: Lisdon: EMCDDA, 2012. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2012 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_191812_EN_TDSI12002ENC.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_191812_EN_TDSI12002ENC.pdf

Shelf Number: 127181

Keywords:
Drug Abuse and Crime
Drug Offenders (Europe)
Prisoner Deaths
Prisoner Health
Prisoners

Author: Minnesota. Department of Corrections

Title: Minnesota Sex Offender Management: Final Report

Summary: From 1988 through 2005, there were 12,038 convictions for felony-level sex offenses. Of these, 4,016 offenders were sent to prison and the remaining 8,022 were managed in the community. Throughout this period there have also been numerous policy changes, such as increased sentences and supervision requirements, which bring to the forefront a need for continued discussion on how best to manage this sex offender population. This is not the first time that Minnesota has studied and worked on the issue of enhancing management of the sex offender population. Studies since the mid-eighties have covered topics such as recommendations on increased sentencing, risk assessment and release procedures, creation of a civil commitment process for the highest-risk offenders, and enhancements to supervision, to name a few. With each effort, the criminal justice community gains knowledge and implements better management practices. While the Legislature was dealing with civil commitment of sex offenders in the mid-nineties, the issue of sex offender management through enhancements to supervision and treatment really started coming to the forefront in the late-nineties. One example of this was the passage of a pilot program in Dodge/Fillmore/Olmsted Community Corrections to increase supervision of sex offenders by reducing agent caseloads. At this same time, the Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) was directed to study sex offender supervision issues focusing on ways to improve supervision, increase public safety, reduce recidivism and report back to the Legislature by February of 2000. When Katie’s law passed in 2000, specific funding was allocated to enhance sex offender supervision statewide. Since then, public concern over sex offender issues has increased due to several high-profile sex offender cases. In 2004, Governor Pawlenty appointed a cabinet-level position responsible for heading up the coordination of sex offender management activities across agencies. At the same time, the DOC enhanced the process used for referring sex offenders for civil commitment and reviewed all management policies and procedures, making significant revisions. To help guide these efforts, the department partnered with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Center for Sex Offender Management (CSOM); receiving both technical assistance and information on national best practices for sex offender management. In January of 2005, the Legislative Auditor completed a report reviewing the current state of sex offender management in Minnesota and made recommendations for change. At the time the re-port came out, the Legislature was already in the process of passing significant changes to sex offender sentencing and supervision laws. When the final bill passed in May of 2005, it included the directive to form a work group to study and report on many of the issues raised by the auditor (2005 Laws of Minnesota, Chapter 136, Article 3, Section 28). The Legislature directed the commissioner of corrections to establish a Working Group on Sex Offender Management to develop statewide sex offender management standards and best practices. The commissioner was directed to: Given the breadth of the 12 legislative directives, the commissioner decided early on to create four separate work groups that would address the following areas: • Adult supervision practices; • Juvenile supervision practices; • Assessment and treatment practices; and • Polygraph practices. By routing the 12 legislative directives through four groups, the commissioner was able to have work progress simultaneously on several different sets of standards and was also able to recruit a broader range of participation and expertise. Overall, there were more than 60 professionals with extensive experience in the field of sex offender management who participated in the work groups. The full membership convened periodically in general sessions to coordinate the efforts of the four smaller groups. At these all-day general sessions, the members reviewed the work of their peers and submitted recommendations and requests for further study. In this final report to the Legislature, the work groups have created two documents. The first includes a detailed history of sex offender initiatives, information on supervision, treatment, polygraph efforts, and resources for sex offender management in Minnesota. The second, Appendix H, highlights the efforts to establish standards and guidelines for providing the best services available to manage sex offenders.

Details: St. Paul, MN: Minnesota Department of Corrections, 2007. 189p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 10, 2012 at: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/legislativereports/documents/SOreport02-07_000.pdf

Year: 2007

Country: United States

URL: http://www.doc.state.mn.us/publications/legislativereports/documents/SOreport02-07_000.pdf

Shelf Number: 127192

Keywords:
Prisoners
Sex Offender Supervision
Sex Offenders (Minnesota, U.S.)

Author: Graham, Lesley

Title: Alcohol Problems in the Criminal Justice System: An Opportunity for Intervention

Summary: Alcohol is linked with crime, especially violent crime. Many people are incarcerated because of alcohol-related crime. Alcohol is not permitted in prisons except in a very few cases, and illicit use of alcohol in prison is not a major problem. Nevertheless, imprisonment gives an opportunity to tackle alcohol problems in prisoners, with the potential for positive effects on their families and friends and a reduction in the risk of re-offending, the costs to society and health inequalities. This publication describes an integrated model of care for alcohol problems in prisoners, with elements for best practice. The model starts with assessment of the seriousness of prisoners’ alcohol problems, using a validated screening tool, the WHO Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and calls for interventions tailored to prisoners’ specific needs.

Details: Copenhagen: World Health Organization for Europe, 2012. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/181068/e96751-ver-2.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: International

URL: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/181068/e96751-ver-2.pdf

Shelf Number: 127361

Keywords:
Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol Related Crime, Disorder
Alcohol Treatment Programs
Prisoners

Author: Porter, Nicole D.

Title: On the Chopping Block 2012: State Prison Closings

Summary: The Bureau of Justice Statistics recently reported that the overall state prison population declined for the third consecutive year in 2011. State sentencing reforms and changes in parole revocation policies have been contributing factors in these reductions. As a result, state officials are now beginning to close correctional facilities after several decades of record prison expansion. Continued declines in state prison populations advance the narrative that the nation’s reliance on incarceration is largely a function of policy choices. In 2012, at least six states have closed 20 prison institutions or are contemplating doing so, potentially reducing prison capacity by over 14,100 beds and resulting in an estimated $337 million in savings. During 2012, Florida led the nation in prison closings with its closure of 10 correctional facilities; the state’s estimated cost savings for prison closings totals over $65 million. This year’s prison closures build on closures observed in 2011 when at least 13 states reported prison closures and reduced prison capacity by an estimated 15,500 beds.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2012. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 24, 2012 at: http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/On%20the%20Chopping%20Block%202012.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/On%20the%20Chopping%20Block%202012.pdf

Shelf Number: 127391

Keywords:
Correctional Facilities
Prisoners
Prisons (U.S.)

Author: Porter, Nicole D.

Title: The State of Sentencing 2012: Developments in Policy and Practice

Summary: Today, 6.98 million men and women are under correctional supervision. A total of 4.8 million individuals are monitored in the community on probation and parole and 2.2 million are incarcerated in prisons or jail. The nation continues to maintain the highest rate of incarceration in the world at 716 people in prison per 100,000 population. The scale of incarceration varies substantially by state, resulting from a mix of crime rates and legislative and administrative policies. Lawmakers continue to face challenges in funding state correctional systems. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, several states are likely to be reducing services, including education and health care, during the 2013 legislative session due to reduced state revenues, uncertainty at the federal level and the impact of potential cuts in federal funding. In recent years, reducing prison populations with the goal of controlling correctional costs has been a salient reason for reform in states like Kansas, New York, and New Jersey. Overall, prison populations declined by 28,582 in twenty-six states during 2011, or 1.5%. State lawmakers in at least 24 states adopted 41 criminal justice policies that in 2012 may contribute to downscaling prison populations and eliminating barriers to reentry while promoting effective approaches to public safety. This report provides an overview of recent policy reforms in the areas of sentencing, probation and parole, collateral consequences, and juvenile justice. Highlights include: • Relaxed mandatory minimums – Seven states – Alabama, California, Missouri, Massachusetts, Kansas, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania – revised mandatory penalties for certain offenses including crack cocaine possession and drug offense enhancements; • Death penalty – Connecticut abolished the death penalty, becoming the 17th to eliminate death as a criminal sanction; • Sentence modifications – Two states – Louisiana and Oklahoma – authorized or expanded mechanisms to modify sentences post-conviction. These policies allow prosecutors and judges to reduce the prison sentences of individuals who meet eligibility requirements; • Parole and probation revocation reforms – Seven states – Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Missouri, and Pennsylvania -- expanded the use of earned time for eligible prisoners and limited the use of incarceration for probation and parole violations; and • Juvenile life without parole – Three states -- California, Louisiana, and Pennsylvania – authorized sentencing relief for certain individuals sentenced to juvenile life without parole. Changes in criminal justice policy were realized for various reasons, including an interest in managing prison capacity. Lawmakers have demonstrated interest in enacting reforms that recognize that the nation’s scale of incarceration has produced diminishing returns for public safety. Consequently, legislators and other stakeholders have prioritized implementing policies that provide a more balanced approach to public safety. The evolving framework is rooted in reducing returns to prison for technical violations, expanding alternatives to prison for persons convicted of low level offenses and authorizing earned release for prisoners who complete certain rehabilitation programs.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2013. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 4, 2013 at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_State%20of%20Sentencing%202012.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_State%20of%20Sentencing%202012.pdf

Shelf Number: 127475

Keywords:
Correctional Reform
Inmates
Parole
Prisoners
Probation
Sentencing (U.S.)

Author: Hudson, Sara

Title: Panacea to Prison? Justice Reinvestment in Indigenous Communities

Summary: High Indigenous incarceration rates have elicited a long list of so-called solutions over the years. Since the 1991 Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC), countless reports and programs have aimed to reduce the Indigenous incarceration rate. Yet the percentage of Aboriginal people in custody has continued to rise, nearly doubling from 14% of the prison population in 1991 to 27% in 2012. The latest ‘solution’ to high Indigenous incarceration, and the focus of this monograph, is Justice Reinvestment. Justice Reinvestment is a school of thought from the United States that proposes redirecting money spent on prisons into programs that address the underlying causes of offending in communities with high levels of incarceration. Justice Reinvestment involves three steps: 1.gathering data on offending and the criminal justice system 2.using the data to create justice maps (areas with the greatest concentration of offenders) 3.redirecting funds from corrective services to implement programs in ‘targeted’ locations to reduce offending and evaluating the effectiveness of the programs. The underlying premise of Justice Reinvestment—to build communities rather than prisons—has proven seductive, and many countries are now applying or investigating Justice Reinvestment. Australia is the latest country to consider adopting Justice Reinvestment. The Australian Senate is conducting an inquiry into the value of a Justice Reinvestment approach to criminal justice in Australia, with a particular focus on the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Australia’s prisons. Advocates of Justice Reinvestment in Australia have been quick to highlight the success stories from overseas but a number of important differences exist between the criminal justice systems in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. These disparities suggest that the application of Justice Reinvestment strategies in Australia could be difficult, and that Australia needs to exercise caution and not embrace Justice Reinvestment just because everyone else is. In the United States, three-quarters of offenders are given custodial (prison) sentences, whereas only one-fifth of the sentences imposed in Australia are custodial, which means, the United States has more room to ‘manoeuvre’ because it has more offenders to keep out of prison compared to Australia. A key feature of Justice Reinvestment in the United States is the devolution of power from state to local authorities. But in Australia, criminal justice is already the responsibility of state and territory governments, and it is highly unlikely that this responsibility will be devolved to local government authorities. Advocates of Justice Reinvestment claim it saves money, but in all the states in the United States where Justice Reinvestment strategies have been applied, prisons may have closed but correctional service budgets have continued to grow. In the United Kingdom, Justice Reinvestment approaches seem to be accompanied by a parallel rise in the prison population. Justice Reinvestment appears to recycle familiar old ‘preventive’ and community-based programs in a new wrapping. The localised, community-focused approach characteristic of Justice Reinvestment is already a feature of Aboriginal Community Justice Groups in NSW, Queensland and the Northern Territory. Justice Reinvestment supporters have yet to explain how the approach will be any different or an improvement on existing community-based justice programs. Following the 1991 RCIADIC, crime ‘prevention’ polices have applied ‘culturally appropriate’ or ‘culturally secure’ approaches to reduce Indigenous incarceration. For example, initiatives such as Circle Sentencing and the Koori and Murri courts, where Aboriginal offenders are brought before their community elders for sanctioning, were established. Yet such initiatives have merely ‘tinkered’ with aspects of the criminal justice system and not addressed the underlying reasons why people are offending. In the fight against Indigenous disadvantage and incarceration, Justice Reinvestment threatens to become a distraction from focusing on the fundamentals such as education and employment that will lead to change. Zero employment among 35% of the Aboriginal population plays a critical role in the high rates of Indigenous incarceration, with unemployed Indigenous people 20 times more likely to be imprisoned than employed Indigenous people. In fact, unemployment has been found to be a greater risk factor for offending than Indigenous status. Education and employment may not sound as novel or exciting as Justice Reinvestment, but evidence shows they play a critical role in the high Indigenous incarceration rate. Improving educational outcomes should not be reliant on the diversion of funds from prison services but a basic right that states and territories should be covering in their education budgets.

Details: St. Leonards, NSW, AUS: Centre for Independent Studies, 2013.

Source: Internet Resource: CIS Policy Monographs, No. 134: Accessed February 14, 2013 at: http://www.cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-monographs/pm-134.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.cis.org.au/images/stories/policy-monographs/pm-134.pdf

Shelf Number: 127620

Keywords:
Aboriginal Australians
Indigenous Peoples
Prison Reform
Prisoners

Author: Day, Andrew

Title: Assessing the Social Climate of Prisons

Summary: Although the rehabilitation of prisoners is one of the primary goals of correctional agencies in Australia, it is commonly believed that prisons do not offer environments that are particularly conducive to successful behaviour change. Indeed, qualitative and ethnographic research has consistently identified aspects of the institutional social climate that potentially act in ways that are counter-therapeutic. There have, however, been few quantitative studies that have demonstrated the effects of prison climate on rehabilitation outcomes. Research in this area has been hampered by the lack of any reliable method to measure the construct of the prison climate I a way that allows meaningful comparisons to be made either between institutions or in the same institution over time. This study reports the validation of a brief measure of social climate in two Australian prisons. The measure, a 15−item instrument (the Essen Climate Evaluation Schema; EssenCES), comprises three subscales: the Therapeutic Hold scale assesses perceptions of the extent to which the climate is supportive of therapy and therapeutic change; the Patient Cohesion scale assesses whether mutual support of a kind typically seen as characteristic of therapeutic communities is present in an institution or unit; and the Safety scale assesses tension and the perceived threat of aggression and violence. A total of 253 participants (144 prisoners and 109 staff members) completed the EssenCES measure of social climate, together with a number other measures designed to establish convergent validity of the assessment tool. Factor analysis of EssenCES ratings provided support for the three subscales identified by the measure developers. A small, but significant, positive association between prisoner scores on the EssenCES and a measure of readiness to engage with offender rehabilitation programs was suggestive of convergent validity, as was the moderate significant association observed between prison staff scores on the EssenCES and ratings of staff stress. These results suggest that the EssenCES measure is suitable for use in future investigations of prison social climate. Further analyses sought to establish whether significant differences existed in social climate between the two institutions that participated in this research: a specialist rehabilitation prison and a mainstream prison, both located in the same jurisdiction. Both of these prisons were shown to provide a social climate that might be considered to be at least as therapeutic as those that exist in forensic psychiatry settings in other parts of the world. Between-prison differences were observed for the prisoner ratings on the measure of social climate, and there were significant differences with large effect sizes for the staff ratings. Staff at the rehabilitation prison rated the overall social climate as significantly more positive than their mainstream prison counterparts. Both the level of staff interest and support for prisoners and level of support and caring between prisoners were rated as significantly higher by staff from the rehabilitation prison. It is concluded that specialist rehabilitation prisons can succeed in providing an environment that is more conducive to offender rehabilitation than mainstream prisons, and that the data reported here provides some evidence to support the further development of such institutions (or specialist therapeutic units within mainstream prisons). However, further research is required to establish whether other factors such as type of prison unit (e.g., protection unit) or accommodation style (e.g., wings or small housing units) exert a systematic Assessing the social climate of prisons Page 5 of 42 effect on the social climate of a prison and whether a prison social climate can be modified in ways that enhance rehabilitative outcomes. What emerges from this research, however, is further support for the idea that the social climate of a prison can influence rehabilitative outcomes and that this can be easily and reliably measured. It is recommended that the social climate of Australian prisons are routinely audited such that changes over time are assessed, standards and targets for improvement set, and that the need for additional resources or interventions is identified and responded to.

Details: Report to the Criminology Research Council (Australia), 2011. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2013 at: http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/02-0910.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.criminologyresearchcouncil.gov.au/reports/02-0910.pdf

Shelf Number: 127637

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prisoners
Prisons (Australia)
Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: Report on an Announced Inspection of Maghaberry Prison 19 - 23 March 2012

Summary: Maghaberry Prison is a complex and challenging establishment. It holds 1,000 men including remand prisoners, fine defaulters, lifers and a small number of separated paramilitary prisoners. A significant number have mental health problems and learning difficulties, while others are vulnerable because of their offences or disputes with other prisoners. Previous inspections have been very critical of the way Maghaberry responded to these challenges. On this occasion significant weaknesses remain, but we found areas of improvement and assess the prison as having progressed by one level in three out of the four healthy prison tests, while respect remained the same. Despite these improvements the prison still has a long way to go. The number of self-harm incidents was not high and arrangements for the support of those at risk of suicide or self-harm had improved, though were inconsistently applied. The Donard Day Centre opened in 2011, and its multi-disciplinary team provided excellent care for some very vulnerable prisoners, and in many ways it was the jewel in Maghaberry’s crown. Record-keeping by staff was poor but professional relationships between staff and prisoners were better and delivered more dynamic security intelligence. While the Care and Support (Segregation) unit regime was reasonable for those who were there for short periods, it was completely inadequate for prisoners who stayed for longer periods. There was a good induction programme for new arrivals, but some were missed. Some important features of prison life, such as the Progressive Regime and Earned Privileges scheme, were overly-punitive. Security could be overbearing and did not sufficiently relate to individual risk assessments. Nevertheless the introduction of ‘free flow’, which enabled most prisoners to move freely within the prison during the core day, was a major improvement and helped to normalise the atmosphere. The Dedicated Search Team, which we had grave concerns about during the last inspection, was no longer the pernicious influence it had once been. Many prisoners told us they had felt unsafe in the prison at some time. There was no effective monitoring of violent incidents to identify when and where they were likely to occur or how they could be prevented. Despite high staffing levels, association and exercise areas were not adequately supervised. We remain concerned that the prison does not provide a sufficiently safe environment for those held there. The introduction of mandatory drug testing was a good initiative and the structural arrangements for delivery of health services had improved. Unfortunately Maghaberry’s health care department was disorganised and beset by staff shortages when we inspected, and this was having an adverse impact on clinical outcomes. We were concerned about the lax management of divertible medication and managers told us this was a significant cause of bullying in the prison. Very poor drug treatment processes were dangerous for prisoners. At the time of the inspection, some separated Republican prisoners in Roe House were engaged in a dirty protest. The resulting conditions posed a threat to the health of prisoners and staff, but hygiene arrangements were being carefully managed and nobody had suffered any ill effects at the time of writing. The rest of Maghaberry was clean but suffered from considerable overcrowding. At the time of the inspection, 538 prisoners (more than half of the population) were sharing small, cramped cells that were designed for only one person. Maghaberry’s own statistics confirmed there were unequal outcomes for Roman Catholic prisoners in several important respects, yet this sensitive issue was not being effectively addressed. There were insufficient activity places available and prisoners spent too long locked in cells. A fully-employed prisoner could spend about nine hours a day out of cell on weekdays, but too many of those working were employed in unchallenging orderly roles, which offered nothing like a normal work environment. It was unsatisfactory that the 50% of prisoners who were unemployed spent up to 20 hours a day in their cells. The new Learning and Skills Centre is an excellent resource so it was frustrating that staffing shortages meant it was considerably under-used. The learning and skills curriculum was too narrow and was not aligned to local labour market needs. Otherwise, there were more hopeful signs – the quality of teaching, training and learning was generally good, as was the provision of basic literacy and numeracy and English for Speakers of Other Languages; there was some innovative use of mentors in education; the library was a good resource and physical education was very good. Resettlement was the most positive aspect of Maghaberry Prison. Despite the range of prisoners held, there were good attempts to address the behaviour of both short and long-term prisoners including some prisoners on remand, and to meet the basic practical needs of those who were about to be released. Public protection arrangements were functioning better than when we last inspected. Some aspects of provision for lifers had improved, although the closure of the Belfast ‘step down’ facility for testing long-term prisoners in a less secure environment was a big loss and should be urgently redressed. Provision of offending behaviour programmes had improved since the new Offender Management Unit took over co-ordination, but not all needs were met. The visitors halls were cramped and noisy and visits did not start on time, although other support for prisoners’ families such as the Quakers Visitor Centre, was very positive. Maghaberry remains a prison which does not yet provide a sufficient level of safety and respectful treatment, with too many prisoners having little purposeful activity to do. Nevertheless, this inspection found signs of real improvement. Some excellent work was being done by individual staff in a context where professional relationships overall were improving, and investment in new facilities had created opportunities for further improvement. At a time of major reform throughout the Northern Ireland Prison Service, these improvements now need to be embedded in the culture and processes at Maghaberry so that the progress that has been made is built on further.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2012. 174p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 21, 2013 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/b5/b561aa96-c6b8-417f-9c70-a736713315e8.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/b5/b561aa96-c6b8-417f-9c70-a736713315e8.pdf

Shelf Number: 127692

Keywords:
Maghaberry Prison
Prison Administration
Prisoners
Prisons (Northern Ireland)

Author: Kansas Department of Corrections

Title: Offender Programs Evaluation: Volume VII

Summary: This evaluation report initially proceeded from a set of evaluation questions. These questions, initially discussed in detail in Volume I - January 1997, continue to guide the inquiry, data organization, and reporting format. The output (process) data in this report provides a statistical review of offender program participation for a five-year period from FY 2002 through FY 2006. Outcome (recidivism) data begins with FY 1992 and covers up to a fifteen-year period (through the end of FY 2006). Information is provided for each of the following programs: · Sex Offender Treatment o Sex Offender Treatment Program (SOTP) o Substance Abuse Treatment Component of SOTP · Substance Abuse Treatment o Alcohol and Drug Addiction Primary Treatment (ADAPT) (outcome data only) o Chemical Dependency Recovery Program (CDRP) o Substance Abuse Treatment for Females o Therapeutic Community (TC) (recidivism data covers FY 1997 – FY 2006 only) · Academic Education (process data only) · Special Education (process data only) · Vocational Education · Transitional Training Program · Pre-Release Reintegration Program · Work Release Program (recidivism data covers FY 1995 - FY 2006 only) · InnerChangeTM Program o InnerChange Program (recidivism data covers FY 2000 - FY 2006 only) o Substance Abuse Treatment Component of InnerChange Program.

Details: Topeka, KS: Kansas Department of Corrections, 2007. 171p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 4, 2013 at: http://www.doc.ks.gov/publications/program-evaluation-reports/ProgramsEvaluationVII.pdf

Year: 2007

Country: United States

URL: http://www.doc.ks.gov/publications/program-evaluation-reports/ProgramsEvaluationVII.pdf

Shelf Number: 127816

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions (Kansas, U.S.)
Correctional Programs
Offender Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Treatment Programs

Author: Lovell, David

Title: Felony and Violent Recidivism Among Supermax Prison Inmates in Washington State: A Pilot Study

Summary: Since the early 1980’s, most prison system have built specially designed facilities that keep selected offenders in lockdown status for lengthy periods of time, sometimes years, on the grounds that they pose a danger to the prison community. There have been several successful court challenges to some aspects of these practices, for example confinement of psychologically vulnerable inmates in such facilities, but there is scarcely any systematic research on who gets assigned to supermax, how it affects them while they’re there, whether such facilities actually reduce violence within prison systems, and whether it has any bearing on their later behavior. This study compares recidivism in the community by released offenders who were and who were not subjected to substantial periods of supermax confinement while in prison. Specifically, we ask: 1. Whether supermax assignment is associated with the probability, seriousness, or timing of new offenses. 2. Whether the probability, timing, and seriousness of new offenses is associated with (a) the amount of time offenders spend in supermax environments or (b) the length of the interval between transfer out of supermax and release to the community.

Details: Seattle: University of Washington, Department of Psychosocial & Community Health, 2004. 21p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 12, 2013 at: http://www.son.washington.edu/faculty/fac-page-files/Lovell-SupermaxRecidivism-4-19-04.pdf

Year: 2004

Country: United States

URL: http://www.son.washington.edu/faculty/fac-page-files/Lovell-SupermaxRecidivism-4-19-04.pdf

Shelf Number: 127911

Keywords:
Prisoners
Recidivism
Supermax Prisons

Author: Schaenman, Phil

Title: Opportunities for Cost Savings in Corrections Without Sacrificing Service Quality: Inmate Health Care

Summary: In many cities and counties, inmate health care comprises as much as a third of the cost of the corrections department. Options are presented on ways to substantially reduce the costs without reducing the quality of the care. We drew on practices of jails and prison across the nation. The approaches for cost reduction include ways to reduce demand or need for health care (e.g., screening need for hospitalization), and ways to reduce the cost per inmate when care is need (e.g. use of telemedicine.)

Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2013. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2013 at: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412754-Inmate-Health-Care.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412754-Inmate-Health-Care.pdf

Shelf Number: 127964

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Inmate Health Care (U.S.)
Prisoners

Author: New Zealand. Department of Corrections, Strategy, Policy and Planning

Title: What Works Now? A review and update of research evidence relevant to offender rehabilitation practices within the Department of Corrections

Summary: A substantial body of research evidence, known as the “What Works” literature, was influential in the design of the Department’s current sentence management framework. This literature revolved around a number of key principles of correctional rehabilitation which, if adhered to in the design and delivery of services, would reliably lead to reduced rates of re-offending. The principles of effective correctional rehabilitation can be divided into three major domains, namely risk, targets and “responsivity”. It is now more than ten years since the main features of the existing sentence management framework were adopted. The current review examines new research published over the last decade that relates to these three domains. In doing so, the approach taken was not limited to publications directly aligned with the “what works” paradigm; the goal was to consider all new evidence which related to effective correctional rehabilitation. The main findings of the review are presented below under the headings relating to each of the three main domain areas. In relation to risk assessment, the current review concludes that knowledge of an offender’s relative likelihood of recidivism remains valuable in supporting effective correctional treatment. Evidence confirming the accuracy and utility of a variety of risk assessment tools has continued to accumulate. Structured risk prediction tools have been adopted in countries around the world, and are in use in a range of ways to assist efficient offender management. The utility of risk data has been demonstrated in serving both incapacitative and rehabilitative goals. With respect to the latter, the principle that treatment should be targeted at medium- and high-risk offenders, rather than low-risk offenders, has continued to receive empirical support. Risk prediction tools have proliferated, and principles for their optimal use have become clearer. For the general offender population, research suggests that risk tools should be clearly structured to assess static (stable, enduring) risk factors or both static and dynamic (more changeable) factors. Accurate estimations of risk can also be produced by tools that guide clinical judgement. Assessing acute (highly changeable) factors can also provide guidance about whether offending may be imminent. More recently, innovations have included risk assessment tools that are specific to certain types of offending, especially violent and sexual recidivism, and these specialised risk assessment tools have been proven to be more accurate than generic risk tools. Similarly, more accurate estimations of risk can be produced when specific tools are used for youth offenders and to assess psychopathic offenders. Finally, there is now some evidence suggesting that assessment of positive characteristics in an offender’s life (skills, strengths and social resources) are relevant to risk of re-offending, and should be included in an overall risk assessment. The current review adopts the term “target” to refer to those aspects of the offender’s personality, lifestyle or circumstances which, if effectively remedied in some way, lead to positive (reduced re-offending) outcomes. The term replaces the previous “criminogenic need” concept, which is no longer as widely accepted. From an examination of published outcome studies, the following personal characteristics continue to show value as a focus for correctional intervention: • anti-social attitudes and beliefs • anti-social peer associations • deviant sexual interests • substance abuse and dependency • poor self-management and problem-solving skills • familial conflict and dysfunction • psychiatric disorders • education and employment related deficits.

Details: Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Department of Corrections, 2009.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2013 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/research.html

Year: 2009

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/research.html

Shelf Number: 119149

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Correctional Rehabilitation Programs (New Zealand)
Correctional Treatment
Prisoners

Author: Kerness, Bonnie, ed.

Title: Torture in United States Prisons: Evidence of Human Rights Violations. 2nd Edition

Summary: When prison doors close behind men and women they become our prisoners. If we are their family and friends, we may visit, write, call, and advocate on their behalf. If they are anonymous, we will likely dismiss them with the thought, “they broke the law—that was their choice— and now they must pay the penalty.” And we proceed about our daily lives without looking over the prison wall. It is time we did just that; prisons reflect the societies that create them. International treaties, conventions, and declarations provide basic guidelines for the treatment of prisoners. These guidelines are often ignored by the U.S. criminal justice system. Meanwhile, the United States continues to criticize other countries for violations of prisoners’ human rights. “Torture in United States Prisons” (Second Edition) provides primary evidence of such human rights violations. Its goal is to cast light on the torture and abuse of prisoners. For over three decades, the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has spoken out on behalf of prisoners. Since 1975 AFSC has operated a Criminal Justice Program in Newark, New Jersey. During that time AFSC has received thousands of calls and letters of testimony of an increasingly disturbing nature from prisoners and their families about conditions in prison. The list of abuses is long and horrifying: use of stun guns and restraint devices, rape, prison chain gangs, inadequate medical care, isolation, “no touch torture” (lights on 24/7, deliberately startling sounds, menacing dogs), use of force, and other egregious violations of international human rights standards, including the Convention Against Torture, ratified by the United States in 1994. The concepts of human rights law must be upheld by the United States police, court, and prison justice systems. One way to foster this change is for prisoners, their families and loved ones, and prisoner rights advocates to weave the language of international standards and treaties into their arguments for humane prison conditions and treatment of prisoners. To that end, this document presents prisoners’ testimonies in five sections—Isolation, Health and Medical Services and Conditions, Use of Force and Devices of Torture, Racism, and Women in Prison—and introduces each section with a relevant international standard as stipulated in international human rights agreements. For example, Article 1 of the United Nations Convention Against Torture prohibits “physical or mental pain and suffering, inflicted to punish, coerce or discriminate for any reason.” Yet practices such as the indefinite use of shackles and other mechanical restraints, the administration of dangerous chemical treatments, and the practice of extended isolation continue in the United States. The practice of extended isolation in particular is of growing concern to many prison activists, both inside and outside the walls. The reports that come to AFSC about prisoners subjected to devices of torture have largely been from isolation cells—often called management control units or special management units—in which there are few witnesses. Ojore Lutalo is one such prisoner, and you can find his full story in the Appendix. There are thousands of similar stories as well, some of which are included here.

Details: Newark, NJ: American Friends Service Committee, Northeast Region, Healing Justice Program, 2011. 100p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 22, 2013 at: http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/torture_in_us_prisons.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/torture_in_us_prisons.pdf

Shelf Number: 128082

Keywords:
Human Rights Violations
Isolation
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisoners' Rights (U.S.)
Solitary Confinement
Torture

Author: Volokh, Alexander

Title: Everything We Know About Faith-Based Prisons

Summary: This Article examines everything we know about the effectiveness of faith-based prisons, which is not very much. Most studies can’t be taken seriously, because they’re tainted by the “self-selection problem.” It’s hard to determine the effect of faith-based prison programs, because they’re voluntary, and volunteers are more likely to be motivated to change and are therefore already less likely to commit infractions or be re-arrested. This problem is the same one that education researchers have struggled with in determining whether private schools are better than public schools. The only credible studies done so far compare participants with non-participants who volunteered for the program but were rejected. Some studies in this category find no effect, but some do find a modest effect. But even those that find an effect are subject to additional critiques: for instance, participants may have benefited from being exposed to treatment resources that non-participants were denied. Thus, based on current research, there’s no strong reason to believe that faith-based prisons work. However, there’s also no strong reason to believe that they don’t work. I conclude with thoughts on how faith-based prison programs might be improved, and offer a strategy that would allow such experimentation to proceed consistent with the Constitution.

Details: Unpublished (Draft) Paper: 2011. 63p.

Source: Internet Resource: Emory Law and Economics Research Paper No. 11-99
Emory Public Law Research Paper No. 11-145
; Accessed March 26, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1789282

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1789282

Shelf Number: 128132

Keywords:
Faith-Based Prisons (U.S.)
Prisoner Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Religion in Prison

Author: Light, Miriam

Title: Gender differences in Substance Misuse and Mental Health Amongst Prisoners. Results from the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal cohort study of prisoners

Summary: This research explored substance misuse and mental health of male and female prisoners, using the Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) longitudinal survey of 1,435 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales in 2005 and 2006. The sample consisted of 1,303 male and 132 female prisoners. Other surveys and management information were used as secondary sources. The research examined: drug and alcohol use; rates of self-harm and suicide; the presence of specific mental health disorders; and links to reconviction. The number of women was relatively small (132), reflecting the relative size of the female prison reception population. Results based on the female prisoners’ sample are less likely to be representative than those from the larger men’s sample. The women’s sample may be too small to allow some smaller gender differences to be detected. These limitations should be taken into account when interpreting the findings in this report. The main findings were:  Patterns of alcohol consumption did not differ substantially by gender. The rate of alcohol use overall amongst prisoners was slightly lower than in the general population, when comparing those who said they drank alcohol in the last year. However, amongst those prisoners who drank alcohol in the four weeks before custody, the amount of hazardous drinking was higher than in the general population and amongst offenders on community orders. Male and female prisoners both reported high levels of hazardous drinking (reporting drinking with similar frequency and consuming similar volumes of alcohol).  Alcohol use amongst prisoners was associated with reconviction on release, although to a lesser extent than drug use. Associations between daily drinking and reconviction were observed for both male and female prisoners, and, notably, there was a higher reconviction rate amongst female binge drinkers (compared to female prisoners who did not binge drink). This association was not found amongst male prisoners.  Rates of illegal drug use amongst both male and female SPCR prisoners were higher than for offenders on community orders, the general population, and an earlier prisoner survey (the 1997 Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (PsyMS)). There were no differences in the proportions of male and female SPCR prisoners reporting ever having used drugs, nor were there any gender differences detected in overall drug use in the four weeks before custody.  Female prisoners did however report more Class A drug use in the four weeks before custody than male prisoners, and were also more likely to report that their offending was to support someone else’s (as well as their own) drug use.  Drug use was strongly associated with reconviction on release from prison (this did not differ by gender).  Reports of first use of heroin in prison by heroin users were lower in SPCR (covering interviews from 2005/6) compared with the 1997 PsyMS (19% and 30% respectively). Male and female SPCR heroin users were equally likely to report having used heroin in a prison before (55%), and there was evidence that male prisoners were more likely than female prisoners to use heroin for the first time in a prison.  Female SPCR prisoners reported poorer mental health than both women in the general population and male SPCR prisoners. This was true in relation to self harm, suicide attempts, psychosis, and anxiety and depression.  Female prisoners suffering from the combination of anxiety and depression were significantly more likely to be reconvicted in the year after release from custody compared to female prisoners without such symptoms (this relationship was not found amongst male prisoners). Both male and female prisoners suffering from depression were however more likely to be reconvicted in the year after release from custody.  Male prisoners with symptoms of psychosis were more likely to be reconvicted in the year after custody. This relationship was not found amongst female prisoners, despite more female prisoners reporting symptoms indicative of psychosis. There were some important differences between male and female prisoners’ substance misuse and mental health, but also areas of similarity. The greatest differences were observed between the general population and the prisoner population rather than between male and female prisoners.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2013. 36p., app.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed April 2, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/gender-substance-misuse-mental-health-prisoners.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/gender-substance-misuse-mental-health-prisoners.pdf

Shelf Number: 128192

Keywords:
Drug Offenders
Gender
Inmates (U.K.)
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners
Recidivism
Reconviction

Author: Males, Mike

Title: Beyond Realignment: Counties’ Large Disparities in Imprisonment Underlie Ongoing Prison Crisis

Summary: This publication analyzes the changes in state prison commitments by county since the implementation of the Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011 (AB 109), which redirects people convicted of low-level, non-violent crimes from state to county supervision. AB 109, commonly referred to as Realignment, is intended to reduce unconstitutional levels of prison overcrowding, save money, encourage counties to develop and implement best practices and alternatives to incarceration, and reserve state prisons for people convicted of serious offenses. However, while many counties have followed the mandate and dramatically reduced their prison commitments for low-level offenses, others continue to sentence high rates of these offenders to state prison.

Details: San Francisco: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, 2013. 8p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Brief: Accessed April 6, 2013 at: http://www.cjcj.org/files/Beyond_Realignment_March_2013.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.cjcj.org/files/Beyond_Realignment_March_2013.pdf

Shelf Number: 128313

Keywords:
Criminal Justice Reform
Prison Overcrowding
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons (California)

Author: James, Juliene

Title: Justice Reinvestment in Action: The Delaware Model

Summary: Justice reinvestment is a data-driven approach to corrections policy that seeks to cut spending and reinvest savings in practices that have been empirically shown to improve safety and hold offenders accountable. The Vera Institute of Justice is working with Delaware to advance its efforts under the Justice Reinvestment Initiative—a project sponsored by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bureau of Justice Assistance. Delaware’s work in justice reinvestment began in the summer of 2011, when Governor Jack Markell established the Delaware Justice Reinvestment Task Force through executive order to conduct a comprehensive examination of the factors contributing to the size of the corrections population, both pretrial and sentenced individuals. Vera assisted the task force in analyzing these factors and assessed the capacity and quality of institutional and community-based programs. The task force found that people awaiting trial made up a large proportion of the prison population, that supervision practices resulted in a large number of probationers spending time in prison, and that Delaware prisoners served long sentences with limited opportunity to earn reductions in their sentences—even when they had made significant steps toward rehabilitation. Based on these findings, Vera helped the task force develop a policy framework to address these drivers of the corrections population and ensure that scarce justice resources are used to reduce recidivism and enhance public safety. Legislators translated these policy recommendations into Delaware Senate Bill 226. Among other changes, the legislation requires implementation of an objective risk assessment instrument to help magistrates make informed decisions about pretrial release, makes available objective risk and needs assessment for judges’ use in sentencing, supports improved community supervision practices, and creates incentives for those who are incarcerated and under supervision to complete evidence-based programs designed to reduce recidivism. Strong bipartisan efforts led to the near-unanimous passage of the legislation, which Governor Markell signed in August 2012. As other jurisdictions consider how best to invest limited public safety dollars, Delaware’s experience offers a helpful example of what can be accomplished through a close consideration of data and social science. Because it is a unified system—one of only a handful in which the state’s Department of Correction has custody of both pretrial and sentenced populations—Delaware’s recent work is relevant not only to other states, but also to local jurisdictions, which typically are responsible for jail populations. This brief reflects on Delaware’s efforts.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, Center on Sentencing and Corrections, 2013. 8p.

Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief: Accessed May 8, 2013 at: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/justice-reinvestment-in-action-delaware.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/justice-reinvestment-in-action-delaware.pdf

Shelf Number: 128682

Keywords:
Corrections (Delaware, U.S.)
Costs of Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Reform
Justice Reinvestment
Prisoners

Author: Victoria. Sentencing Advisory Council

Title: Victoria's Prison Population 2002 to 2012

Summary: This report from the Sentencing Advisory Council has found that Victoria’s prison population has increased by nearly 40% over the last 10 years, a rate faster than increases in the general population. Victoria’s Prison Population 2002-2012 concludes that growth in Victoria’s prison population is due to a combination of factors, including: increased lengths of prison sentences increased use of custodial sentences in the higher courts increases in offences against the person, drug offences and offences against good order. The prison population rose from 3,540 in 2002 to 4,884 in 2012. This resulted in the imprisonment rate increasing to 111.7 people in prison per 100,000 adults; however, in 2012 Victoria still had the second lowest imprisonment rate in Australia. Alongside an increase in the imprisonment rate, there has been a significant increase in the number of prisoners held on remand, representing over 20% of the prison population in 2012. The average length of prison sentences has increased, with the average expected time to serve for prisoners rising 22.2% over the ten-year period, from 40.1 to 49 months.

Details: Melbourne: Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council, 2013. 39p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2013 at: http://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/content/publications/victorias-prison-population-2002-2012

Year: 2013

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.sentencingcouncil.vic.gov.au/content/publications/victorias-prison-population-2002-2012

Shelf Number: 128786

Keywords:
Incarceration Rates
Prisoners
Prisons (Australia)
Sentencing

Author: Lyneham, Mathew

Title: Deaths in custody in Australia to 30 June 2011 Twenty years of monitoring by the National Deaths in Custody Program since the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody

Summary: Compiled for two decades by the Australian Institute of Criminology, this report found both the Indigenous and non-Indigenous rates of deaths in custody have decreased over the last decade and are now some of the lowest ever seen (0.16 per 100 Indigenous prisoners and 0.22 per 100 non-Indigenous prisoners in 2010–11). For the last eight years in a row, the Indigenous rate of death in prison has been lower than the equivalent non-Indigenous rate. While Indigenous prisoners continue to be statistically less likely to die in custody than non-Indigenous prisoners, there is a concerning trend emerging, as the actual number of Indigenous deaths in prison are rising again, with 14 in 2009-10 which is equal to the highest on record. More concerning still is that over the 20 years since the Royal Commission, the proportion of prisoners that are Indigenous has almost doubled from 14% in 1991 to 26% in 2011.

Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2013. 197p.

Source: Internet Resource: AIC Reports; Monitoring Reports 20: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/mr/1-20/20.html

Year: 2013

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/mr/1-20/20.html

Shelf Number: 128855

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Deaths in Custody (Australia)
Indigenous Peoples
Prisoners

Author: Metcalf, Hope

Title: Administrative Segregation, Degrees of Isolation, and Incarceration: A National Overview of State and Federal Correctional Policies

Summary: This report provides an overview of state and federal policies related to long-term isolation of inmates, a practice common in the United States and one that has drawn attention in recent years from many sectors. All jurisdictions in the United States provide for some form of separation of inmates from the general population. Prison administrators see the ability to separate inmates as central to protecting the safety of both inmates and staff. Yet many correctional systems are reviewing their use of segregated confinement; as controversy surrounds this form of control, its duration, and its effects. The debates about these practices are reflected in the terms used, with different audiences taking exceptions to each. Much of the recent public discussion calls the practice “solitary confinement” or “isolation.” In contrast, correctional facility policies use terms such as “segregation,” “restricted housing,” or “special management,” and some corrections leaders prefer the term “separation.” All agree that the practice entails separating inmates from the general population and restricting their participation in everyday activities; such as recreation, shared meals, and religious, educational, and other programs. The degree of contact permitted — with staff, other inmates, or volunteers — varies. Some jurisdictions provide single cells and others double; in some settings, inmates find ways to communicate with each other. The length of time spent in isolation can vary from a few days to many years. This report provides a window into these practices. This overview describes rules promulgated by prison officials to structure decisions on the placement of persons in “administrative segregation,” which is one form of separation of inmates from the general population. Working with the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), the Arthur Liman Program at Yale Law School launched an effort to review the written policies related to administrative segregation promulgated by correctional systems in the United States. With ASCA’s assistance, we obtained policies from 47 jurisdictions, including 46 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. This overview provides a national portrait of policies governing administrative segregation for individuals in prisons, outlines the commonalities and variations among jurisdictions, facilitates comparisons across jurisdictions, and enables consideration of how and when administrative segregation is and should be used. Because this review is of written policies, it raises many questions for research – about whether the policies are implemented as written, achieve the goals for which they are crafted, and at what costs. Information is needed on the demographic data on the populations held in various forms of segregated custody, the reasons for placement of individuals in and the duration of such confinement, the views of inmates, of staff on site, and of central office personnel; and the long-term effects of administrative segregation on prison management and on individuals. Without such insights, one cannot assess the experiences of segregation from the perspectives of those who run, those who work in, and those who live in these institutions.

Details: New Haven, CT: Liman Public Interest Program at Yale Law School, 2013. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 6, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2286861

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2286861

Shelf Number: 129265

Keywords:
Administrative Segregation
Correctional Administration
Correctional Management
Prisoners
Solitary Confinement

Author: Irish Prison Service

Title: Irish Prison Service Recidivism Study

Summary: This report is a study of recidivism among all prisoners released by the Irish Prison Service on completion of a sentence in 2007, based on reoffending and reconviction data up to the end of 2010. The study focuses on recidivism where the new offence does not necessarily lead to a period of imprisonment and gives a clearer picture of the offending behaviour of ex-prisoners. Previously, the only information available to the Service related to re-imprisonment rates. This research project was undertaken in partnership with the Central Statistics Office, specifically the Crime Statistics Section, who facilitated the linking of Irish Prison Service data, Garda Síochána records and Courts Service records. This type of cross-agency analysis of released prisoners has not been possible in the past and this is the first study of its kind in theRepublicofIreland. The findings mark an important contribution to criminological research inIrelandand highlight the need for a greater emphasis on a structured multi-agency approach to preparing prisoners for their release. It will also enable yearly monitoring of recidivism trends and the evaluation of rehabilitation interventions. Main Findings •A recidivism rate of 62.3% within three years. •Over 80% of those who re-offended did so within 12 months of release. •The recidivism rate decreased as the offender age increased. •Male offenders represented 92.5% of the total population studied and had a higher recidivism rate than female offenders (63% for males and 57% among females). •The most common offences for which offenders were reconvicted was Public Order Offences. •Burglary offenders, while a relatively small group within the study, had the highest rate of reconviction at 79.5%.

Details: Longford, Ireland: Irish Prison Services, 2013. 25p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2013 at: http://www.irishprisons.ie/images/pdf/recidivismstudyss2.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Ireland

URL: http://www.irishprisons.ie/images/pdf/recidivismstudyss2.pdf

Shelf Number: 129368

Keywords:
Prisoners
Recidivism (Ireland)
Reconviction
Rehabilitation
Reoffending

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Bureau of Prisons: Timelier Reviews, Plan for Evaluations, and Updated Policies Could Improve Inmate Mental Health Services Oversight

Summary: During a 5-year period--fiscal years 2008 through 2012--costs for inmate mental health services in institutions run by the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) rose in absolute dollar amount, as well as on an annual per capita basis. Specifically, mental health services costs rose from $123 million in fiscal year 2008 to $146 million in fiscal year 2012, with increases generally due to three factors--inmate population increases, general inflationary increases, and increased participation rates in psychology treatment programs such as drug abuse treatment programs. Additionally, the per capita cost rose from $741 in fiscal year 2008 to $821 in fiscal year 2012. It is projected that these costs will continue to increase with an estimated per capita cost of $876 in fiscal year 2015, due, in part, to increased program funding and inflation. BOP conducts various internal reviews that assess institutions' compliance with its policies related to mental health services, and it also requires institutions to obtain external accreditations. BOP's internal program reviews are on-site audits of a specific program, including two that are relevant to mental health services--psychology and health services. Most institutions in GAO's sample received good or superior ratings on their psychology and health services program reviews, but these reviews did not always occur within BOP-established time frames, generally due to lack of staff availability. When reviews were postponed, delays could be lengthy, sometimes exceeding a year, even for those institutions with the lowest ratings in previous reviews. Moreover, BOP has not evaluated whether most of its psychology treatment programs are meeting their established goals and has not developed a plan to do so. BOP is developing an approach for reporting on the relative reduction in recidivism associated with major inmate programs, which may include some psychology treatment programs. Using this opportunity to develop a plan for evaluating its psychology treatment programs would help ensure that the necessary evaluation activities, as well as any needed program changes, are completed in a timely manner. Further, BOP's program statements--its formal policies--related to mental health services contain outdated information. Policy changes are instead communicated to staff through memos. By periodically updating its program statements, BOP would be better assured that staff have a consistent understanding of its policies, and that these policies reflect current mental health care practices. BOP collects information on the daily cost to house the 13 percent of federal inmates in contract facilities, but it does not track the specific contractor costs of providing mental health services. The performance-based, fixed-price contracts that govern the operation of BOP's contract facilities give flexibility to the contractors to decide how to provide mental health services and do not require that they report their costs for doing so to BOP. BOP uses several methods to assess the contractors' compliance with contract requirements and standards of care. BOP conducts on-site reviews to assess the services provided to inmates in contract facilities, including those for mental health. BOP uses results from these reviews, as well as reports from external accrediting organizations, the presence of on-site monitors, and internal reviews conducted by the contract facility, to assess contractor compliance and to ensure that the contractor is consistently assessing the quality of its operations.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2013. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-13-1: Accessed July 18, 2013 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/655903.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/660/655903.pdf

Shelf Number: 129437

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Federal Bureau of Prisons (U.S.)
Health Care
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Cornell Law School’s Avon Global Center for Women and Justice and International Human Rights Clinic

Title: Women in Prison in Argentina: Causes, Conditions, and Consequences

Summary: In many countries around the world, including Argentina, the number of women who are deprived of their liberty has risen over time and has increased disproportionately in comparison to male prisoners. In Argentina, the number of female prisoners within the federal system increased 193%, while the male population rose 111% from 1990 to 2012. Nonetheless, little research has been done to understand why there has been such a dramatic increase in women's incarceration. At the same time, international and domestic laws governing prisons and prison policies and practices have traditionally been designed for men. In 2010, however, the United Nations adopted the first international standards relating specifically to women prisoners - the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Female Prisoners and Non-Custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules). The Bangkok Rules specifically call for research to be conducted on (among other things) the causes of women's imprisonment, the characteristics of women in prison, and the impact on children. This Report focuses particularly on the causes and conditions of women's imprisonment, and consequences for children of incarcerated mothers in Argentina. In undertaking research for this Report, the authors developed two surveys, a General Prison Population Survey that was administered to nearly 30% of all women prisoners (246 women) in Argentina's federal prison system (attached as Annex 1) and a Co-Residence Program Survey which received responses from 26 women residing with their children in prison (attached as Annex 2); conducted site visits to two women's prisons in Buenos Aires, Argentina; and interviewed women prisoners, judges, academics and civil society members. Justice Elena Highton de Nolasco, the Vice President of the Supreme Court of Argentina, invited us to conduct this study and provided us with full and open access and cooperation. This Report focuses solely on the federal prison system in Argentina, known as the Servicio Penitenciaro Federal (SPF), while the vast majority of the people deprived of their liberty are held in provincial jails across the country. As of April 2012, the SPF detained 9,693 prisoners in 34 federal prisons. Of these, 9% (or approximately 872 SPF prisoners) were women.

Details: Chicago: University of Chicago Law School, 2013. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2013 at: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/files/Argentina_report_final_web.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Argentina

URL: http://www.law.uchicago.edu/files/files/Argentina_report_final_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 129458

Keywords:
Female Inmates (Argentina)
Female Offenders
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Salla, Fernando

Title: Democracy, Human Rights and Prison Conditions in South America

Summary: Provided with every legal right, the arrest of individuals and the restriction of their freedom can occur in different situations: individuals that were sentenced by court, individuals suspected of perpetrating a crime, individuals waiting trial, migrants waiting deportation. Nevertheless, the sites of detention are only object of concern domestically or even internationally when prisons are used as an instrument against political rivals during authoritarian regimes that remove from the political arena the democratic rules. Every time there is a routine arrest, mainly of ordinary offenders, prisons become territories of little interest for the public opinion, they have little social visibility, little relevance to the media, little importance to public policies, and only find some room in the political debate when the seriousness of prison conditions reach such levels that can no longer be hidden or ignored. Although bad detention conditions are found even in countries with consolidated democracies, more serious violations, the extremely bad conditions of existence in such environments – unhealthy conditions, overcrowded cells, abuse, and torture – are found in the prisons in those countries with weak democratic organizations, few controls in the hands of civil society, and heavy social and economic inequalities South America can be presented as an example of such region where continuous violations of human rights in the prisons have a close relationship sometimes with the difficulties to run a democratic regime, with the continuous development of authoritarian regimes that were present throughout their history, and sometimes with the deep impacts of poverty and social inequalities. Between 1960 and 1990, several military regimes like those in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile were responsible for many iniquities, among which imprisonment, torture, and the death of political opponents. In the past twenty years, though, the region is in a considerable political stability. Although the authoritarian culture has not been totally overcome, democratic regimes predominate with free elections and continuous renewal of administrations in most of the countries. The new legal statute in these countries does not accept the existence of political prisoners or of prisoners of conscience any more. Nevertheless, currently ordinary prisoners are subject to conditions that hurt human dignity in the prisons, where essential principles established in local legislations are not respected, and basic provisions in international instruments of protection and promotion to human rights are violated. This paper attempts to point out and analyze the political, social, and cultural reasons presents in the contemporary world and that provide the grounds on which ordinary prisoners are subject to severe imprisonment conditions. It also tries to understand how democratic regimes accept the serious violations of human rights that are practiced and that hurt human dignity on a daily basis in such places. It also tries to promote a reflexion on that issue of deep social inequalities in these new democracies that promote disrespect to basic requirements for a dignified life for all citizens, and how such inequalities are related to mass imprisonment. And last but not least, considering the scope of values, perceptions, and sensitivities, it tries to understand how feelings of intolerance and of vengeance grow against these offenders, feelings that are translated into severe life conditions in prisons, into long periods of imprisonment, into harsher disciplinary regimes, just like the support to overdated punishment methods, death penalties, and public exposure of sentenced prisoners has increased.

Details: Sao Paulo, Brazil: University of Sao Paulo, 2009. 155p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2013 at: http://www.udhr60.ch/report/detention_salla0609.pdf

Year: 2009

Country: South America

URL: http://www.udhr60.ch/report/detention_salla0609.pdf

Shelf Number: 129492

Keywords:
Human Rights
Prisoners
Prisons (South America)

Author: International Bar Association. Human Rights Institute

Title: One in Five: The crisis in Brazil’s prisons and criminal justice system

Summary: The number of prisoners and pre-trial detainees in Brazil is rising rapidly and there is widespread agreement that the current criminal justice and penal system is dysfunctional. In November 2009, the National Council of Justice announced that out of the cases it has reviewed so far, one in five pre-trial detainees have been imprisoned irregularly, which suggest that the nationwide problem is extremely serious. The Brazilian criminal justice and penal system has been the subject of numerous expert reports denouncing its failings, and there have also been ad hoc attempts to deal with different aspects of its problems. The system also appears to violate Brazil’s own laws and constitutional provisions for the protection of human rights. While formally committing itself to extensive protection of the rights of its citizens, the Brazilian Government claims that hostility to the concept amongst its own officials and a large section of the public is one of the key impediments to criminal justice reform. The first section of this report provides a summary overview of numerous recent reports and studies by UN monitoring bodies as well as international and national human rights organisations into the violations of rights that are being perpetrated by and in the Brazilian penal system. The overall trend within the Brazilian criminal justice system is to sentence more defendants to prison than are being released, which has overwhelmed the capacity of the already overcrowded penal system – this looks set to continue. A huge backlog of cases has built up leading to increasing delays in the court system, and over 80 per cent of prisoners cannot afford a lawyer. Many people are imprisoned irregularly, spend years in pre-trial detention or remain in prison after the expiry of their sentence due to bureaucratic incompetence or systemic failings. Severe overcrowding, poor sanitary conditions, gang violence and riots blight the prison system, where ill-treatment, including beatings and torture, are commonplace. Although the government has announced several reforms to tackle the problems identified, in practical terms little has changed over the last decade. This suggests that the failings are deep-rooted and systemic, so need to be addressed in a holistic way. The second section of this report describes the formal protection of human rights in the Brazilian criminal justice system, but also explains why these guarantees remain largely on paper. An understanding of why the Brazilian state appears to violate so many of the human rights that its own laws and Constitution guarantee requires some description of the historical political context in which the relationship between them developed. This took on a critical importance during the transition from dictatorship to democracy and its legacy continues to strongly influence Brazilian society and politics, with many Brazilians associating the transition to democracy with the large increase in violent crime that has occurred in the country. The third section focuses on the institutions constitutionally mandated to protect human rights within the Brazilian criminal justice system. While Brazil’s current Constitution and many of its laws provide extensive protection, the institutions charged with upholding these rights often fail to do so. This may be because many of these corporatist institutions remain largely unreformed from the dictatorship era and have sought to shield themselves from democratic scrutiny and control. The final section describes some of the local initiatives that have been undertaken to bring justice closer to the people in Brazil. An effective reform strategy must deal with the issue of criminal justice reform comprehensively. The problems regarding access to justice in pre-trial detention cannot be treated in isolation from the context of the crisis in the Brazilian criminal justice system, and the broader problem of tackling crime in society. Focusing on trying to fix one specific area, through new laws or the creation of new institutions, could make the current situation worse by adding fresh layers of bureaucracy and confusion to an already dysfunctional system. This report argues that more effort needs to be put into making the existing parts of the system work better together and encouraging the development of incremental, community-led and home-grown reform. Defensoria Pública is the body constitutionally-mandated to provide free legal assistance to those who need it, and the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute strongly endorses the repeated calls that have been made for this to be strengthened. There are also a variety of other groups attempting to develop responses to the current crisis within their criminal justice system. Supporting their creative ingenuity to ‘find a way around the obstacles that exist’ (jeitinho brasileiro) should be an essential part of the reform process.

Details: London: International Bar Association, 2010. 63p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2013 at: http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=D4CBAA59-1F9B-41B0-92CA-1B964AC29AC9

Year: 2010

Country: Brazil

URL: http://www.ibanet.org/Article/Detail.aspx?ArticleUid=D4CBAA59-1F9B-41B0-92CA-1B964AC29AC9

Shelf Number: 129494

Keywords:
Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Systems (Brazil)
Pretrial Detention
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Delaware Criminal Justice Council. Statistical Analysis Center

Title: Recidivism in Delaware: An Analysis of Prisoners Released in 2008 and 2009

Summary: Delaware Senate Bill 226, signed into law on August 8, 2012, implemented the recommendations of the Delaware Justice Reinvestment Task Force created by Executive Order 27. Through its changes, Senate Bill 226: “…promotes informed decision-making in the criminal justice system by institutionalizing the use of evidenced-based practices in decisions concerning bail, rehabilitation and probation supervision and helps ensure scarce resources are focused on higher-risk offenders.” Among the many provisions of SB 226 designed to support the purpose of the legislation, the bill added the following to the Statistical Analysis Center’s powers, duties and functions under Title 11, § 8903: “Submit annually to the Governor, Chief Justice, President Pro Tem of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House a report examining 1-year, 2-year, and 3-year rates of re-arrest, reconviction, and recommitment of released offender cohorts. The first report shall be submitted by July 31, 2013.” This is the first report produced pursuant to Delaware Senate Bill 226. As required, three measures of recidivism were analyzed for this report: rearrest, reconviction, and recommitment.

Details: Dover, DE: Delaware Criminal Justice Council, 2013. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2013 at: http://cjc.delaware.gov/sac/publications/documents/RecidivismFinalJuly30.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://cjc.delaware.gov/sac/publications/documents/RecidivismFinalJuly30.pdf

Shelf Number: 129550

Keywords:
Prisoners
Recidivism (Delaware, U.S.)
Reconviction

Author: Edwards, Louise

Title: Pre-Trial Justice in Africa: An Overview of the Use of Arrest and Detention, and Conditions of Detention

Summary: Arbitrary arrest and detention, and poor conditions of pre-trial detention are prevalent but underexamined areas of criminal justice practice and reform. Approximately 43.3% of detainees across Africa are pre-trial detainees, with statistics ranging from 7.9% of the total prison population in Namibia, to 88.7% in Libya. These statistics are unlikely to include detainees in police detention facilities, and may therefore be significantly higher. Pre-trial detainees often exist in the shadows of the criminal justice system, as their detention and treatment are not generally subject to the same levels of judicial and other oversight as sentenced prisoners. Overall, pre-trial detainees experience poorer outcomes than sentenced prisoners in relation to conditions of detention, the risk of torture and other ill-treatment, susceptibility to corruption, and experience conditions of detention that do not accord with the rights to life, humane treatment and the inherent dignity of the person. Pre-trial detention has a disproportionate impact on the most vulnerable and marginalised, with pre-trial detainees more likely to be poor and without means to afford legal assistance or to post bail or bond. The over-use of pre-trial detention, and conditions of detention that do not accord with basic minimum standards, undermines the rule of law, wastes public resources and endangers public health. This study provides an overview of the challenges to achieving a rights-based approach to the use of arrest and detention by the police across Africa. It sets out the general principles of international law in relation to the procedural safeguards for arrest and detention and minimum standards for conditions of detention, and examines whether, and why, reports of arbitrary arrest and detention, and poor conditions of detention in police facilities persist across the African continent. The paper is structured as follows: - Part A: Introduction and methodology - Part B: The use of arrest - Part C: The use of pre-trial detention in police custody - Part D: Conditions of detention in police facilities - Part E: Conclusion and recommendations. The report concludes with a number of recommendations aimed at promoting a rights-based approach to arrest and detention. Specifically, it proposes that the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) use its mandate to 'formulate and lay down principles and rules' in relation to human rights to adopt a dedicated set of guidelines on pre-trial detention that promotes the implementation of a rights-based approach to arrest and detention across the continent.

Details: Mowbray, South Africa: African Policing Civilian Oversight Forum, 2013. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: APCOF Policy Paper no. 7: Accessed October 28, 2013 at: http://www.apcof.org/files/8412_Pretrial_TrialJustice_Overview_in_Africa.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Africa

URL: http://www.apcof.org/files/8412_Pretrial_TrialJustice_Overview_in_Africa.pdf

Shelf Number: 131497

Keywords:
Arrest and Apprehension
Human Rights
Pretrial Detention
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Lofstrom, Magnus

Title: Impact of Realignment on County Jail Populations

Summary: Has California's historic public safety realignment shifted the problem of overcrowding from state prisons to county jails? This report finds that the shift of most lower-level offenders to the counties has increased the statewide county jail population but decreased the overall incarceration rate. The authors also examine county-level factors outside the direct impact of realignment that help explain variations in jail population growth. California's recent corrections realignment, authorized under AB 109, is arguably the most significant change in the state's corrections system in decades. Prompted by a federal court order to reduce the state's overcrowded prison system, this legislation, signed by Governor Brown in 2011, seeks to reduce the prison population by sentencing lower-level offenders to county jails rather than prison, thereby transferring substantial incarceration responsibility, as well as funding, from the state to its 58 counties. Proponents of realignment argue that it offers an opportunity to shift the focus from costly state incarceration to local approaches that favor rehabilitative services and treatments, while critics argue that this policy will lead to more "street time" for offenders and an increase in criminal activity. There is also concern that realignment has simply shifted the overcrowding problem, and related lawsuits, from state prisons to local jails. We are now at a point where relevant data are becoming available, allowing researchers to assess the effects of realignment. In this report, we examine how the decline in California's prison population resulting from realignment affects county jail populations. We also investigate factors that explain the differences between counties that have relied more heavily on jails in implementing their new responsibilities and counties that have emphasized non-jail alternatives.

Details: an Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2013. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 13, 2014 at

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_613MLR.pdf

Shelf Number: 131763

Keywords:
California Realignment
Costs of Corrections
Prison Overcrowding (California, U.S.)
Prisoners

Author: Mosher, Clayton C.

Title: Final Report on the Program Evaluation of the Pine Lodge Pre-release Residential Therapeutic Community for Women Offenders in Washington State

Summary: This research report describes the purpose, methods, results, and implications of an evaluation of the Pine Lodge Pre-Release Therapeutic Community for Women Offenders in Washington State. Funded by the National Institute of Justice as part of its research initiative for local evaluations of prison-based residential substance abuse treatment programs, this evaluation focuses on: (1) factors that affect successful completion of the program; and (2) outcomes, i.e., recidivism, for Pine Lodge participants as compared with a matched control group. Our approach was to supplement primary, qualitative data derived from extensive on-site observations with secondary, quantitative data culled from periodic reports from the facility and the Washington State Department of Corrections. In that regard, this evaluation not only represents a departure from, but also is unique among, evaluations of therapeutic communities reported in the professional literature. We are able to describe (what we believe to be) important insights into the external pressures on the Pine Lodge therapeutic community, the internal dynamics and daily rhythms of the program, and the specific challenges faced by both inmates and staff in the program-insights that are not forthcoming from a reading of secondary program data alone. The operative word in our evaluation study is "change." Despite impressions from the extant literature that prison treatment programs in general, and therapeutic communities in particular, are static entities, our research indicates that they are highly dynamic and ever-changing. In ways both substantive and semantic, the Pine Lodge Pre-Release substance abuse treatment program was not the same entity from the beginning of our study in 1997 to its conclusion in the Summer of 2001. While the therapeutic community experienced "growing pains" in its first few years of operation that led to comparatively low completion rates, recent changes to the program are having a positive impact on completion. Further, women who participated in the Pine Lodge program, when compared with a matched control group, are less likely to be convicted of a new offense upon release. Most important, women who successfully completed the treatment program are the least likely to be convicted of a new offense after release. Overall, "New Horizons" is a prison-based residential substance abuse treatment program that is: Jadmitting, reaching, and servicing its targeted population; conforming to widely-accepted principles of chemical dependency therapy; being delivered by well-trained, highly dedicated professionals; operating at an .appropriate capacity with an effective client-staff ratio; exhibiting the essential characteristics of a therapeutic community; graduating reasonable numbers of participants; and exerting a long-term, positive influence on offenders who complete the program. Specific highlights of our findings, inferences, and recommendations regarding the Pine Lodge "New Horizons" program are itemized.

Details: Pullman, WA: Washington State University, 2001. 132p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 31, 2014 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/196670.pdf

Year: 2001

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/196670.pdf

Shelf Number: 131822

Keywords:
Drug Abuse Treatment
Drug Offenders
Female Offenders
Offender Treatment
Prisoners
Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Kilmer, Beau

Title: Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism

Summary: The prison population in the United States has been growing steadily for more than 30 years. The Bureau of Justice Statistics reports that since 1990 an average of 590,400 inmates have been released annually from state and federal prisons and almost 5 million ex-offenders are under some form of community-based supervision. Offender reentry can include all the activities and programming conducted to prepare ex-convicts to return safely to the community and to live as law-abiding citizens. Some ex-offenders, however, eventually end up back in prison. The most recent national-level recidivism study is 10 years old; this study showed that two-thirds of ex-offenders released in 1994 came back into contact with the criminal justice system within three years of their release. Compared with the average American, ex-offenders are less educated, less likely to be gainfully employed, and more likely to have a history of mental illness or substance abuse - all of which have been shown to be risk factors for recidivism. Three phases are associated with offender reentry programs: programs that take place during incarceration, which aim to prepare offenders for their eventual release; programs that take place during offenders' release period, which seek to connect ex-offenders with the various services they may require; and long-term programs that take place as ex-offenders permanently reintegrate into their communities, which attempt to provide offenders with support and supervision. There is a wide array of offender reentry program designs, and these programs can differ significantly in range, scope, and methodology. Researchers in the offender reentry field have suggested that the best programs begin during incarceration and extend throughout the release and reintegration process. Despite the relative lack of research in the field of offender reentry, an emerging "what works" literature suggests that programs focusing on work training and placement, drug and mental health treatment, and housing assistance have proven to be effective. The federal government's involvement in offender reentry programs typically occurs through grant funding, which is available through a wide array of federal programs at the Departments of Justice, Labor, Education, and Health and Human Services. However, only a handful of grant programs in the federal government are designed explicitly for offender reentry purposes. The Second Chance Act (P.L. 110-199) was enacted on April 9, 2008. The act expanded the existing offender reentry grant program at the Department of Justice and created a wide array of targeted grant-funded pilot programs.

Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2014, 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: RL34287: Accessed March 14, 2014 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL34287.pdf

Shelf Number: 131911

Keywords:
Ex-Offenders
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Recidivism
Rehabilitation
Second Chance Act

Author: Powis, Beverly

Title: Drug Recovery Wings Set Up, Delivery and Lessons Learned: Process Study of First Tranche DRW Pilot Sites

Summary: Drug Recovery Wings (DRWs) were launched in five adult prisons in June 2011. Their core aims were to: - Target those serving short sentences of three to twelve months and who are dependent on drugs/alcohol (including problematic use); - Offer a route out of dependency for those who are motivated to change but need intensive support whilst in the initial stages of their recovery; - Increase the number of short sentenced offenders participating in recovery-focused interventions whilst in custody; and - Improve continuity of care, support and treatment between prisons and the community. The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) Interventions Unit carried out a process study to describe the defining characteristics of the regime at each pilot site and explore the challenges and lessons that can be learned from setting up a DRW pilot project. The research fieldwork took place between November 2011 and June 2012. The report therefore recognises that the pilots were still at varying stages of implementation and that this study does not reflect the full scale of progress made to date or the range of services that may now be available across pilot sites since fieldwork was undertaken. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with members of staff and wing participants. These included DRW staff (thirty-six), organisations working in partnership with NOMS both in the prison itself and in the community on release (twelve), staff from the wider establishment (sixteen), current participants of the DRW (forty-four) and those who did not start or complete their stay on the wing (seven). In addition, documentation produced by the wings was obtained and analysed. The study described the regime at each establishment at the time of the fieldwork. All the wings were found to be operating well. They were successfully delivering varied, recovery-focused interventions and had established links to services in the community which provided continuity of care upon release. Staff from the wings, wider establishment and partnership organisations generally spoke positively about the drug recovery regimes. In addition, nearly all the DRW participants interviewed reported a positive change in their attitudes and behaviour from their involvement with the wing.

Details: London: National Offender Management Services, Ministry of Justice, 2014. 94p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed April 19, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286040/Drug-recovery-wings-process-study.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/286040/Drug-recovery-wings-process-study.pdf

Shelf Number: 132078

Keywords:
Drug Abuse Treatment
Inmates
Prisoners
Substance Abuse Treatment
Treatment Programs

Author: Nobles, James

Title: Health Services in State Correctional Facilities: Evaluation Report

Summary: The Minnesota Department of Corrections (DOC) provides health services to inmates through a combination of its own employees and contracted services. Inmates have considerable access to health care, although several important access issues merit attention. DOC has not established a sufficiently coordinated, comprehensive approach for managing the care of individuals with chronic conditions. The prison system's residential unit for persons with serious mental illness has increasingly provided crisis and stabilization services rather than therapeutic treatment. DOC's compliance with professional standards is mixed, with room for improvement. DOC has not developed a comprehensive staffing plan for health services. Mechanisms for oversight, accountability, and quality improvement for DOC health services have been limited. DOC has not regularly obtained information that would help it ensure that the administrative costs and profits of its health services contractor are reasonable. DOC policy requires copayments in a more limited set of circumstances than indicated by Minnesota statutes.

Details: St. Paul, MN: Program Evaluation Division, Office of the Legislative Auditor, State of Minnesota, 2014. 135p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 19, 2014 at: http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/pedrep/prisonhealth.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.auditor.leg.state.mn.us/ped/pedrep/prisonhealth.pdf

Shelf Number: 132086

Keywords:
Health Care
Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Victorian Ombudsman

Title: Investigation into Deaths and Harm in Custody

Summary: The State owes a duty of care to every person detained in custody to ensure their safety and wellbeing. For example, in the Victorian prison system the Secretary of the Department of Justice has a statutory duty to ensure the safe custody and welfare of prisoners and offenders in the Secretary's custody. There are a number of rights that are engaged under the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006 when a person is detained in custody, including a person's right to humane treatment and the right not to be arbitrarily deprived of life. The Victorian community should have confidence in what happens behind the closed doors of custodial facilities - that detainees are managed in a fair and consistent manner; that they are treated with dignity and respect for their human rights; and that those responsible for caring for detainees are held accountable for their actions. Many people in custody are vulnerable, often with complex social, legal and medical histories. Each year a number of people die in custody, while many more experience some form of harm, injury or illness. For over 40 years, the welfare of people in custody has been a concern of the Victorian Ombudsman. In a number of my reports to Parliament I have identified concerns about the treatment of people in custody and made recommendations to address such concerns. Given continuing overcrowding in Victorian prisons and police cells, coinciding with an increase in the number of prisoner deaths in 2012-13, I decided that an own motion investigation into deaths in Victorian custodial facilities was warranted. My investigation focussed on Victorian prisons, police cells, the youth justice precincts and the secure psychiatric hospital for people with serious mental illness admitted under the Mental Health Act 1986.

Details: Melbourne: Victorian Ombudsman, 2014. 152p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2014 at: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/getattachment/2998b6e6-491a-4dfe-b081-9d86fe4d4921/reports-publications/parliamentary-reports/investigation-into-deaths-and-harm-in-custody.aspx

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/getattachment/2998b6e6-491a-4dfe-b081-9d86fe4d4921/reports-publications/parliamentary-reports/investigation-into-deaths-and-harm-in-custody.aspx

Shelf Number: 132095

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody
Inmate Deaths
Mental Health Services
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Suicide

Author: Sentencing Project

Title: The State of Sentencing 2013: Developments in Policy and Practice

Summary: The United States has the highest rate of incarceration in the world and keeps 7.2 million men and women under correctional supervision. More than 2.2 million are in prison or jail while nearly five million are monitored in the community on probation or parole. The scale of the nation's correctional population results from a mix of crime rates and legislative and administrative policies that vary by state. Today, there is general agreement that the high rate of incarceration resulted from deliberate policy choices that impose punitive sentences which have increased both the numbers of people entering the system and how long they remain under correctional control. These policies include an expansion of life without parole as a sentencing option and lengthy terms under community supervision. Despite the nation's four-decade era of mass incarceration, the Bureau of Justice Statistics reported that the prison population dropped in 2012 for the third consecutive year. About half of the 2012 decline - 15,035 prisoners - occurred in California, which decreased its prison population in response to a 2011 Supreme Court order to relieve prison overcrowding. But eight other states - Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Texas, and Virginia - showed substantial decreases of more than 1,000 inmates, and more than half the states reported some drop in the number of prisoners. Previous changes in policy and practice may have contributed to the modest decline. Lawmakers have cited the growth in state corrections spending at the expense of other priorities as a reason to change sentencing policies and practices. During 2013, legislators in at least 31 states adopted 47 criminal justice policies that may help to reduce the prison population, improve juvenile justice outcomes, and eliminate the barriers that marginalize persons with prior convictions. The policy reforms outlined in this report document changes in sentencing, probation and parole, collateral consequences and juvenile justice. Highlights include: Six states - Colorado, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Oregon, South Dakota, and Vermont - expanded alternatives to incarceration for certain drug offenses. Three states - Kansas, Oregon, and South Dakota - authorized earned discharge from community supervision. Maryland abolished the death penalty as a sentencing option. Today, 18 states and the District of Columbia no longer authorize the death penalty. Oregon became the third state to authorize racial impact statements for any change to criminal laws or sentencing codes. Five states - California, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, and Rhode Island - adopted or expanded policies to address employment barriers for persons with a prior criminal history. Georgia and Nebraska enacted comprehensive juvenile justice measures that included provisions to expand alternatives to incarceration for certain youth. At least eight states - Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Wyoming, and Utah - modified juvenile list without parole policies.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2014. 20p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2014 at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_State%20of%20Sentencing%202013.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Arab Emirates

URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/sen_State%20of%20Sentencing%202013.pdf

Shelf Number: 132114

Keywords:
Criminal Justice Policies
Criminal Justice Reform
Prison Sentences
Prisoners
Punishment
Sentencing

Author: Durose, Matthew R.

Title: Recidivism of Prisoners Released in 30 States in 2005: Patterns from 2005 to 2010

Summary: This report examines the 5-year post-release offending patterns of persons released from state prisons in 2005 by offender characteristics, prior criminal history, and commitment offense. It provides estimates on the number and types of crimes former inmates commit both prior to their imprisonment and after release. The report includes different measures of recidivism, including a new arrest, court adjudication, conviction, and incarceration for either a new sentence or a technical violation. It also documents the extent to which the released prisoners committed crimes in states other than the one that released them. Data are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Recidivism Study of State Prisoners Released in 2005, which tracked a sample of former inmates from 30 states for five years following release in 2005. The findings are based on prisoner records obtained from the state departments of corrections through the National Corrections Reporting Program (NCRP) and criminal history records obtained through requests to the FBI's Interstate Identification Index (III) and state repositories via the International Justice and Public Safety Network (Nlets). Highlights: Among state prisoners released in 30 states in 2005 - About two-thirds (67.8%) of released prisoners were arrested for a new crime within 3 years, and three-quarters (76.6%) were arrested within 5 years. Within 5 years of release, 82.1% of property offenders were arrested for a new crime, compared to 76.9% of drug offenders, 73.6% of public order offenders, and 71.3% of violent offenders. More than a third (36.8%) of all prisoners who were arrested within 5 years of release were arrested within the first 6 months after release, with more than half (56.7%) arrested by the end of the first year. Two in five (42.3%) released prisoners were either not arrested or arrested once in the 5 years after their release. A sixth (16.1%) of released prisoners were responsible for almost half (48.4%) of the nearly 1.2 million arrests that occurred in the 5-year follow-up period. An estimated 10.9% of released prisoners were arrested in a state other than the one that released them during the 5-year follow-up period Within 5 years of release, 84.1% of inmates who were age 24 or younger at release were arrested, compared to 78.6% of inmates ages 25 to 39 and 69.2% of those age 40 or older.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: Special Report: Accessed April 23, 2014 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rprts05p0510.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/rprts05p0510.pdf

Shelf Number: 132138

Keywords:
Prisoners
Recidivism
Reoffending

Author: Hearts on a Wire Collective

Title: This is a Prison: Glitter is Not Allowed. Experiences of Trans and Gender Variant People in Pennsylvania's Prison Systems

Summary: The inspiration for this report grew from our own experiences and the stories our friends told us. Since 2007, Hearts on a Wire has been building a movement to address the policing and imprisonment of our trans and gender variant communities across Pennsylvania. Hearts on a Wire is connected to transgender and gender variant (T/GV) individuals who are incarcerated, detained, and recently released. Accounts of prison conditions from these contacts show the intensity of discrimination, abuse, medical neglect, and punitive isolation that our communities face on the inside. Incarcerated T/GV individuals report dismissal, intimidation, or retaliation when attempting to file grievances. In response to these injustices, formerly incarcerated T/GV Philadelphians and their allies began a conversation about ways to address these issues. Chief among the concerns raised were the ways that prisons remove incarcerated people from their support networks and communities. Breaking the isolation of our incarcerated community members has been a critical step in addressing health and safety issues from the outside. Out of a desire to meet these needs, a network grew and became Hearts on a Wire. The group's first project was to gather community members on the outside to make and send Valentines to T/GV people incarcerated across Pennsylvania. The event was an opportunity for formerly incarcerated people and those with friends and family members inside to discuss how prisons affected our lives and the lives of our loved ones. Hearts on a Wire has held art-making and letter-writing events to build a network with T/GV community members locked in prisons around the state. Additionally, the group tries to respond to urgent situations, such as incidents where our members have been placed in the hole - or have endured abuse within their institutions. In their letters, incarcerated individuals highlighted the critical health and safety issues they face. From this correspondence, incarcerated and outside Hearts on a Wire members determined the need to create this research project.

Details: Philadelphia, PA: Hearts on a Wire Collective, 2011. 75p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2014 at: http://www.galaei.org/documents/thisisaprison.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.galaei.org/documents/thisisaprison.pdf

Shelf Number: 132201

Keywords:
Gays, Lesbians and Bisexuals
Inmates
Prisoners
Transgender

Author: Jamieson, Ruth

Title: Aging and Social Exclusion Among Former Politically Motivated Prisoners in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland

Summary: This report describes a study investigating the well-being and social and economic inclusion of former politically motivated prisoners in Northern Ireland. They constitute an important group of Northern Ireland's ageing "conflict generation". The research was funded by the Changing Ageing Partnership, and was carried out with the assistance of both loyalist and republican prisoner support organisations. The fieldwork included a survey of 190 former politically motivated prisoners (117 republicans, 73 loyalists), focus groups, and 25 in depth narrative interviews. Almost half those surveyed were not in paid employment; this may reflect both health related disability, and continuing structural and legal barriers associated with conflict-related convictions. Over three-quarters of those surveyed had experienced financial problems since release. Fewer than half of those who were still of working age had made ten years of contributions to any kind of pension scheme and none will have built up eligibility for a full basic state pension when the reach retirement age. The lack of employment and pension entitlements have stark implications for impending poverty in old age. Over a third of respondents (39.9%) had GHQ-12 scores indicating the presence of clinically significant mental health problems, 32.6 % had received prescription medication for depression in the last year and 22.6.2% said that since release from prison there had been times when they had not wanted to go on living. Over half reported symptoms characteristic of post-traumatic stress disorder. Standardised screening measures for alcohol problems indicated that 68.8% of respondents engaged in levels of drinking that were hazardous, and 53.3% met the threshold for alcohol dependence. We found high levels of resilience and reflectiveness amongst respondents and interviewees but also areas of significant psychological harm, and they graphically described the complex personal and emotional consequences for themselves and their families that had resulted from the conflict. The research findings indicate a need for further action in relation to areas of employment, mental health, information and advice.

Details: Belfast: Community Foundation for Northern Ireland, 2010. 129p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2014 at: http://www.law.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/Research/InstituteofCriminologyandCriminalJustice/Publications/worddocs/Filetoupload,226499,en.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.law.qub.ac.uk/schools/SchoolofLaw/Research/InstituteofCriminologyandCriminalJustice/Publications/worddocs/Filetoupload,226499,en.pdf

Shelf Number: 132242

Keywords:
Mental Health
Political Prisoners
Prisoners

Author: Flower, Shawn M.

Title: Veteran Inmates in Maryland

Summary: This report presents the results from the Veterans Survey conducted in February 2013 of inmates identified as Veterans, and housed in 25 DPSCS facilities. The objective of the survey was to describe the inmate veteran population, confirm veteran status, deployment history, identify benefits received, housing plans upon release, and ascertain the inmate's needs upon release. A second data source was a data extract from DPSCS IT systems which identified which inmates were on the "VA Match List", as well as providing institutional data (facility, security level, admittance date, offense, projected release date, and detail assignment), risk assessment history (date of assessment, risk level at intake), and additional demographic data (race, gender, date of birth).

Details: Greenbelt, MD: Choice Research Associates, 2013. 13p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2014 at: http://www.choiceresearchassoc.com/documents/cra_veteran_report_final_031313.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.choiceresearchassoc.com/documents/cra_veteran_report_final_031313.pdf

Shelf Number: 132253

Keywords:
Inmates
Military Veterans
Prisoners
Veterans and Crime

Author: Torrey, E. Fuller

Title: The Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in Prisons and Jails: A State Survey

Summary: Prisons and jails have become America's "new asylums": The number of individuals with serious mental illness in prisons and jails now exceeds the number in state psychiatric hospitals tenfold. Most of the mentally ill individuals in prisons and jails would have been treated in the state psychiatric hospitals in the years before the deinstitutionalization movement led to the closing of the hospitals, a trend that continues even today. The treatment of mentally ill individuals in prisons and jails is critical, especially since such individuals are vulnerable and often abused while incarcerated. Untreated, their psychiatric illness often gets worse, and they leave prison or jail sicker than when they entered. Individuals in prison and jails have a right to receive medical care, and this right pertains to serious mental illness just as it pertains to tuberculosis, diabetes, or hypertension. This right to treatment has been affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Treatment of Persons with Mental Illness in Prisons and Jails is the first national survey of such treatment practices. It focuses on the problem of treating seriously mentally ill inmates who refuse treatment, usually because they lack awareness of their own illness and do not think they are sick. What are the treatment practices for these individuals in prisons and jails in each state? What are the consequences if such individuals are not treated? To address these questions, an extensive survey of professionals in state and county corrections systems was undertaken. Sheriffs, jail administrators, and others who were interviewed for the survey expressed compassion for inmates with mental illness and frustration with the mental health system that is failing them.

Details: Arlington, VA: Treatment Advocacy Center, 2014. 116p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 6, 2014 at: http://www.tacreports.org/storage/documents/treatment-behind-bars/treatment-behind-bars.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.tacreports.org/storage/documents/treatment-behind-bars/treatment-behind-bars.pdf

Shelf Number: 132260

Keywords:
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Kearney, Melissa S.

Title: Ten Economic Facts about Crime and Incarceration in the United States

Summary: Crime and high rates of incarceration impose tremendous costs on society, with lasting negative effects on individuals, families, and communities. Rates of crime in the United States have been falling steadily, but still constitute a serious economic and social challenge. At the same time, the incarceration rate in the United States is so high-more than 700 out of every 100,000 people are incarcerated-that both crime scholars and policymakers alike question whether, for nonviolent criminals in particular, the social costs of incarceration exceed the social benefits. While there is significant focus on America's incarceration policies, it is important to consider that crime continues to be a concern for policymakers, particularly at the state and local levels. Public spending on fighting crime-including the costs of incarceration, policing, and judicial and legal services-as well as private spending by households and businesses is substantial. There are also tremendous costs to the victims of crime, such as medical costs, lost earnings, and an overall loss in quality of life. Crime also stymies economic growth. For example, exposure to violence can inhibit effective schooling and other developmental outcomes (Burdick-Will 2013; Sharkey et al. 2012). Crime can induce citizens to migrate; economists estimate that each nonfatal violent crime reduces a city's population by approximately one person, and each homicide reduces a city's population by seventy persons (Cullen and Levitt 1999; Ludwig and Cook 2000). To the extent that migration diminishes a locality's tax and consumer base, departures threaten a city's ability to effectively educate children, provide social services, and maintain a vibrant economy. The good news is that crime rates in the United States have been falling steadily since the 1990s, reversing an upward trend from the 1960s through the 1980s. There does not appear to be a consensus among scholars about how to account for the overall sharp decline, but contributing factors may include increased policing, rising incarceration rates, and the waning of the crack epidemic that was prevalent in the 1980s and early 1990s. Despite the ongoing decline in crime, the incarceration rate in the United States remains at a historically unprecedented level. This high incarceration rate can have profound effects on society; research has shown that incarceration may impede employment and marriage prospects among former inmates, increase poverty depth and behavioral problems among their children, and amplify the spread of communicable diseases among disproportionately impacted communities (Raphael 2007). These effects are especially prevalent within disadvantaged communities and among those demographic groups that are more likely to face incarceration, namely young minority males. In addition, this high rate of incarceration is expensive for both federal and state governments. On average, in 2012, it cost more than $29,000 to house an inmate in federal prison (Congressional Research Service 2013). In total, the United States spent over $80 billion on corrections expenditures in 2010, with more than 90 percent of these expenditures occurring at the state and local levels (Kyckelhahn and Martin 2013). A founding principle of The Hamilton Project's economic strategy is that long-term prosperity is best achieved by fostering economic growth and broad participation in that growth. Elevated rates of crime and incarceration directly work against these principles, marginalizing individuals, devastating affected communities, and perpetuating inequality. In this spirit, we offer "Ten Economic Facts about Crime and Incarceration in the United States" to bring attention to recent trends in crime and incarceration, the characteristics of those who commit crimes and those who are incarcerated, and the social and economic costs of current policy. Chapter 1 describes recent crime trends in the United States and the characteristics of criminal offenders and victims. Chapter 2 focuses on the growth of mass incarceration in America. Chapter 3 presents evidence on the economic and social costs of current crime and incarceration policy.

Details: Washington, DC: The Hamilton Project, Brookings, Institute, 2014. 24p.

Source: Internet Resource: Policy Memo: Accessed May 10, 2014 at: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2014/05/01%20crime%20facts/v8_thp_10crimefacts.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/papers/2014/05/01%20crime%20facts/v8_thp_10crimefacts.pdf

Shelf Number: 132316

Keywords:
Costs of Crime
Costs of Criminal Justice
Crime Rates
Criminal Justice Expenditures
Economics of Crime
Incarceration
Prisoners

Author: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales

Title: Learning from PPO Investigations: End of Life Care

Summary: This report presents a review of 214 Prisons and Probation Ombudsman (PPO) fatal incident investigations into foreseeable natural cause deaths in custody. These deaths were due to terminal or incurable diseases in prisons in England and Wales between January 2007 and October 2012. - The review of end of life care in the 214 investigations is placed in the wider context of an ageing prison population. The national and local responses to the changing prison demographic are considered. - The average age at death was 61 years old. Fifty eight per cent of these deaths were of prisoners aged 60 years and over (123 of 214). - The majority of prisoners (85%) in the sample received care which was judged by investigators and their clinical counterparts to be equivalent to that they could have expected to receive in the community. - However, the level of end of life care provided to prisoners varied between prisons. Over a quarter (29%) of prisoners in the sample did not have a palliative care plan in place to support them and their families with their terminal illness. - Eight fatal incident investigations are summarised as case studies, with learning highlighted. The cases address the following themes: - Palliative care plans - The use of restraints - Compassionate release and release on temporary licence - Family involvement - The learning identified is categorised into four groups - The importance of implementing an end of life care plan from the point of terminal diagnosis to support for the family after death. - The need for prisons to place sufficient weight on a prisoner's current health and mobility when assessing the risk they pose to justify any use of restraints. The concordat between the Prison Service and NHS should be followed by every prison to assess the level of restraint required - Where appropriate, applications for early release on compassionate grounds should be completed at the earliest possible opportunity. - The need for families to be involved, where appropriate, in the care planning and how prisons can facilitate and support this.

Details: London: Prisons and Probation Ombudsman for England and Wales, 2013. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2014 at: http://www.ppo.gov.uk/docs/Learning_from_PPO_investigations_-_End_of_life_care_final_web.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.ppo.gov.uk/docs/Learning_from_PPO_investigations_-_End_of_life_care_final_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 132352

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (U.K.)
Health Care
Prisoners

Author: Iowa Department of Corrections

Title: Substance Abuse, Report to the Board of Corrections, 2006

Summary: Twenty years ago, about 2% of Iowa's prison population was serving time for a drug-related offense. As documented in these pages, drug offenders now make up about 27% of the prison population. Sentencing changes in the 1980's resulted in an increased likelihood of sentences to prison for drug offenses, as well as an increase in average length of stay. Increased resources for law enforcement, such as formation of the Division of Narcotics Enforcement and funding for multi-jurisdictional drug law enforcement task forces, has also contributed to the increase in drug offenders within the corrections system. In the 1980's, cocaine and crack cocaine was a prominent problem; today it is methamphetamines.4 Drug crimes are the most common commitment offense among newly admitted prisoners, increasing from 316 admissions in FY1995, to 1,057 in FY2005. This report begins with current information on the prevalence of offenders convicted of alcohol- and drug-related crimes within Iowa's community-based corrections and prison populations. Substance abuse, however, is a common issue among the entire corrections population, no matter the convicting offense. National offender surveys conducted in the past have found nearly 70% of probationers and over 80% of state prisoners reported past drug use. Drug and alcohol abuse among offenders is more common than for the general population. For example, about 16% of Iowans age 18 to 25, and 4% of Iowans age 26 or older, reported using illicit drugs in the past month. This report documents a much more widespread problem for Iowa's adult offender population. This report, however, goes beyond documentation of the problem. It describes how the Iowa Department of Corrections is addressing substance abuse among the offender population through the provision of treatment, and monitoring for current drug and alcohol usage. All information was obtained from the Iowa Corrections Offender Network (ICON) with many of the reports obtained via the Iowa Justice Data Warehouse.

Details: Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Corrections, 2006. 20p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 14, 2014 at: http://publications.iowa.gov/13047/1/BOCSubstanceAbuseReport.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: United States

URL: http://publications.iowa.gov/13047/1/BOCSubstanceAbuseReport.pdf

Shelf Number: 102599

Keywords:
Alcohol Abuse and Crime
Drug Abuse and Crime
Drug Law Enforcement
Drug Offenders (Iowa)
Prisoners
Substance Abuse Treatment

Author: Southern Poverty Law Center

Title: Cruel Confinement: Abuse, Discrimination and Death Within Alabama's Prisons

Summary: An investigation by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program (ADAP) has found that for many people incarcerated in Alabama's state prisons, a sentence is more than a loss of freedom. Prisoners, including those with disabilities and serious physical and mental illnesses, are condemned to penitentiaries where systemic indifference, discrimination and dangerous - even life-threatening - conditions are the norm.

Details: Montgomery, AL: Southern Poverty Law Center, 2014. 24p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 17, 2014 at: http://www.adap.net/Alabama%20Prison%20Report_final.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.adap.net/Alabama%20Prison%20Report_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 132495

Keywords:
Disabilities
Health Care
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoners

Author: Camman, Carolyn

Title: Environmental Scan of Canadian and International Aboriginal Corrections Programs and Services

Summary: To help inform the evaluation of Strategic Plan on Aboriginal Corrections (SPAC) in 2010/11 and CSC's future planning and policy decisions in this area, the University of Saskatchewan was contracted to undertake an external environmental scan of Aboriginal corrections programs and services within Canada and internationally. Program searches extended across the four elements of the Aboriginal Corrections Continuum of Care model but specifically excluded programs and services provided or funded by CSC. Pre-dispositional programs and services (e.g. sentencing circles, presentence diversion programs) were also excluded from the scan. The scan of corrections programs and services targeted to Aboriginal offenders revealed 38 (non-CSC) programs across Canada and 67 programs and services internationally. All Continuum of Care categories were represented, with the greatest number falling within the 'Intervention' category.

Details: Saskatoon: University of Saskatchewan, Forensic Behavioural Sciences and Justice Studies Initiative, 2011. 114p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 26, 2014 at: http://www.usask.ca/cfbsjs/research/pdf/research_reports/CSC_Environmental_Scan_Mar_22_corr.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: International

URL: http://www.usask.ca/cfbsjs/research/pdf/research_reports/CSC_Environmental_Scan_Mar_22_corr.pdf

Shelf Number: 132553

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Correctional Programs
Indigenous Peoples
Interventions
Prisoners
Rehabilitation

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title: Nation Behind Bars: A Human Rights Solution

Summary: Far too many US laws violate basic principles of justice by requiring disproportionately severe punishment, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. The 36-page report, "Nation Behind Bars: A Human Rights Solution," notes that laws requiring penalties that are far longer than necessary to meet the purposes of punishment have given the United States the world's highest reported rate of incarceration. These laws have spawned widespread and well-founded public doubts about the fairness of the US criminal justice system.

Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2014. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/2014_US_Nation_Behind_Bars_0.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/related_material/2014_US_Nation_Behind_Bars_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 132562

Keywords:
Human Rights Abuses
Prison Sentences
Prisoners
Punishment
Sentencing Reform

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title: Under Kurdish Rule: Abuses in PYD-Run Enclaves of Syria

Summary: Based on research in Syria and northern Iraq, Under Kurdish Rule: Abuses in PYD-Run Enclaves of Syria documents human rights abuses in the three predominantly Kurdish areas in northern Syria that are controlled since 2012 by the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD). In January 2014, the PYD and allied parties established an interim administration in these areas. While conditions are better there than in other war-torn parts of Syria, the PYD-run authorities have arbitrarily arrested political opponents, denied defendants the right to a fair trial, and physically abused detainees, leading to death in two recent cases. PYD-run security forces have also used children under 18 for military purposes. As the de facto authority in these regions, the PYD is obliged under international human rights law to grant the people in the areas it controls - Kurds, Arabs, Syriacs, and others - their fundamental rights.

Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2014. 116p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria0614_kurds_ForUpload.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Syria

URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/syria0614_kurds_ForUpload.pdf

Shelf Number: 132564

Keywords:
Detainees
Human Rights Abuses
Prisoners

Author: Johnson, Sarah

Title: An Analysis on the Effects of Earned Time for Inmates Charged with Robbery

Summary: "Good time" - or "earned time", as it is called in Iowa - is a vehicle by which incarcerated inmates are able to earn time off their sentences beyond the time they actually serve. In Iowa, for example, imprisoned inmates exhibiting good behavior earn 1.2 additional days off their sentences for each day served so that, for example, a Class C sentence with a maximum term of ten years can actually expire in just over 4.5 years. Earned time policies were created to serve two critical functions: 1) to allow for the management of prison populations by releasing compliant inmates while keeping inmates incarcerated who are believed to pose more societal risk; and 2) to promote positive inmate behavior while incarcerated, ensuring the safety of other inmates and correctional staff. The purpose of this analysis is to examine the latter contention: do earned time policies achieve their intended purpose by reducing institutional misconduct? Institutional misconduct rates were examined among inmates who were newly admitted to prison between FY2006-FY2008 after originally having been charged with either Robbery-1 or Robbery-2. A conviction under either of these offenses requires serving a mandatory minimum sentence of 70 percent of the maximum prison sentence before being eligible for release. A second component to these mandatory minimum sentences is the limited accrual of earned time, capped at 15 percent to be applied after 70 percent of the sentence has been served. This analysis compares misconduct rates between offenders serving a 70 percent sentence and offenders who escaped the mandatory minimum and were convicted of an alternative (non-70%) crime. Offenders in this analysis are referred to as the 70 percent and non-70 percent groups. The analysis provided the following findings: - Inmates serving non-70 percent sentences tended to have higher amounts of total misconduct than the 70 percent group during year-two and -three of incarceration when examining independent incarceration years (i.e. not cumulatively). - Misconduct rates tended to decrease for both the 70 percent and non-70 percent groups as release approached, although this reduction occurred much earlier for the 70 percent group. - Misconduct rates began to decrease for the 70 percent group around five-and-one-half years prior to release and hovered around zero to six percent until release, while misconduct rates began to decrease for the non-70 percent group only within the last year-and-one-half of incarceration. - Age was one of the strongest and most consistent significant predictors of institutional misconduct. Significant predictors of misconduct during years-two and three of incarceration also included offender custody classification and facility security level. It is important to note that sentence type (70% or non-70%) was not found to be a significant predictor of offender misconduct. While the findings from this report appear to suggest that earned time has little influence on offender misconduct, it is important to acknowledge the possible effects that removal or modification of the policy could have on misconduct rates. While findings suggest that the rates of misconduct are higher for the non-70% than the 70 percent group, it is possible that, absent earned time policies, misconduct rates could increase or decrease. It should also be remembered that our findings relate specifically to a certain group of offenders (i.e., inmates originally charged with robbery) who are not necessarily representative of prison inmates as a whole. The analysis also occurs within a unique sentencing structure that contains element of both indeterminate and determinate sentencing. It should also be said that these findings should not necessarily suggest abolishment or modification of current earned time practices. Simply doing away with earned time, within Iowa's current sentencing structure, would result in a nearly immediate rise in prison population. Without earned time, a ten-year sentence would actually expire in ten years rather than the current 4.54 years, a change likely to delay discretionary releases (i.e., paroles and work releases) as well as expirations of sentence. While abolishing or reducing the opportunity for earned time may be attractive in terms of "truth in sentencing," such a change should not be made without considering the possible impact on the size of Iowa's prison population.

Details: Des Moines, IA: Iowa Department of Human Rights, Division of Criminal and Juvenile Justice Planning, Statistical Analysis Center, 2014. 55p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 30, 2014 at: https://humanrights.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/media/CJJP_Analysis%20on%20the%20Effects%20of%20Earned%20time%20for%20Inmates%20Charged%20with%20Robbery.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: https://humanrights.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/media/CJJP_Analysis%20on%20the%20Effects%20of%20Earned%20time%20for%20Inmates%20Charged%20with%20Robbery.pdf

Shelf Number: 132567

Keywords:
Early Release
Earned Time
Good Time
Prisoners
Robbery
Sentencing

Author: Hoke, Scott

Title: Inmate Behavior Management: Guide to Meeting Basic Needs

Summary: Violence, vandalism, and other unwanted inmate behaviors prevail in many jails nationwide, and they frustrate jail practitioners who must ensure the safety and security of inmates, staff and the public. Jail environments are one of the few environments in our communities where this type of behavior is expected and accepted. The environment created by these behaviors should not be considered acceptable and it is the jail administrators responsibility to operate their facilities in a way that prevents these behaviors from occurring. Relatively few resources make it challenging to provide assistance and detailed direction to administrators on how best to operate such a complex organization. National Institute of Corrections (NIC) has introduced an initiative designed to: teach administrators, managers, and corrections officers the most effective methods to control inmate behavior and optimize operational efficiency. NIC calls the initiative Inmate Behavior Management or IBM. The comprehensive management system has six identifiable elements that work together to manage inmate behavior and create an efficient and effective organization (Hutchinson, Keller, and Reid 2009): 1 Assessing risks and needs 2 Assigning inmates to housing 3 Meeting inmates basic needs 4 Defining and conveying expectations for inmates 5 Supervising inmates 6 Keeping inmates productively occupied 7 Defining and conveying expectations is one in a series of documents or tools for jails practitioners to use as they implement this management strategy A Guide to Meeting Basic Needs offers practical information and guidance on implementing element three meeting inmates basic needs. One important aspect of managing inmate behavior is to understand what motivates human behavior. Experience has shown that if a jail does not meet the basic human needs of inmates, the inmates will find a way to satisfy their needs in ways that may be unfavorable to the orderly operation of the jail. Understanding what motivates human behavior provides jail administrators with a very useful tool for managing inmates since it helps explain both good inmate behavior and bad. This document not only provides guidance to jail practitioners as they implement this element, but it also provides self-assessment checklists to determine how well the jail is doing in the delivery of basic needs and suggestions for area of improvement.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Corrections, 2014. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2014 at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/027704.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/027704.pdf

Shelf Number: 132577

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Inmate Discipline
Inmates
Jail Administration
Jails
Prison Administration
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Nellis, Ashley

Title: Life Goes On: The Historic Rise in Life Sentences in America

Summary: n recent years, states around the country have been reconsidering the value of using incarceration as the primary tool for responding to criminal behavior. After a decades-long surge, modest declines in prison populations are now occurring nationally and various state legislatures have reformed sentencing laws that reduce the incarceration of people convicted of certain offenses. In 2011 and 2012, this led to 17 states closing some of their prisons. Despite these developments, the number of prisoners serving life sentences continues to grow even while serious, violent crime has been declining for the past 20 to correlate with increasingly lengthy sentences. This report details the rise of the lifer population in America's prisons, now standing at nearly 160,000, with almost 50,000 people serving life sentences without parole (LWOP). In order to comprehensively assess trends in the use of life imprisonment we undertook a survey of persons serving life sentences in the corrections systems in all 50 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons during 2012. We sought to obtain data on the number of persons serving such sentences, demographic characteristics, type of offense, and trends in the use of life sentences over time. The lifer population has more than quadrupled in size since 1984. One in nine people in prison is now serving While release could be attained through a successful application for executive clemency, this mechanism for release is rarely utilized. In our 2009 report, No Exit: The Expanding Use of Life Sentences in America, we noted that there were 41,095 people serving LWOP sentences and a total of 140,610 people serving life sentences nationally. Some state departments of corrections have revised these numbers slightly since our last report. The updated numbers are provided.a life sentence and nearly a third of lifers will never have a chance at a parole hearing; they are certain to die in prison. This analysis documents long-term trends in the use of life imprisonment as well as providing empirical details for the offenses that comprise the life-sentenced population. KEY FINDINGS - As of 2012, there were 159,520 people serving life sentences, an 11.8% rise since 2008. - One of every nine individuals in prison is serving a life sentence. - The population of prisoners serving life without parole (LWOP) has risen more sharply than those with the possibility of parole: there has been a 22.2% increase in LWOP since just 2008, an increase from 40,1745 individuals to 49,081. - Approximately 10,000 lifers have been convicted of nonviolent offenses. - Nearly half of lifers are African American and 1 in 6 are Latino. - More than 10,000 life-sentenced inmates have been convicted of crimes that occurred before they turned 18 and nearly 1 in 4 of them were sentenced to LWOP. - More than 5,300 (3.4%) of the life-sentenced inmates are female.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2013. 30p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 7, 2014 at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_Life%20Goes%20On%202013.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_Life%20Goes%20On%202013.pdf

Shelf Number: 130017

Keywords:
Incarceration
Life Imprisonment
Life Sentence
Prisoners
Punishment
Racial Disparities

Author: Green, Alice P.

Title: What Have We Done? Mass Incarceration and the Targeting of Albany's Black Males by Federal, State, and Local Authorities

Summary: This is the third in a series of three reports released by the Center for Law and Justice in 2012. Two earlier reports described the alarming overrepresentation of minorities in the Capital Region criminal and juvenile justice systems. In this report, the Center documents the devastation wrought by recent arrest sweeps conducted in Albany minority communities by federal, state, and local authorities; as a result of the sweeps, scores of Albany's young African-American men have been sentenced to more than 600 years in prison for non-violent offenses. This additional punishment meted out to minorities for drug-related offenses upholds Albany County's dubious distinction as one of the most racially-disparate sentencing jurisdictions in the state. Section I of this report presents statistical data demonstrating the local impact of the "War on Drugs": the disproportionate representation of minorities among arrests, convictions, and sentences to state prison in Albany County. In one national study, Albany County ranked 5th in the nation in the ratio of African American to white drug admission rates. Although steps have recently been taken to reduce inequities in state and federal drug crime sentencing, law enforcement officials are now using a new tool to arrest and prosecute drug-related crimes alleged to have been committed by minorities: racketeering laws. Section II documents how young African-American men from Albany are now being subjected to additional years in prison, in some cases for committing no new crimes. Though law enforcement officials claimed to have been targeting serious offenses, many of Albany's black males were sentenced to serve a third of their young lives behind bars for merely having associated in one way or another --- either through a phone call, by enjoying similar music, by attending the same social function, or through some other seemingly innocuous connection --- with those suspected of criminal activity. Federal sweeps incarcerated 33 of Albany's young African-American males for a total of nearly 300 years, for non-violent crimes; a single state sweep sent 17 non-violent offenders, all minorities, to prison for a total of 317 years, for non-violent crimes. Section III provides historical context demonstrating that the mass incarceration of Albany's young black men is rooted in structural racism that perpetuates a racial caste system. Sustaining an era of the new Jim Crow, the "War on Drugs" launched in response to civil rights legislation in the 1960s replicates post-Civil War laws passed to discriminate against blacks in response to Reconstruction-era constitutional amendments. Just as the vast majority of those "hanged, shot and roasted alive" in nineteenth-century lynchings were not even charged with the crime (rape) for which the "sentence" was imposed, most imprisoned for hundreds of years as a result of twenty-first century Albany drug sweeps were sentenced not for the heinous crimes of murder, robbery, and assault trumpeted by investigators, but for non-violent convictions. Section IV describes the devastating individual and community consequences of mass incarceration. Section V explains that the enormous toll mass incarceration exacts on minority communities across the country can only be addressed through a two-pronged approach: a commitment by government entities to address the impact of mass incarceration, and a grass-roots social movement to educate and mobilize communities regarding "The New Jim Crow."

Details: Albany, NY: Center for Law and Justice, 2012. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 14, 2014 at: http://www.cflj.org/cflj/what-have-we-done.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.cflj.org/cflj/what-have-we-done.pdf

Shelf Number: 129725

Keywords:
Minority Groups
Prisoners
Race/Ethnicity
Racial Disparities

Author: Bradford, Spike

Title: Virginia's Justice System: Expensive, Ineffective and Unfair

Summary: With the 8th highest jail incarceration rate in the U.S., 1 of every 214 adult Virginians is behind bars in county jails across the state; African-American youth over-represented in the juvenile justice system; and the Commonwealth's overreliance on incarceration largely as a result of arresting Virginians for drug offenses - Virginia has an over-burdened correctional system unable to consistently provide services or safety. Virginia's Justice System: Expensive, Ineffective and Unfair points to reforms that, if implemented, would result in relief for Virginians directly impacted by the justice system and taxpayers alike. The policy brief -- the first in a series of publications being released by JPI as a group of justice advocates and concerned stakeholders have been meeting in the Commonwealth to discuss pushing for reforms -- is an overview of the Commonwealth's adult and youth justice system, which identifies areas of progress - like the recent effort to re-enfranchise formerly incarcerated residents with voting rights and other civil rights - and also identifies solutions to revise ineffective policies and practices of the past that remain in place.

Details: Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, 2013. 20p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/va_justice_system_expensive_ineffective_and_unfair_final.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/va_justice_system_expensive_ineffective_and_unfair_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 132686

Keywords:
Costs of Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Systems
Drug Law Policy
Drug Offenders
Juvenile Justice
Minority Groups
Prisoners
Racial Disparities

Author: Amnesty International

Title: Entombed: Isolation in the U.S. Federal Prison System

Summary: The USA incarcerates thousands of prisoners in long-term or indefinite solitary confinement. This report describes Amnesty International's concerns about conditions of severe isolation at the United States Penitentiary, Administrative Maximum (ADX) facility in Colorado, currently the only super-maximum security prison operated by the federal government. It also examines conditions in Special Management Units (SMUs) and Security Housing Units (SHUs) operated at other federal prison facilities. Since Amnesty International toured ADX prison in 2001 subsequent requests to return to the facility have been denied. The organisation is concerned that as conditions of isolation within federal prisons have become more severe, external oversight of the facilities has declined. With prisoners held in their cells for 22-24 hours a day in severe physical and social isolation, Amnesty International believes the conditions described in this report breach international standards for the humane treatment of prisoners. Many have been held in isolation for prolonged or indefinite periods - without a means to change their circumstances - amounting to a violation of the prohibition against cruel inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment under international law. The report also details disturbing evidence of prisoners with serious mental illness being detained in harsh isolated conditions without adequate screening, treatment or monitoring.

Details: London: AI, 2014. 54p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 16, 2014 at: http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/P4384USAEntombedReportFinalWeb15072014.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/P4384USAEntombedReportFinalWeb15072014.pdf

Shelf Number: 132691

Keywords:
Federal Prisons
Maximum Security Prisons
Prisoners
Punishment
Solitary Confinement
Supermax Prisons

Author: Zajac, Gary

Title: An Examination of Pennsylvania's Rural County Prison Systems

Summary: This study explores issues surrounding the operation of the 44 rural county jails in Pennsylvania. County jails house two primary categories of inmates - presentenced detainees and sentenced inmates. Presentenced detainees are inmates who have not made bail or have not yet been sentenced (and may or may not yet have been convicted of an offense). Some of these presentenced detainees may be bailed at any moment, and, thus, are in custody for widely varying lengths of time. At any given time, over half of a county jail's population may be presentenced detainees. Sentenced inmates are those who have been convicted and are serving their sentence in a county facility. Sentenced inmates in county jails nationwide typically have sentences of less than one year, but in Pennsylvania they can serve up to two years or more. County jails in general face a unique set of challenges, including large numbers of inmates who spend only a very short time in custody, difficulty in classifying and assessing a short-term inmate population, challenges in providing treatment services to inmates who may be in custody for only a short period, and financial issues related inmate medical costs and strained county budgets. County jails are often quite small, in some cases housing just over 20 inmates, making it difficult to maintain specialized staff positions to deliver needed services to inmates. In Pennsylvania, county jails in recent years have begun to serve as a relief valve for the increasingly strained state prison system. The state system has transferred hundreds of inmates to county jails since 2009, as many of these jails have excess capacity. The current study examines trends in rural county jail populations and demographics, jail capacity, capital projects and development (undertaken and planned), budgets, and staffing over the period 2004 through 2011. This study also documents types of treatment programs and services being offered at the jails and compares them to what is known about effective offender rehabilitation practices. Finally, this study also explores fiscal and other challenges facing the 44 rural county jails.

Details: Harrisburg, PA: Pennsylvania State University, 2012. 83p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2014 at: http://justicecenter.psu.edu/research/documents/JailsFinalReportJusticeCenterversion.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://justicecenter.psu.edu/research/documents/JailsFinalReportJusticeCenterversion.pdf

Shelf Number: 131699

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
County Jails
Inmates
Offender Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Prisons
Rural Areas
Treatment Programs

Author: Victoria (Australia). Auditor General

Title: Prisoner Transportation

Summary: In Victoria, there is a minimum of 58 000 prisoner movements per year. Prisoners need to be moved for a range of reasons - including being transported for medical treatment and to attend court. The audit focused on how effectively, efficiently and economically prisoners have been transported throughout Victoria's criminal justice system. It looked at the movement of prisoners by Corrections Victoria, Victoria Police and a prisoner transport contractor, and the extent to which outsourced prisoner transport services have supported effective service delivery. The audit found a lack of overarching and coordinated oversight of prisoner transportation. Governance and risk management processes do not cover the full movement of prisoners within the justice system, but instead focus on each area separately and in isolation from each other. It found that the full cost of prisoner transportation is not known and that current arrangements do not drive efficiencies. Neither Corrections Victoria nor Victoria Police collects information about the total number and cost of prisoner movements across the justice system, which means they cannot assess whether current contractual arrangements are minimising the cost and maximising the efficiency of prisoner transportation. The audit identified some initiatives in place which are designed to improve the efficiency of the system. However, the audit also identified opportunities to improve service delivery outcomes specifically related to prisoner separation and the timely delivery of prisoners.

Details: Melbourne: Victorian Auditor-General, 2014. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2014 at: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/20140611-Prisoner-Transport/20140611-Prisoner-Transport.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.audit.vic.gov.au/publications/20140611-Prisoner-Transport/20140611-Prisoner-Transport.pdf

Shelf Number: 132770

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Prisoner Transportation (Australia)
Prisoners

Author: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. Rapporteurship on the Rights of Persons Deprives of Liberty

Title: Report on the Use of Pretrial Detention in the Americas

Summary: For more than a decade, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (hereinafter "the IACHR", "the Inter-American Commission" or "the Commission") has considered the arbitrary and illegal use of pretrial detention a chronic problem in many countries of the region. In its recent Report on the Human Rights of Persons Deprived of Liberty in the Americas, the IACHR listed the excessive use of pretrial detention among the most serious and widespread problems in the region and noted that this dysfunctionality in criminal justice systems is in turn the cause of other problems such as overcrowding and the failure to separate detainees awaiting trial from the convicted. Along with other structural problems linked to the respect for and the guarantee of the rights of persons deprived of liberty, this situation has also been systematically identified in the Americas by United Nations monitoring mechanisms, whose mandate includes safeguarding the human rights of persons under criminal prosecution and/or deprived of liberty, such as: the Human Rights Committee (HRC), the Committee against Torture (CAT), the Subcommittee on Prevention of Torture (SPT), the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) and the Special Rapporteur on Torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (SRT). Similarly, other qualified actors such as the United Nations Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (ILANUD), have deemed that "[e]specially serious within the issue of the accelerated increase of prison populations is the case of prisoners awaiting trial"; therefore, "the region must continue its efforts to maintain more prudent levels of unconvicted prisoners." The Report on the High Level Expert Group Meeting on the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the treatment of prisoners, which was held in Santo Domingo, laid out some of the common causes at the regional level for the high proportion of prisoners awaiting trial, such as delays in bringing criminal defendants to trial, the absence of adequate legal advice, the influence of public opinion and the "tendency for prosecutors and judges to order that those awaiting trial should be held in detention, rather than making other arrangements for pre-trial supervision in the community." The excessive use of pretrial detention in the Americas has also been acknowledged by other bodies of the Organization of American States (OAS), such as at the Third Meeting of Officials Responsible for Penitentiary and Prison Policies, where reference was made to the "excessive use of preventive detention," and it was estimated that in the region "more than 40% of the prison population is on pretrial detention". The foregoing situation exists in spite of binding international norms that are very clear in recognizing the presumption of innocence and the exceptional nature of pretrial detention; the broad recognition of these rights at the constitutional level in the region; and the political will expressed at the highest level by the States twenty years ago in the framework of the Summits of the Americas, where governments made the commitment to "[t]ake the necessary steps to remedy inhumane conditions in prisons and to minimize the number of pretrial detainees" (The Miami Plan of Action, 1994). In this context, the Inter-American Commission considers that the excessive use of pretrial detention runs contrary to the very essence of the democratic rule of law, and that implementing this measure as a form of expeditious justice that results in a kind of anticipated sentence is flagrantly contrary to the provisions of the American Convention and Declaration, and the principles from which the Charter of the Organization of American States has drawn inspiration. Moreover, the use of pretrial detention is an important measure of the quality of the administration of justice and, as such, has a direct bearing on the quality of democracy. The IACHR recognizes the duty of States to maintain public order and protect all persons under their jurisdiction from crime and violence. Nonetheless, the Commission reiterates the longstanding principle enshrined in the Inter-American system that "irrespective of the nature or gravity of the crime prosecuted, the investigation of the facts and the eventual trial of specific persons should be carried out within the limits and according to the procedures that permit public safety to be preserved, with full respect for the human rights." Additionally, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (hereinafter "the Inter-American Court" or "the Court") has held that "[t]he concept of rights and freedoms as well as that of their guarantees cannot be divorced from the system of values and principles that inspire it. In a democratic society, the rights and freedoms inherent in the human person, the guarantees applicable to them and the rule of law form a triad. Each component thereof defines itself, complements and depends on the others for its meaning." As is covered in depth in this report, excessive use of pretrial detention is a complex problem caused by a variety of factors, such as: issues of legal design, structural deficiencies in administration of justice systems, interferences with judicial independence and deeply rooted tendencies in judicial culture and practice.

Details:

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 6, 2014 at: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/pdl/reports/pdfs/Report-PD-2013-en.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: International

URL: http://www.oas.org/en/iachr/pdl/reports/pdfs/Report-PD-2013-en.pdf

Shelf Number: 132910

Keywords:
Criminal Procedure
Human Rights Abuses
Pretrial Detention
Preventive Detention
Prisoners

Author: Hoke, Scott

Title: Inmate Behavior Management: Northampton County Jail Case Study

Summary: Violence, vandalism, and other unwanted inmate behaviors prevail in many jails nationwide, and they frustrate jail practitioners who must ensure the safety and security of inmates, staff and the public. Jail environments are one of the few environments in our communities where this type of behavior is expected and accepted. The environment created by these behaviors should not be considered acceptable, and it is jail administrators' responsibility to operate their facilities in a way that prevents these behaviors from occurring. Effectively managing inmate behavior creates a safer environment for the inmates and staff and allows the jail to provide a valuable service to the public. Community safety is enhanced by strong jail management and facilities should aspire to create environments where compliance, respect, and cooperation are fostered. In an attempt to create a system of strong management, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) introduced an initiative that was designed to teach administrators, managers, and corrections officers the most effective methods to control inmate behavior and optimize operational efficiency. NIC calls the initiative Inmate Behavior Management or IBM. The comprehensive management system has six identifiable elements that work together to control inmate behavior and create an efficient and effective organization (Hutchinson, Keller, and Reid 2009): 1 Assessing risks and needs 2 Assigning inmates to housing 3 Meeting inmates' basic needs 4 Defining and conveying expectations for inmates 5 Supervising inmates 6 Keeping inmates productively occupied Inmate Behavior Management: Northampton County Jail Case Study provides an example of how one facility planned and implemented the IBM management system and transitioned to a philosophy that refused to accept negative behavior as a natural result of the process of confinement. The experiences and results detailed in this report can be considered a valuable resource for any jail administrator who wants to make similar changes.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Corrections, 2013. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/027702.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/027702.pdf

Shelf Number: 133014

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Inmate Discipline
Inmates
Jail Administration
Jails
Prison Administration
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Hoke, Scott

Title: Inmate Behavior Management: Brazos County Jail Case Study

Summary: Violence, vandalism, and other unwanted inmate behaviors prevail in many jails nationwide, and they frustrate jail practitioners who must ensure the safety and security of inmates, staff, and the public. Jail environments are one of the few environments in our communities where this type of behavior is expected and accepted. The environment created by these behaviors should not be considered acceptable, and it is jail administrators' responsibility to operate their facilities in a way that prevents these behaviors from occurring. Effectively managing inmate behavior creates a safer environment for inmates and staff and allows the jail to provide a valuable service to the public. Community safety is enhanced by strong jail management, and facilities should aspire to create environments where compliance, respect, and cooperation are fostered. In an attempt to create a system of strong management, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) introduced an initiative that was designed to teach administrators, managers, and corrections officers the most effective methods to control inmate behavior and optimize operational efficiency. NIC calls the initiative Inmate Behavior Management or IBM. The comprehensive management system has six identifiable elements that work together to control inmate behavior and create an efficient and effective organization (Hutchinson, Keller, and Reid 2009): 1 Assessing risks and needs 2 Assigning inmates to housing 3 Meeting inmates' basic needs 4 Defining and conveying expectations for inmates 5 Supervising inmates 6 Keeping inmates productively occupied Inmate Behavior Management: Brazos County Jail Case Study provides an example of how one facility planned and implemented the IBM management system and transitioned to a philosophy that refused to accept negative behavior as a natural result of the process of confinement. The experiences and results detailed in this report can be considered a valuable resource for any jail administrator who wants to make similar changes.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2014. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 12, 2014 at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/027703.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/static.nicic.gov/Library/027703.pdf

Shelf Number: 133021

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Inmate Discipline
Inmates
Jail Administration
Jails
Prison Administration
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Heil, Peggy

Title: Prison Sex Offender Treatment: Recommendations for Program Implementation

Summary: Sexual offenses cause tremendous harm to the lives of victims, the victims' families and our communities. We recommend that the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation implement the "containment approach" for managing sex offenders in prison and on parole. The containment approach is a comprehensive strategy that prioritizes victim protection and community safety. Prison treatment for sex offenders can be an effective component of the containment approach. Intense prison treatment can reduce recidivism and enhance community safety. It can also reduce the substantial costs (emotional and financial) associated with recidivism. Miller, Cohen and Wiersema (1996)1 estimated that child sexual abuse crimes costs victims and society $99,000 per victimization, and estimated $87,000 per rape/sexual assault victimization. These costs are estimated to be $140,531 and $123,497 in 2007 dollars. Ninety-percent of the costs are associated with significant reduction in the quality of life for victims of these crimes. Quantifying the costs of sexual victimization seems to trivialize it nonetheless. As Miller et al. (1996:14) state, "pain, suffering, and reduced quality of life do not have a market price and cannot be bought and sold." Certainly victims would pay dearly to avoid them, as would their families and members of the community. The following report details a prison sex offender treatment program plan that is designed to reduce recidivism and avoid the costs and immeasurable harm of sex crime victimization. It provides evidence-based sex offender treatment and management recommendations to increase community safety and decrease new sex crimes by known offenders. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) requested a document that describes an empirically based prison sex offender treatment program and provides recommendations for the development and implementation of such a program in the California prison system. Program recommendations are drawn from research and clinical experience. Where possible, materials from other programs are included in appendices to facilitate implementation.

Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2007. 567p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2014 at: http://www.casomb.org/docs/PSOT_CDCR_Report.pdf

Year: 2007

Country: United States

URL: http://www.casomb.org/docs/PSOT_CDCR_Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 131049

Keywords:
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Evidence-Based Practices
Evidence-Based Programs
Inmates
Prison Programs
Prisoners
Sex Offender Treatment
Sex Offenders
Treatment Programs

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title: Public Insecurity: Deaths in Custody and Police Brutality in Vietnam

Summary: Police brutality, including deaths in police custody, is a regular source of public concern in Vietnam. The problem is so pervasive that even the heavily controlled state media frequently publishes reports about police abuse. Yet extensive government censorship has prevented more in-depth analysis about the problem and its causes, which include a culture of impunity for police officers and their superiors. Public Insecurity explores a large number of illustrative cases of officially acknowledged killings, alleged suicides, unexplained custodial deaths, torture, and beatings in police custody. Many victims are people merely accused of petty crimes, domestic disputes, and traffic violations. Factors contributing to Vietnam's epidemic of police brutality include the politicization of Vietnam's security services, inadequate professional training, particularly of the Commune Police, the absence of a strong legal system or independent judiciary, and insufficient freedom for the local and national media to act as an effective check against official misdeeds. One positive development is the rise of increasingly independent bloggers and citizen journalists who report on police abuses, making it impossible for the authorities to hide this problem from the public and, on occasion, leading to prosecution of police officers. Public Insecurity offers a series of common-sense recommendations to address the prevalence of police abuse in Vietnam. These include: - the establishment of an independent police complaints commission, - high-level support for prompt and impartial investigations and prosecutions of police abuse and misconduct, - adoption of a zero tolerance policy within the police for abuse, - enhancement of the role of legal counsel for suspects and detainees, - better training for police at all levels, particularly for commune police, - installation of cameras in interrogation and detention facilities, and - freedom of expression for journalists and on the Internet.

Details: New York: HRW, 2014. 104p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/vietnam0914_ForUpload_0.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Vietnam

URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/vietnam0914_ForUpload_0.pdf

Shelf Number: 133368

Keywords:
Deaths in Custody (Vietnam)
Human Rights Abuses
Police Brutality
Police Misconduct
Prisoners

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Bureau of Prisons: Management of New Prison Activations Can Be Improved

Summary: The federal inmate population has increased over the last two decades, and as of July 2014, BOP was responsible for the custody and care of more than 216,000 inmates. To handle the projected growth of between 2,500 and 3,000 or more inmates per year from 2015 through 2020, BOP has spent about $1.3 billion constructing five new institutions and acquiring one in Thomson, Illinois. BOP is activating these institutions by staffing and equipping them and populating them with inmates. GAO was requested to review BOP's activation process of newly constructed and acquired institutions. GAO reviewed, among other things, (1) the extent to which BOP is activating institutions within estimated time-frames and has an activation policy or schedules that meet best practices, and (2) why DOJ purchased Thomson and how the purchase affected system wide costs. GAO reviewed BOP budget documents from fiscal years 2008 to 2015 and assessed schedules against GAO's Schedule Assessment Guide. GAO conducted site visits to the six institutions, interviewed BOP officials, and reviewed staffing data from fiscal years 2010 through 2013. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that DOJ use its annual budget justification to communicate to Congress factors that might delay prison activation, and that BOP analyze institution-level staffing data and develop and implement a comprehensive activation policy and a schedule that reflects best practices. DOJ concurred with all of GAO's recommendations.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2014. 65p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-14-709: Accessed September 25, 2014 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/665417.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/665417.pdf

Shelf Number: 133416

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Federal Prisons (U.S.)
Prison Management
Prisoners

Author: Albertse, Lizelle

Title: Gang members' experiences of victimization and perpetration of rape in prison

Summary: People outside of prison tend to imagine sex in prison as violent gang attacks on defenceless individuals, but in actual fact, sex in prison is more complicated than the isolated gang rapes that take place. For the purpose of this study, the researcher followed the qualitative research approach from a constructivist perspective to understand how participants portrayed or constructed their experiences of victimization and/or perpetration of rape. The population of the study was members of the '28' prison gang with a history of sexual perpetration in prison. Participants for the study were male, released from prison, ages between 25 and 45 years of age. The researcher made use of purposive sampling in the selection of 15 participants. Data was collected through in depth, face to face interviews starting with open ended questions and probing for in depth experiences, interpretations and meanings. Data was analyzed according to Creswell's (1998:140) guidelines for qualitative data analysis and was verified as suggested by Creswell (1998:201). In order to explore the social context that might have influenced their constructions of experiences, the following question themes were identified: - Participant's experiences of family life - Participant's experiences of their involvement in crime - Participant's gang involvement in Corrective Institutions - Participant's experiences of forced sex in prison - Consequences of rape in prison after release

Details: Cape Town, South Africa: University of the Western Cape, 2007. 94p.

Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed September 27, 2014 at: http://etd.uwc.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11394/2214/Albertse_MA_2007.pdf?sequence=1

Year: 2007

Country: South Africa

URL: http://etd.uwc.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11394/2214/Albertse_MA_2007.pdf?sequence=1

Shelf Number: 133455

Keywords:
Prison Gangs
Prison Rape (South Africa)
Prisoners
Sexual Abuse
Sexual Violence

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Bureau of Prisons: Information on Efforts and Potential Options to Save Costs

Summary: BOP is responsible for the custody and care of 216,000 federal inmates-an almost 9-fold increase since 1980. At the same time, BOP appropriations increased more than 20-fold. DOJ states that the costs of the growing population are BOP's greatest challenge. BOP's population size is driven by several factors, such as law enforcement policies and sentencing laws. GAO was asked to review BOP's opportunities to save costs. This report (1) describes BOP's major costs and actions to achieve savings, (2) assesses the extent to which BOP has mechanisms to identify additional efficiencies, and (3) describes potential changes within and outside of BOP's authority that might reduce costs. GAO analyzed BOP financial data for fiscal years 2009 through 2013, reviewed but did not test its internal control system and processes for achieving efficiencies, and interviewed BOP officials. On the basis of sentencing reform options identified by experts and actions by the Attorney General, GAO developed a list of policy options that could reduce BOP's population. GAO gathered views on their potential effects from entities and 4 states selected for their criminal justice expertise. The views are not generalizable, but provide insights. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that BOP establish a mechanism to consistently monitor if bureau-wide corrective actions address repeated deficiencies and findings. DOJ concurred.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2014. 139p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-14-821: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/666254.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/670/666254.pdf

Shelf Number: 133618

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Costs of Corrections
Costs of Criminal Justice
Federal Prisons (U.S.)
Inmates
Prisoners

Author: McCarthy, Dan

Title: Florida's Aging Prisoner Problem

Summary: Florida's prison population is rapidly increasing despite declining crime rates, and this report recommends options to prevent increasing costs from overwhelming taxpayers. The report warns that the steadily growing elderly prison population in state facilities will require more costly medical care, resulting in additional budget concerns for an already struggling Department of Corrections.

Details: Tallahassee: Florida TaxWatch, 2014. 20p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2014 at: http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/ElderlyParoleFINAL.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.floridataxwatch.org/resources/pdf/ElderlyParoleFINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 133955

Keywords:
Aging Prisoners
Costs of Corrections
Elderly Inmates (Florida)
Prisoners

Author: Renaud, Jorge Antonio

Title: Video Visitation: How Private Companies Push for Visits by Video and Families Pay the Price

Summary: In September 2014, a group of Dallas-area advocates led a fight against an initiative that would have introduced video visitation capability to the Dallas County jail. The company proposing to provide services to Dallas had buried in its contract a requirement that the jail eliminate in-person visitation, thus leaving those who wished to visit prisoners only one option - visit by video. Or, don't visit at all. Dallas officials voted the proposal down, but it was the latest front in a battle that has seen video-only visitation policies spreading across the country, primarily in local lockups. Embraced by jail officials as a way to alleviate what many see as the burdensome security aspects of prison visitation, the primary attraction of video-only visitation actually rests on one facet: money.

Details: Charlotte, NC: Grassroots Leadership; Austin, TX: Texas Criminal Justice Coalition, 2014. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 17, 2014 at: http://grassrootsleadership.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Video%20Visitation%20%28web%29.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://grassrootsleadership.org/sites/default/files/uploads/Video%20Visitation%20%28web%29.pdf

Shelf Number: 133735

Keywords:
Prison Privatization
Prison Visitors
Prisoners
Prisons (Texas)
Video
Visitation

Author: McMillon, David

Title: Modeling the Underlying Dynamics of the Spread of Crime

Summary: The spread of crime is a complex, dynamic process that calls for a systems level approach. Here, we build and analyze a series of dynamical systems models of the spread of crime, imprisonment and recidivism, using only abstract transition parameters. To find the general patterns among these parameters - patterns that are independent of the underlying particulars - we compute analytic expressions for the equilibria and for the tipping points between high-crime and low-crime equilibria in these models. We use these expressions to examine, in particular, the effects of longer prison terms and of increased incarceration rates on the prevalence of crime, with a follow-up analysis on the effects of a Three-Strike Policy.

Details: PLoS ONE, 9(4): e88923

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 22, 2014 at: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0088923

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0088923

Shelf Number: 133795

Keywords:
Prisoners
Prisons
Punishment (U.S.)
Sentencing
Three-Strikes Legislation
Violence Crime

Author: Northern Ireland Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: The Safety of Prisoners held by the Northern Ireland Prison Service - 22 October 2014

Summary: The safety of prisoners is not just about preventing deaths in custody. It is a significant issue in the prison setting and vulnerable individuals need to be protected and supported in a therapeutic environment. Effective strategies are required to address the inter-linked areas of suicide and self-harm, the availability of illicit and prescription drugs, bullying, and the access to healthcare. This inspection found that the NIPS and the SEHSCT needed to work closely together to strengthen the strategic approach to, and the operational management of, these areas to improve safety and outcomes for prisoners. Northern Ireland's prisons house a complex mix of prisoners. The health profile of prisoners, the high levels of mental ill-health, personality disorder, drug and alcohol addiction, the proportion of prisoners on medication, and in numerous cases a combination of these factors, all create a concentration of need within the prison establishments. This requires a high degree of communication, co-ordination and joint action between the NIPS and the SEHSCT to deliver the appropriate levels of prisoner care, safety and healthcare provision. Inspectors would wish to comment on the work of prison officers and healthcare staff who, on a daily basis, deal with some very difficult and damaged individuals. Many caring interactions were witnessed with the most vulnerable prisoners, and Inspectors are aware of a number of occasions where prison and healthcare staff acted quickly and decisively to save the lives of prisoners in critical and potentially life-threatening situations. The procedures to protect and support prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm are governed through the Supporting Prisoners at Risk (SPAR) process and an associated safer custody meeting structure. The report highlights concerns about the management and implementation of safer custody at therapeutic arrangements for the most vulnerable prisoners are managed by the NIPS and the SEHSCT. Bullying is a significant issue in the prison environment. It can be due to a number of factors including drugs and may be offence-related. Bullying and anti-social behaviour can take a variety of forms, much can be subtle and most is unreported. Many prisoners lack confidence in the investigation process. It is the view of Inspectors that the strategy needs to be reviewed to more effectively challenge bullying, to implement a robust process to investigate allegations and reported incidents, to address under-reporting, and increase confidence in the system. The quantity and availability of drugs within prisons is concerning. Drugs are a high value currency in prisons. They have been responsible for a number of deaths in custody and other serious incidents, and are a cause of a significant proportion of the bullying which takes place. This is true both for illicit and prescription drugs. The NIPS is in the unenviable position of being powerless to totally prevent illicit drugs entering prisons until the development of search technology which allows the safe and effective detection of drugs which have been swallowed or secreted within a body cavity. A recent initiative with the police at Maghaberry Prison has had success detecting smuggled drugs. This inspection report highlights that more needs to be done to address this issue, and recommends that the NIPS, in conjunction with the SEHSCT, should review the strategy to more effectively address areas of supply reduction, demand reduction and throughcare. The report makes comment about the prescribing and management of medicines. It found that these areas needed to be reviewed to take account of the risk-assessment process for prisoners' in-possession medications; the control of medications to prevent diversion; the supervised-swallow arrangements for benzodiazepine stabilisation or withdrawal; and the recording and use of the SEHSCT's management information. The complexity and health needs of the prison population demand a co-ordinated response from the two principal organisations responsible for prisoner safety and care. The inspection found that the newly-introduced formal governance structures between the NIPS and the SEHSCT were effective at the more senior levels, but communication and joint-working at landing-level needed to be developed to increase effectiveness and improve outcomes for prisoners.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2014. 57p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2014 at: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/67/677ac123-4a48-43c3-8170-c2c73d2282a4.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.cjini.org/CJNI/files/67/677ac123-4a48-43c3-8170-c2c73d2282a4.pdf

Shelf Number: 133819

Keywords:
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons (Northern Ireland)

Author: U.S. Department of Justice. United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York

Title: CRIPA Investigation of the New York City Department of Correction Jails on Rikers Island

Summary: Attorney General Eric Holder and United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara announced today the completion of the Justice Department's multi-year civil investigation pursuant to the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act ("CRIPA") into the conditions of confinement of adolescent male inmates on Rikers Island. The investigation, which focused on use of force by staff, inmate-on-inmate violence, and use of punitive segregation during the period 2011-2013, concluded that there is a pattern and practice of conduct at Rikers Island that violates the rights of adolescents protected by the Eighth Amendment and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution. The investigation found that adolescent inmates are not adequately protected from physical harm due to the rampant use of unnecessary and excessive force by New York City Department of Correction ("DOC") staff and violence inflicted by other inmates. In addition, the investigation found that DOC relies too heavily on punitive segregation as a disciplinary measure, placing adolescent inmates in what amounts to solitary confinement at an alarming rate and for excessive periods of time. Many of the adolescent inmates are particularly vulnerable because they suffer from mental illness.

Details: New York: United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, 2014. 79p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 30, 2014 at: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/August14/RikersReportPR/SDNY%20Rikers%20Report.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.justice.gov/usao/nys/pressreleases/August14/RikersReportPR/SDNY%20Rikers%20Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 133871

Keywords:
Adolescents
Correctional Administration
Inmate Violence
Jail Administration
Jails (New York City)
Prison Violence
Prisoner Abuse
Prisoners
Rikers Island
Segregation

Author: Hopkins, Kathryn

Title: Prisoners' experience of prison and outcomes on release: Waves 2 and 3 of SPCR

Summary: This report presents the findings from Wave 2 (in-custody, pre-release) and Wave 3 (post-custody) of Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR), a longitudinal cohort study of male and female adult prisoners sentenced to between one month and four years in England and Wales between 2005 and 2007. Prisoners were interviewed in prison and in the community between 2005 and 2010 and re-offending was followed-up using police records for two years after release. The report describes prison routine, prisoners' expectations of life after custody and actual outcomes on release, including employment, accommodation, drugs and alcohol, and finance, benefits and debt. It is not an exhaustive account of SPCR Wave 2 and 3 data, but rather aims to summarise the key results from these waves. Results from Wave 1 of the survey (administered on reception to custody) have already been published. This report is based on self-reported survey questions from a representative sample (SPCR Sample 1) of 1,435 prisoners, most of whom (76%) were sentenced to less than 12 months. Some missing data (due to survey attrition) has been recovered, and some supplementary material from longer-sentenced (18 months to four years) prisoners (SPCR Sample 2) is also reported. Comparisons with earlier prisoner surveys are also made. Prisoners were asked about their time in custody during the Wave 2 interviews, which were conducted shortly before release, and about their outcomes on release during the Wave 3 interviews, which were conducted shortly after release.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series: Accessed November 3, 2014 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368164/prisoners-experience-of-prison-and-outcomes-on-release-waves-2-and-3-spcr.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368164/prisoners-experience-of-prison-and-outcomes-on-release-waves-2-and-3-spcr.pdf

Shelf Number: 133937

Keywords:
Longitudinal Cohort Study (U.K.)
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoner Reintegration
Prisoners
Re-Offending
Recidivism

Author: Prison Reform Trust

Title: Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile: Autumn 2014

Summary: The facts and figures about the deteriorating state of our prisons and the poor state of people in them present a stark and disturbing picture. Strip away the political rhetoric, public relations gloss, and popular media misrepresentation. Discount the vested interest of those who profit from growing a market in incarceration. And you are left with a public prison service cut by $263million in three years, struggling to cope with the loss of more than 12,500 (28%) of its staff since 2010 and an ever-rising prison population. Warning signs reveal a prison system under unprecedented strain. There has been a sharp drop in individual prison performance and a marked increase in staff sickness levels. Detailed reports by HM Chief Inspector of Prisons chart a decline in standards and much reduced opportunities for rehabilitation and resettlement. Serious assaults, prisoner on prisoner and prisoner on officer, have risen in adult male establishments along with concerted indiscipline. Saddest of all, for the first time in over five years, the number of deaths by suicide has risen drastically. Every effort is being made to reverse what could so easily become a trend, rather than a spike, in numbers of tragic self-inflicted deaths. People in prison are particularly vulnerable. Compared to the general population where 6 percent have attempted suicide, 21 percent of men and 46 percent of women in prison have tried to kill themselves at some point in their lives. No one wants to see the painstaking gains made by safer custody staff and prisoners working as Samaritan listeners, improved support, training, first night arrangements, better assessment and management of risk, all swept away by reduced staffing levels, harsher regimes and increased uncertainty and hopelessness. The scale and driving pace of change in the justice system mean that mistakes are inevitably being made at every level. Prison population figures are being hastily recalculated upwards to reflect the rise in custodial remand and the increased numbers of sexual offenders sentenced by the courts as well as the unquantifiable impact of a Justice Secretary determined to promote 'proper punishment' and increased use of imprisonment. A rushed benchmarking process followed hard on the heels of the massive work and pay restructuring exercise curiously entitled 'fair and sustainable'. Outcomes are as yet untested because so many prisons are operating well below new minimal staffing levels due to a combination of unfilled vacancies and long term absence on sick leave. Too many establishments, particularly in London and the South East are reliant on a small army of reservists, former staff recruited from the North who will not know their prisoners in the jails into which they are parachuted, and remaining exhausted, governors and staff working excessive hours. From the outside it looks as if the prison service is taking a pounding in return for its disciplined approach and capacity to cope with adversity. From the inside, people in prison endure worsening conditions, less time out of cell, reduced contact with staff, new mean and petty restrictions and unjustified curbs on release on temporary license. Overcrowding means that people awaiting trial are mixed in with sentenced prisoners regardless of their innocent until proven guilty status and young people are held with adults notwithstanding their developmental stage. One young man told the Prison Reform Trust's advice and information service that "he is hearing voices and they are scaring him. He says he phones his mum sometimes when the voices are scaring him, but can't always get to phone when she's around." Prisons are less safe and less decent than they were even a year ago when we published our Autumn 2013 compendium of facts and figures. An incoming administration of government in May 2015 must not accept this deterioration in prison standards and conditions as the new normal. It should rebuild confidence in a vital public service and acknowledge painstaking gains made by staff and the responsible prisoners who manage to effect reform from within. It must turn its attention to the new demographic and changing needs of a rapidly ageing prison population. It must re-establish the defining principle that people are sent to prison as a punishment rather than for punishment. And from the wreckage it must create a just, fair and effective penal system.

Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2014. 84p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 3, 2014 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Factfile%20Autumn%202014.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Factfile%20Autumn%202014.pdf

Shelf Number: 133949

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prison Conditions
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons (U.K.)

Author: Bowers, Mark

Title: Solitary Confinement as Torture

Summary: The Immigration/Human Rights Policy Clinic (I/HRP)(now the Human Rights Policy Seminar) at the University of North Carolina School of Law is committed to exposing violations of the basic human rights of both citizens and visitors of this state and nation. This policy report seeks to contribute to a growing national advocacy movement that has identified solitary confinement as cruel, inhuman, and degrading form of punishment that is - or at the very least approximates - torture and a severe form of human rights violation and seeks to bring about the end of its use. Torture is one of the basest violations of human rights and shared democratic ideals. Under North Carolina's state constitution, the federal constitution, as well as international law, the nation and the state of North Carolina must not be complicit in any act that falls within this category of atrocity. The duty to take responsibility for human rights violations encompasses the obligation to enlarge an understanding of that which constitutes torture and how it is manifested in various institutions and implemented by various actors. In this interest, as citizens, as concerned human beings, and as advocates, students, faculty, and collaborating advocacy partners endeavored to investigate and shine a light on the realities of the use of solitary confinement within the prison system with a focus on the state of North Carolina. To this end, the authors have relied on a wide range of sources to parse out not only the practice and the outcomes of isolation, but also the evolution of the substantive response to this condition of confinement. This report examines the U.S. Constitution and its protections, the international standards that the United States as a nation has endorsed, as well as North Carolina state legal protections. The conclusion reached is stark and straightforward: solitary confinement is ineffective at decreasing violence within prisons; it is ineffective at preserving public safety; it is ineffective at managing scarce monetary resources; and it violates the boundaries of human dignity and justice. Present efforts to redress this injustice have been, thus far, largely ineffective. Laws and the courts that interpret them must evolve according to the growing body of research that demonstrates that solitary confinement violates basic constitutional and human rights. This report is presented in three parts. SECTION ONE gathers data on the issue of solitary confinement and seeks to define, expose, and delegitimize the practice as inhumane and ineffective. It commences with the narratives of prisoners who have suffered or are suffering long term isolation. These in-depth stories are complemented by the results of a survey that was sent to North Carolina prisoners as a means to get a broader view of conditions of confinement from those on the inside. Added to this evidence are statistics derived from the Department of Public Safety's own database. SECTION ONE also recounts narratives from prisoners in other states who tell similar stories of deprivation and the struggle to maintain their sanity while confined to conditions of isolation. It then reviews the findings of research and studies by mental health professionals, penologists, and criminologists and summarizes the effects of solitary confinement from the perspectives of these experts. SECTION ONE concludes with an overview of the findings from other national advocacy and reform efforts. SECTION TWO explores the substantive legal policy issues related to solitary confinement. It begins with an overview of constitutional jurisprudence, with a focus on Eighth Amendment concerns and the applicability of due process protections. It demonstrates how the current state of the law fails prisoners who would try to challenge their conditions of solitary confinement as a matter of conceptual legal norms and application. It reveals the obstacles prisoners face even when they can show objectively that solitary confinement puts them at extreme risk of irreparable mental or other harm, and the difficulties they face in overcoming the burden of showing deliberate indifference by the officers who sent them to solitary because those officers can point to forty years of jurisprudence holding otherwise. It reveals the need for a different and evolved Eight Amendment interpretation - one that is based on the reality of the practices of prolonged isolation, the research that demonstrates its wrongfulness and ineffectiveness, and basic principles of human dignity. SECTION TWO then turn to the standards of international human rights that have been established by various treaties to which this nation is a signatory. The Convention Against Torture, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as well as other firmly established international and regional human rights norms prohibit the use of torture under any circumstances, and these prohibitions are fully applicable to solitary confinement. Lastly SECTION TWO considers national standards promulgated by the American Bar Association and the American Correctional Association, possible approaches and remedies based on the laws of state of North Carolina and then compares North Carolina to such national standards. Finally, SECTION THREE offers recommendations for reform. It begins from the premise that solitary confinement is both immoral and ineffective. It considers, as preliminary steps toward the abandonment of the use of isolation as a form of punishment, "technical" reforms that would strictly limit and regulate the practice. More to the point, it then suggests systemic reforms including reducing prison populations, emphasizing rehabilitation, changing institutional prison culture, and ultimately advocates for a complete ban on solitary confinement. SECTION THREE identifies advocacy strategies for reaching reform goals, including litigation, legislative initiatives, and community outreach and organizing. As stated at the outset of this Executive Summary, the conclusion reached is stark and straightforward: solitary confinement is ineffective at decreasing violence within prisons; it is ineffective at preserving public safety; it is ineffective at managing scarce monetary resources; and it violates the boundaries of human dignity and justice.

Details: Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina School of Law Immigration/Human Rights Clinic; North Carolina Prisoners Legal Services; In Cooperation With American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina, 2014. 225p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: http://www.law.unc.edu/documents/academics/humanrights/solitaryconfinement/fullreport.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.law.unc.edu/documents/academics/humanrights/solitaryconfinement/fullreport.pdf

Shelf Number: 134023

Keywords:
Human Rights Abuses
Isolation
Prisoners
Punishment
Solitary Confinement (U.S.; North Carolina)
Torture

Author: Victoria. Ombudsman

Title: Investigation into the rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners in Victoria

Summary: As this paper notes, Victoria's prison population has grown exponentially in the past few years, and with the impact of recent parole and sentencing reforms further growth is inevitable. In short, the prison population of 4,350 in June 2009 is projected to reach 7,169 in June 2015. The short and medium term consequences of that growth are equally inevitable. Although a massive building program has begun to increase bed capacity across the prison system, the expansion in prisoner numbers has resulted in backlogs in assessment, and affected the availability of programs and support both before and after release. It is also apparent that the reforms to the parole system are having unintended consequences - with the increasing difficulty in obtaining parole, an increasing number of prisoners are leaving without it, at the end of their full sentences, and therefore without the monitoring and reporting requirements that parole would impose. Nor will they necessarily have attended programs designed to reduce offending behaviour, one of the requirements for parole. It is not surprising, when a prison system is required to expand to the degree we are seeing in Victoria today, that the aspirations of the system as reflected in guidelines and procedures are not always met. This is in no way a reflection on the leadership of Corrections Victoria or the many dedicated people who work within the system.

Details: Melbourne: Victorian Ombudsman, 2014. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: Discussion Paper: Accessed November 12, 2014 at: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/getattachment/280f4a06-5927-4221-bf64-d884ba6abaf9//publications/discussion-papers/discussion-paper-investigation-into-the-rehabilita.aspx

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/getattachment/280f4a06-5927-4221-bf64-d884ba6abaf9//publications/discussion-papers/discussion-paper-investigation-into-the-rehabilita.aspx

Shelf Number: 134064

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Prisons (Australia)
Rehabilitation

Author: New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty

Title: Inside the Box: The Real Costs of Solitary Confinement in New Mexico's Prisons and Jails

Summary: Placing prisoners, especially those suffering from mental illness, in extreme isolation is costly, ineffective and inhumane. The New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty (NMCLP) and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico (ACLU-NM) recently completed a year-long study of solitary confinement in the state. This report provides an overview of the facts discovered during the joint investigation, followed by several policy recommendations. Solitary confinement - or segregation - is widely used in prisons and jails in New Mexico. While it costs more money to detain prisoners in isolation than in the general population, it does not improve public safety or reduce prison violence. In addition, solitary confinement as currently practiced in New Mexico infringes fundamental rights by isolating prisoners with serious mental illness and allowing for prolonged periods of isolation. The use of this procedure in New Mexico also lacks adequate transparency at both the state and local level. New Mexico urgently needs to reform the practice of solitary confinement in its prisons and jails. The NMCLP and the ACLU-NM urge New Mexico to adopt the following reforms: 1. increase transparency and oversight of the use of solitary confinement 2. limit the length of solitary confinement to no more than 30 days 3. mandate that all prisoners are provided with mental, physical and social stimulation 4. ban the use of solitary confinement on the mentally ill 5. ban the use of solitary confinement on children

Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty, 2013. 18p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 14, 2014 at: http://nmpovertylaw.org/WP-nmclp/wordpress/WP-nmclp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Solitary_Confinement_Report_FINALsmallpdf.com_.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://nmpovertylaw.org/WP-nmclp/wordpress/WP-nmclp/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Solitary_Confinement_Report_FINALsmallpdf.com_.pdf

Shelf Number: 134090

Keywords:
Cost of Corrections
Isolation
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoner Segregation
Prisoners
Solitary Confinement (New Mexico)

Author: Mukherjee, Anita

Title: Does Prison Privatization Distort Justice? Evidence on Time Served and Recidivism

Summary: I contribute new evidence on the impact of private prisons on prisoner time served and recidivism by exploiting the staggered entry and exit of private prisons in Mississippi between 1996 and 2004. Little is known about this topic, even though burgeoning prison populations and an effort to cut costs have caused a substantial level of private contracting since the 1980s. The empirical challenge is that prison assignment may be based on traits unobservable to the researcher, such as body tattoos indicating a proclivity for violent behavior. My first result is that private prisons increase a prisoner's fraction of sentence served by an average of 4 to 7 percent, which equals 60 to 90 days; this distortion directly erodes the cost savings offered by privatization. My second result is that prisoners in private facilities are 15 percent more likely to receive an infraction (conduct violation) over the course of their sentences, revealing a key mechanism by which private prisons delay release. Conditional on receiving an infraction, prisoners in private prison receive twice as many. My final result is that there is no reduction in recidivism for prisoners in private prison despite the additional time they serve, suggesting that either the marginal returns to incarceration are low, or private prisons increase recidivism risk. These results are consistent with a model in which the private prison operator chooses whether to distort release policies, i.e., extend prisoner time served beyond the public norm, based on the typical government contract that pays a diem for each occupied bed and is imperfectly enforced.

Details: Philadelphia: The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, 2014. 78p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 18, 2014 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2523238

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2523238

Shelf Number: 134118

Keywords:
Incarceration
Parole
Prisoners
Private Prisons (U.S.)
Privatization
Recidivism

Author: Isaacs, Caroline

Title: Death Yards: Continuing Problems with Arizona's Correctional Health Care

Summary: On March 6, 2012, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit against the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) charging that prisoners in the custody of the Arizona Department of Corrections receive such grossly inadequate medical, mental health and dental care that they are in grave danger of suffering serious and preventable injury, amputation, disfigurement and premature death. This class action lawsuit has the potential to force the state of Arizona to improve its prison medical care. But legal battles are long and costly. The state is fighting tooth and nail, including an upcoming challenge to the suit's class action status. The final resolution will likely take years. But what has changed in the day-to-day provision of medical care to prisoners in Arizona? Have conditions improved in light of the charges brought by the suit? Has the transition in management of the medical care from one for-profit corporate contractor (Wexford) to another (Corizon) addressed any of the previous health care lapses? Sadly, the answer appears to be no. Correspondence from prisoners; analysis of medical records, autopsy reports, and investigations; and interviews with anonymous prison staff and outside experts indicate that, if anything, things have gotten worse.

Details: Tucson: American Friends Service Committee -- Tucson, 2013. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://afscarizona.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/death-yards-continuing-problems-with-arizonas-correctional-health-care-2013.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://afscarizona.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/death-yards-continuing-problems-with-arizonas-correctional-health-care-2013.pdf

Shelf Number: 134161

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Corrections
Health Care
Medical Care
Prisoners
Prisons (Arizona)
Privatization

Author: Cloud, David

Title: On Life Support: Public Health in the Age of Mass Incarceration

Summary: Each year, millions of incarcerated people-who experience chronic health conditions, infectious diseases, substance use, and mental illness at much higher rates than the general population-return home from correctional institutions to communities that are already rife with health disparities, violence, and poverty, among other structural inequities. For several generations, high rates of incarceration among residents in these communities has further contributed to diminished educational opportunities, fractured family structures, stagnated economic mobility, limited housing options, and restricted access to essential social entitlements. Several factors in today's policy climate indicate that the political discourse on crime and punishment is swinging away from the punitive, tough-on-crime values that dominated for decades, and that the time is ripe to fundamentally rethink the function of the criminal justice system in ways that can start to address the human toll that mass incarceration has had on communities. At the same time, the nation's healthcare system is undergoing a historic overhaul due to the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Many provisions of the ACA provide tools needed to address long-standing health disparities. Among these are: Bolstering community capacity by expanding Medicaid eligiblity, expanding coverage and parity for behavioral health treatment, and reducing health disparities. Strengthening front-end alternatives to arrest, prosecution, and incarceration. Bridging health and justice systems by coordinating outreach and care, enrolling people in Medicaid and subsidized health plans across the criminal justice continuum, using Medicaid waivers and innovation funding to extend coverage to new groups, and advancing health information technology. There is growing interest among health and justice system leaders to work together in the pursuit of health equity, public safety, and social justice. In many states and localities, efforts are already underway. While challenges remain, including regional differences in using the ACA, the combination of political will, public support, and increased access to healthcare funding presents a momentous opportunity to address the impacts of mass incarceration on community health, develop policy and programmatic reforms to undo the damage, and rethink the core values and goals of the American justice system moving forward.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2014. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 20, 2014 at: http://www.vera.org/pubs/public-health-mass-incarceration

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://www.vera.org/pubs/public-health-mass-incarceration

Shelf Number: 134162

Keywords:
Health Care (U.S.)
Mass Incarceration
Medicaid
Medical Care
Mental Health
Prisoners

Author: Davis, Ashly Nikkole

Title: The Effect of Realignment on Mentally Ill Offenders

Summary: With the recent Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Plata, "realignment" seems to be California's new criminal justice buzzword. Underlying the Court's decision in Brown, however, lay two important class action suits - Coleman v. Brown and Plata v. Brown - that served as the driving forces behind the Court's decision. These cases alleged Eighth Amendment violations in California's prison system based on deficiencies in mental health care and medical care, respectively. With the Court crediting the Constitutional violations and lack of adequate care alleged in Coleman and Plata to an oversized prison population, overcrowding emerged as the issue of the day. State legislators responded to the Court's directive to rapidly decrease California's prison population with AB 109, public safety realignment legislation geared toward ameliorating prison overcrowding. Ironically, though they were the impetus behind this legislation, the mentally ill have largely been left out of the realignment conversation. Little mention - if any - has been made of how AB 109 improves or even addresses the treatment of the mentally ill. This paper will analyze AB 109 to determine how closely it rings true to the spirit behind the Brown v. Plata litigation - namely, providing mentally ill offenders with adequate medical and psychiatric care - and what impact the bill will have on the mentally ill. More specifically, this paper will assess whether AB 109 marks yet another in a long series of failed attempts by the state to appropriately address the treatment of mentally ill individuals in state custody. One of the basic themes behind this paper is a recognition of the importance of mentally ill offenders in California, not only in terms of the litigation that sparked realignment, but also from a general corrections standpoint. Research shows that mentally ill offenders recidivate at a much higher rate than non-mentally ill offenders. Therefore, it is crucial from a public safety perspective to determine where realignment is going to place these individuals. Further, AB 109 is not the first alignment of state and local fiscal and administrative responsibility in California that implicates the treatment of the mentally ill. It is necessary to attempt to determine what effects realignment will have on California's mental health resources, which have been scarce for much of the state's history. While not the focus of this paper, underlying much of the discussion will be the disturbing, yet generally accepted fact that prisons and jails in the United States largely operate as de facto mental hospitals. In California in particular, well-intentioned efforts to deinstitutionalize the mentally ill from state hospitals have had disastrous consequences, with the result being that many mentally ill individuals have ended up in the one place that accepts almost everyone: the criminal justice system. If there is one thing that most people seem to agree on, it is that many of the state's previous attempts to address this population have been ineffective. Mentally ill offenders are likely to struggle in the correctional system, whether at the state or local level. This paper explores, but does not intend to answer important questions such as: How do you hold mentally ill offenders accountable? Is this a population that we should even be seeking to imprison?

Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Law School, Criminal Justice Center, 2012. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 25, 2014 at: https://www.law.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/child-page/183091/doc/slspublic/Davis_AB109_And_Mentally_Ill_Offenders.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: https://www.law.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/child-page/183091/doc/slspublic/Davis_AB109_And_Mentally_Ill_Offenders.pdf

Shelf Number: 134245

Keywords:
Correctional Reform
Mental Health Treatment
Mentally Ill Offenders (California)
Prison Health Care
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Public Safety Realignment

Author: Lowen, Matthew

Title: Still Buried Alive: Arizona Prisoner Testimonies on Isolation in Maximum-Security

Summary: Still Buried Alive: Arizona Prisoner Testimonies on Isolation in Maximum Security (2014) highlights the voices of maximum-security prisoners and catalogues their testimonies describing those experiences. The report, a critical follow-up to Buried Alive (2007) and Lifetime Lockdown (2012), was released on the same day that the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC) opened 500 newly constructed maximum-security prison beds in ASPC Lewis in Buckeye, Arizona.

Details: Tucson, AZ: American Friends Service Committee, Arizona, 2014. 26p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 15, 2015 at: http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/Still%20Buried%20Alive%20FINAL%2011.30.14.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://afsc.org/sites/afsc.civicactions.net/files/documents/Still%20Buried%20Alive%20FINAL%2011.30.14.pdf

Shelf Number: 134314

Keywords:
Maximum Security Prisons
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Solitary Confinement (Arizona)
Supermax Prisons

Author: Baker, David

Title: Unlocking Care: Continuing mental health care for prisoners and their families

Summary: There were 30,775 prisoners in Australia at the end of June 2013 - an increase of five per cent on the 2012 census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). Almost six out of ten (58 per cent) prisoners had previously served a sentence as an adult. The cost of housing a prisoner in 2012-13 was $297 per day. In comparison, annual expenditure on mental health-related services in 2011‑12 was $322 per person - less than a dollar a day. State and territories provided 61 per cent of this funding. The prison population has higher rates of mental illness than the wider population. While treatment in prison can improve a person's mental health, it appears that, for some, mental health deteriorates after release. Mental health support is, therefore, an important service for people returning to the community. If people are re-offending and returning to the prison system in part due to a failure to provide adequate mental health services following release, improvements make sense. The difference in cost for community mental health services and imprisonment provides a budget window for increased spending to improve mental health services. This paper outlines the case for a new model of continued mental health care from prison out into the community. Among the general population one in ten Australians (11 per cent) registers a high or very high level of psychological distress, suggesting they may have moderate or severe mental health issues. In comparison the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has reported that almost a third (31 per cent) of prison entrants in 2012 had a high or very high level of psychological distress. Almost one in four (38 per cent) people entering prison in 2012 had previously been told they had a mental health disorder. The rate of referrals to prison mental health services, however, was only 26 per cent in 2012. This referral rate did not differ for men and women, despite women prisoners having a higher rate of mental illness. At the point of leaving prison, twice as many women (31 per cent) as men (16 per cent) had a high or very high level of psychological distress. In 2012 the level of psychological distress among Indigenous prisoners was 22 per cent of prison entrants and 18 per cent prior to release. The data confirms previous research, both in Australia and internationally, that has shown the incidence of mental illness is higher among prisoner populations. This paper reports that the average level of distress increases after release from prison, reversing evident improvements achieved during imprisonment. More than four in ten people who had been in prison within the previous year had high or very high levels of distress. This rate is higher than that reported by the AIHW for people entering prison and among those preparing to leave. For some people negative mental health outcomes present following release which were not evident in the lead-up to leaving prison. For people suffering a mental illness, the move back into the community can worsen psychiatric symptoms - contributing to greater difficulties adjusting to the change. The mental wellbeing of those leaving prison is better than that of people entering prison, reflecting the ability of prison health services to deliver targeted, appropriate mental health care. The AIHW data shows that prior to release fewer than two in ten (18 per cent) people are likely to continue to have a moderate or severe mental health issue. A majority (91 per cent) of people being discharged from prison in 2012 reported that their mental health and wellbeing had improved. This positive outcome does not appear to apply to women. A UK study found that while the mental health of men improved in the first three months of imprisonment, there was no real change among women. Improvements achieved in prison, however, may not be maintained after release. Analysis of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey provides a third measurement of the psychological distress of people who had been in prison in the past year. The transition from prison to the community can be a stressful and anxious period for many people. The AIHW has reported that impending release from prison was cited as a reason for psychological distress by almost half (45 per cent) the prisoners assessed as distressed prior to release. Australian research has found that for many people leaving prison there is a continuation of the problems, including mental health issues, faced prior to incarceration. If mental health care provided in prison is not continued after a person's release, their mental health may worsen, undoing any health benefits that may have been achieved while in prison.

Details: Canberra City, AUS: Australia Institute, 2014. 26p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 15, 2015 at: http://www.tai.org.au/content/unlocking-care-continuing-mental-health-care-prisoners-and-their-families

Year: 2014

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.tai.org.au/content/unlocking-care-continuing-mental-health-care-prisoners-and-their-families

Shelf Number: 134316

Keywords:
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders (Australia)
Prisoners

Author: Cox, Robynn

Title: Where Do We Go From Here? Mass Incarceration and the Struggle for Civil Rights

Summary: On the surface, crime and punishment appear to be unsophisticated matters. After all, if someone takes part in a crime, then shouldn't he or she have to suffer the consequences? But dig deeper and it is clear that crime and punishment are multidimensional problems that stem from racial prejudice justified by age-old perceptions and beliefs about African Americans. The United States has a dual criminal justice system that has helped to maintain the economic and social hierarchy in America, based on the subjugation of blacks, within the United States. Public policy, criminal justice actors, society and the media, and criminal behavior have all played roles in creating what sociologist Loic Wacquant calls the hyper-incarceration of black men. But there are solutions to rectify this problem. To summarize the major arguments in this essay, the root cause of the hyper-incarceration of blacks (and in particular black men) is society's collective choice to become more punitive. These tough-on-crime laws, which applied to all Americans, could be maintained only because of the dual legal system developed from the legacy of racism in the United States. That is, race allowed for society to avoid the trade-off between societies "demand" to get tough on crime and its "demand" to retain civil liberties, through unequal enforcement of the law. In essence, tying crime to observable characteristics (such as race or religious affiliation) allowed the majority in society to pass tough-on-crime policies without having to bear the full burden of these policies, permitting these laws to be sustained over time. What's more, the history of racism, which is also linked to the history of perceptions of race and crime, has led society to choose to fight racial economic equality using the criminal justice system (i.e., incarceration) instead of choosing to reduce racial disparities through consistent investments in social programs (such as education, job training, and employment, which have greater public benefits), as King (1968) lobbied for before his assassination. In other words, society chose to use incarceration as a welfare program to deal with the poor, especially since the underprivileged are disproportionately people of color. At the same time, many communities attempted to benefit economically from mass incarceration by using prisons as a strategy for economic growth, making the incarceration system eerily similar to the system of slavery. Given all of the documented social and economic costs of mass incarceration (e.g., inferior labor market opportunities, increases in the racial disparity in HIV/AIDS, destruction of the family unit), it can be concluded that it has helped to maintain the economic hierarchy, predicated on race, in the United States. In order to undo the damage that has been done, and in order to move beyond our racial past, we must as a nation reeducate ourselves about race; and then, as a society, commit to investing in social programs targeted toward at-risk youth. We must also ensure diversity in criminal justice professionals in order to achieve the economic equality that King fought for prior to his death. Although mass incarceration policies have recently received a great deal of attention (due to incarceration becoming prohibitively costly), failure to address the legacy of racism passed down by our forefathers and its ties to economic oppression will only result in the continued reinvention of Jim Crow.

Details: Washington, DC: Economic Policy Institute, 2015. 27p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 21, 2015 at: http://s2.epi.org/files/2014/MassIncarcerationReport.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://s2.epi.org/files/2014/MassIncarcerationReport.pdf

Shelf Number: 134424

Keywords:
Economic Analysis
Mass Incarceration (U.S.)
Minorities
Prisoners
Punishment
Racial Disparities
Racism

Author: American Civil Liberties Union of Texas

Title: A Solitary Failure: The Waste, Cost and Harm of Solitary Confinement in Texas

Summary: The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) confines 4.4 percent of its prison population in solitary confinement. Texas locks more people in solitary-confinement cells than twelve states house in their entire prison system. On average, prisoners remain in solitary confinement for almost four years; over one hundred Texas prisoners have spent more than twenty years in solitary confinement. The conditions in which these people live impose such severe deprivations that they leave prison mentally damaged; as a group, people released from solitary are more likely to commit more new crimes than people released from the rest of the prison system. Yet in 2013, TDCJ released 1,243 people directly from solitary-confinement cells into Texas communities. These prisoners return to society after living for years or decades in a tiny cell for twenty-two hours a day, with no contact with other human beings or access to educational or rehabilitative programs. Here's a summary of the report, which explains why less solitary confinement is not about going "soft" on crime, it's about being smart on crime. Background - Explore sthe early failure of solitary confinement, the misguided return of solitary confinement in the late 20th century, and the renewed consensus: solitary is a dangerous and expensive correctional practice. Solitary Confinement increases crime - Solitary permanently damages people who will one day return to Texas communities. The consequences of over-using solitary is more crime in Texas communities. Solitary is a huge cost to taxpayers - Solitary confinement costs Texas taxpayers at least $46 Million a year. Overuse of solitary increases prison violence - Solitary confinement makes prison less safe and deprives officers of the option to incentivize good behavior. Violence escalates when officers deny people in solitary basic needs. Other states have improved prison safety by reducing solitary confinement. Mentally ill people deteriorate - The universal consensus: never place the seriously mentally ill in solitary. Yet, Texas sends thousands of people with mental illnesses to solitary confinement and inadequately monitors and treats them.

Details: Houston: ACLU of Texas; Texas Civil Rights Project, 2015. 60p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 9, 2015 at: http://www.aclutx.org/2015/02/05/a-solitary-failure/

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.aclutx.org/2015/02/05/a-solitary-failure/

Shelf Number: 134571

Keywords:
Mentally Ill Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons
Solitary Confinement (Texas)

Author: Great Britain. Department of Health

Title: Clinical management of drug dependence in the adult prison setting including psychosocial treatment as a core part.

Summary: This document describes how clinical services for the management of substance misusers in prison should develop during the next two years as increasing resources permit. The aim is to address the current challenges facing the care and treatment of substance misusers in prisons. These include: - the vulnerability of drug-using prisoners to suicide and self-harm in prison, and to death upon release from custody due to accidental opiate overdose; - prison regime management problems related to illicit drug use in prisons; - the impetus to provide clinical services that correspond to national (NTA 2003) and international good practice; - the need to provide clinical interventions that harmonise with practice in community and other criminal justice settings (NOMS 2005); - the need to integrate further healthcare and Counselling, Assessment, Referral, Advice and Throughcare (CARAT) services in prisons, to create multi-disciplinary drug teams.

Details: London: Department of Health, 2006. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed February 9, 2015 at: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/11496/1/Clinical_management.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.drugsandalcohol.ie/11496/1/Clinical_management.pdf

Shelf Number: 134586

Keywords:
Drug Offenders (U.K.)
Drug Treatment
Health Care
Prisoners

Author: Levins, Alice

Title: Living among sex offenders: Identity, safety and relationships at Whatton Prison

Summary: Little research has been carried out on the sociology of imprisonment for sex offenders, despite them making up 16 per cent of the sentenced adult male population in England and Wales. This report applies some of the established questions from the prison sociology tradition to the sex offender prisoner population. The research explores experiences related to safety, the management of identity, the development of hierarchies and the formation and maintenance of friendships within this institutional context. The research was based on 22 semi-structured interviews with 22 prisoners in Whatton prison. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and the data was then coded using adaptive theory, with some themes drawn from the literature and others emerging from the data. The research found that, although prisoners reported feeling much safer in Whatton than they had elsewhere, they experienced a distinctive form of anxiety as a result of the social pressures of living solely among sex offenders. The research also found that prisoners struggled with their stigmatisation as sex offenders, and this structured their identities and relationships in various ways. The report argues that sex offenders have markedly different experiences in prison than 'mainstream' prisoners, thereby meriting separate study.

Details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2014. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2015 at: https://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Publications/Living_among_sex_offenders.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Publications/Living_among_sex_offenders.pdf

Shelf Number: 134971

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Sex Offenders (U.K.)

Author: Trebilcock, Julie

Title: No winners: The reality of short term prison sentences

Summary: Every year over 60,000 adults receive a short prison sentence of less than 12 months. These prisoners usually serve half of their sentence in custody and the remainder in the community. Although they can be returned to prison during the second half of their sentence if they commit another crime, they are not subject to post-release supervision or intervention from probation (unless they are aged between 18 and 21 years). While in prison, the short time available often means there is little opportunity to adequately address the needs of this population, with limited access to offending behaviour programmes, education and work (Lewis et al, 2003; National Audit Office, 2002, 2008, 2010; Social Exclusion Unit, 2002). On release, short sentence prisoners often face a number of barriers to their resettlement, highlighting that 'those serving short sentences, receive little practical support, before release or afterwards' (Social Exclusion Unit, 2002). This is despite the fact that short sentence prisoners have the highest re-conviction rates amongst adult prisoners (Lewis et al, 2003; National Audit Office, 2010). In 2009, the Commission on English Prisons Today called for 'radical and transformational change' and for short prison sentences to be replaced with community penalties (Howard League, 2009:6). In the same year a motion was passed by the Prison Governors' Association (PGA) to abolish prison sentences of 12 months and under on the basis that they do not work. Since then, a number of other key stakeholders have also expressed concern about the ineffectiveness of short prison sentences, including NAPO (the Trade Union and Professional Association for Family Court and Probation Staff) and the Howard League for Penal Reform. Following the new coalition government and Kenneth Clarke's appointment as the Justice Secretary, a full review of sentencing and rehabilitation policy was promised (Hansard, 2010) leading to the publication of a green paper entitled Breaking the cycle: Effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders in December 2010 (Ministry of Justice, 2010a). It is within this context that this research sought to give further consideration to the reality of short term imprisonment from the perspective of both prisoners and prison staff. In May 2010 the Howard League for Penal Reform, in collaboration with the PGA, commissioned a piece of research to consider the reality of short term imprisonment from the perspective of prisoners, prison staff and prison governors. The research was interested to explore three key research questions: - What are the day-to-day experiences and views of male prisoners serving short term prison sentences of 12 months and under? - What are the views of prison staff working with male prisoners serving short term prison sentences of 12 months and under? - What are the views of PGA members and other key stakeholders regarding short term prison sentences of 12 months and under? In order to explore these key questions the study relied on a number of interlinked investigations. These were: - an interview survey of short sentence prisoners; - an interview survey of prison staff; - an electronic questionnaire survey of PGA members; and, - an electronic questionnaire survey of other key stakeholders. This research was conducted with prisoners and prison staff in three male prisons in one National Offender Management Service (NOMS) region. The three study sites were selected on the basis that they all held male prisoners serving prison sentences of 12 months and under. At each site fieldwork was completed by an independent academic and a small team of retired prison governors. Interviews ranged from between 30 and 60 minutes. A total of 44 interviews with short sentence prisoners and twenty-five with prison staff were conducted. This report presents the findings of the interview surveys with short sentence prisoners and prison staff only. The findings from the electronic questionnaire surveys of PGA members and other key stakeholders will be reported elsewhere.

Details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2011. 52p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2015 at: https://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Publications/No_Winners.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Publications/No_Winners.pdf

Shelf Number: 134973

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Punishment
Sentencing (U.K.)
Sentencing Reform
Short Term Imprisonment

Author: Keehn, Emily

Title: Evaluation of South Africa's Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services: Assessing its independence, effectiveness and community engagement

Summary: The Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services (JICS) is a vital watchdog body that oversees South Africa's correctional system, mandated to inspect and report on the treatment of inmates. The correctional system faces many challenges such as overcrowding, high levels of HIV and Tuberculosis (TB), violence, and short staffing. The mass corruption and administrative struggles of the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) that were documented in the 2006 report by the Jali Commission of Inquiry highlighted that the situation was so dire that the Department was arguably no longer governable. Abuse and rights violations remain in South Africa's prisons even though DCS has improved its performance in some respects, for example, by providing access to anti-retrovirals and condoms. The McCallum case, in which Bradley McCallum and a group of inmates in St. Albans prison were physically and sexually assaulted in a manner amounting to torture, and the riots and deaths in Groenpunt and St. Alban's prisons in early 2013, are examples of serious mismanagement and abuses that continue. In order for JICS to be an effective oversight body, it requires institutional independence, and cooperation and support from other public entities, particularly from DCS. JICS currently faces challenges in both these areas. This paper analyses these and other challenges, and explores ways in which the independence and success of JICS can be strengthened, drawing lessons from similar watchdog bodies in South Africa and various other countries including the United Kingdom, Canada, Mauritius and Zambia. Certain features of these institutions might serve as examples for how JICS could potentially be restructured to strengthen its ability to carry out its mandate. Lastly, JICS has also been a critical bridge between an often non-transparent correctional system and community organisations, other stakeholders, and the general public. Considering DCS' positioning of inmate rehabilitation as a community responsibility, there is a distinct role for civil society and community organisations to play in supporting JICS. Hence this paper outlines ways in which stakeholders can lend capacity.

Details: Cape Town, South Africa: Sonke Gender Justice Network, 2013. 42p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2015 at: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/publication/evaluation-of-south-africas-judicial-inspectorate-for-correctional-services/

Year: 2013

Country: South Africa

URL: http://www.genderjustice.org.za/publication/evaluation-of-south-africas-judicial-inspectorate-for-correctional-services/

Shelf Number: 134995

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Correctional Programs
Corrections (South Africa)
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Commission on Sex in Prison (U.K.)

Title: Consensual sex among men in prison

Summary: Key points - There is evidence to show that sex in prison does happen - There is no prison rule prohibiting sex between prisoners but prison staff do not allow prisoners to have sex - It is difficult, if not impossible, for prison staff to be able to distinguish between consensual and coercive sexual relationships between prisoners - Prisons need to ensure that they protect the vulnerable - Prisoners should be able to access condoms confidentially to minimise the risk of sexually transmitted infections - Prisons have a duty under the Equalities Act 2010 not to discriminate against anyone because of their sexuality. Policies to prevent sex in prison can be perceived by some as discriminatory towards openly gay prisoners - The prison population is a high-risk group for sexually transmitted infections and risk-taking sexual behaviour. The need for harm reduction measures in prisons is widely recognised but they are poorly delivered - Prison staff need training on how to deal with sex between prisoners - Most prisoners will return to the community. Sexual health policies are important not just for prisoners but for wider society.

Details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2013. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: Briefing paper 1: Accessed March 26, at: http://www.commissiononsexinprison.org/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Commission_on_Sex_in_Prison/sex_commission_final.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.commissiononsexinprison.org/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Commission_on_Sex_in_Prison/sex_commission_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 135069

Keywords:
Consensual Sexual Activity
Prison Health
Prisoners
Sex in Prison (U.K.)

Author: American Civil Liberties Union

Title: The Dangerous Overuse of Solitary Confinement in the United States

Summary: Over the last two decades, the use of solitary confinement in U.S. correctional facilities has surged. Before 1990, "supermax" prisons were rare. Now, 44 states and the federal government have supermax units, where prisoners are held in extreme isolation, often for years or even decades. On any given day in this country, it's estimated that over 80,000 prisoners are held in isolated confinement. This massive increase in the use of solitary has happened despite criticism from legal and medical professionals, who have deemed the practice unconstitutional and inhumane. It's happened despite the fact that supermax prisons typically cost two or three times more to build and operate than traditional maximum-security prisons. And it's happened despite research suggesting that supermax prisons actually have a negative effect on public safety. As fiscal realities are forcing us to cut budgets for things like health and education, it is time to ask whether we should continue to use solitary confinement despite its high fiscal and human costs. This briefing paper provides an overview of the excessive use of solitary confinement in the U.S. and strategies for safely restricting its use.

Details: New York: ACLU, 2014. 45p.

Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper: Accessed April 1, 2015 at: https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/stop_solitary_briefing_paper_updated_august_2014.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/assets/stop_solitary_briefing_paper_updated_august_2014.pdf

Shelf Number: 135105

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Isolation
Prisoners
Prisons
Solitary Confinement (U.S.)
Supermax Prisons

Author: Northern Ireland. Criminal Justice Inspection

Title: Report on an unannounced inspection of Magilligan Prison 27 May-5 June 2014

Summary: Magilligan Prison is a medium security prison with a semi-open annex, 'Foyleview'. It holds 571 adult men from across Northern Ireland serving sentences ranging between less than one year to life, most of whom have been transferred from Maghaberry Prison and are being prepared for release. This unannounced inspection was led by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons in England and Wales on behalf of, and with the support of Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, and with the support of the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority and the Education and Training Inspectorate. Our last inspection in March/April 2010 found the prison was performing reasonably well against all our healthy prison tests and was the strongest performing of all the Northern Ireland prisons. Magilligan still has significant strengths that compare favourably with other prisons in Northern Ireland - but this inspection found that the prison had slipped back in some important areas and action was now required to prevent a further decline. For most prisoners Magilligan was reasonably safe. Relationships between staff and prisoners were much better than we normally see in Northern Ireland, and these underpinned good dynamic security. Reception and first night procedures were good, the number of violent and self-harm incidents were low and there had been no self-inflicted deaths in the prison for many years. There was 'free-flow' movement around the prison without causing difficulty. Support for those with a substance abuse problem was good. However, there was a degree of complacency about safety which was not underpinned by solid processes that focused on outcomes for prisoners. In addition, the prison culture was risk averse and this sometimes manifested itself in an unwillingness to challenge poor behaviour. Vulnerable prisoners felt much less safe than the population as a whole, and a lack of CCTV coverage on the house blocks created insecurity. Levels of drug use were high and there were no disciplinary consequences for a positive test result. The prison had tried to tackle trading in prescribed medicines by introducing 'supervised swallow', but we were told prisoners frequently went to the washrooms to regurgitate the drug for onward sale when they returned to the units and this was not challenged by staff. We did not find evidence that this led to large scale violence and bullying - it may be that supply was so easy that it was not a source of conflict - although some prisoners told us they or their families had been subject to intimidation in relation to drugs. The prison's strategy for reducing violence was poor and insufficiently informed by analysis of data. Links with drug reduction and security strategies were weak. The regime was too often curtailed by 'suspensions in movement around the prison to manage incidents which were isolated on wings and did not require a wider response. Use of segregation was high although stays were short; governance of this was poor and we saw little evidence of any efforts to address the behaviour of the prisoners concerned. In practice this meant prisoners spending a few days lying on their bunks, in dirty cells, with nothing to do - and with no discernible effect. Use of force was low but we were also concerned that governance of this was weak and there was insufficient assurance that its use was always necessary and proportionate. Measures to prevent self-harm were not proportionate to risk and focused on the procedure rather than the prisoner. Humiliating anti-ligature clothing that consisted of baggy green tear-proof shorts and a top was used frequently. The older 'H-Block' accommodation which had no in-cell sanitation was very poor and needed to be replaced but the newer accommodation was much better. For most prisoners, good standards of cleanliness, a decent although rather bleak external environment, good time out of cell, combined with good relationships between staff and prisoners mitigated many of the weaknesses in the prison. Catholic prisoners reported more negatively than Protestant prisoners and there was some evidence to reflect worse outcomes. The prison needed to do more to understand and address this. Support for other prisoners whose needs were different from the majority also needed to be improved. Health services were good. Although prisoners had plenty of time out of the cells, there was insufficient constructive activity and little incentive for them to take advantage of the opportunities that were available. Quantity and quality of activities were very poor. Forty per cent of prisoners were unemployed, much of the work that did exist was mundane and the range of training and education was limited, unrelated to the labour market, and offered only low level qualifications. Prisoners who were working hard in some of the better workshops complained, with justification, that because the wage structure was heavily linked to the behaviour management scheme, a well behaved prisoner received practically the same 'wage' whether they worked or not. Prisoners at Magilligan were poorly prepared for work after they left the prison. In sharp contrast, real progress had been made in resettlement with some excellent and joined-up offender management driven by both the prison and probation staff. Good use was made of home leave to support re-integration and family contacts, and some decent practical resettlement support was offered. Children and families, work and the range of interventions available were particularly strong. More focus was needed to realise the potential of the semi-open Foyleview unit which, in conjunction with a linked unit in Belfast, had the potential to be a very important and innovative resettlement resource. However, that potential was not yet realised. Progress in this area should provide managers with a template of what could be achieved in improving purposeful activity, given sufficient attention and resources. Overall, this is a much more mixed picture than the last inspection. It is important that the strengths of the prison - very good relationships, reasonable levels of safety and good resettlement work - are not undermined by a risk averse culture, insufficient purposeful activity and an unwillingness to challenge poor behaviour. The prison's work on resettlement shows what can be done and provides a standard to which the prison as a whole should aspire.

Details: Belfast: Criminal Justice Inspection Northern Ireland, 2015. 109p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 15, 2015 at: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/ni-prison-service/nips-publications/nips-cjini-inspection-reports/cjini-report-on-an-unannounced-inspection-of-magilligan-prison-27-may-to-5-june-2014.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.dojni.gov.uk/index/ni-prison-service/nips-publications/nips-cjini-inspection-reports/cjini-report-on-an-unannounced-inspection-of-magilligan-prison-27-may-to-5-june-2014.pdf

Shelf Number: 135234

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons (Northern Ireland)

Author: Allen, Rob

Title: Global Prison Trends: 2015

Summary: This report is designed to describe key global trends in the use and practice of imprisonment and to identify some of the pressing challenges facing states that wish to organise their penitentiary system in accordance with international norms and standards. Topics include: - Prison populations and rates of imprisonment - Prison management - Prison regimes - New technologies - Criminal justice, social policy and sustainable development The report also includes a Special Focus pull-out section on the impact of the 'war on drugs' and its implications for prison management. Significant international developments, recent research projects and precedent-setting court decisions are highlighted throughout. Global Prison Trends is intended to be an annual publication. Tracking trends and challenges in criminal justice systems will be vital to designing and assessing measures intended to strengthen the rule of law as a means to advancing sustainable development.

Details: London: Penal Reform International, 2015. 52p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 22, 2015 at: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PRI-Prisons-global-trends-report-LR.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: International

URL: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/PRI-Prisons-global-trends-report-LR.pdf

Shelf Number: 135332

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Correctional Institutions
Prisoners
Prisons
Rates of Imprisonment

Author: Shames, Alison

Title: Solitary Confinement: Common Misconceptions and Emerging Safe Alternatives

Summary: Segregated housing, commonly known as solitary confinement, is increasingly being recognized in the United States as a human rights issue. While the precise number of people held in segregated housing on any given day is not known with any certainty, estimates run to more than 80,000 in state and federal prisons - which is surely an under-count as these do not include people held in solitary confinement in jails, military facilities, immigration detention centers, or juvenile justice facilities. Evidence mounts that the practice produces many unwanted and harmful outcomes - for the mental and physical health of those placed in isolation, for the public safety of the communities to which most will return, and for the corrections budgets of jurisdictions that rely on it for facility safety. Yet solitary confinement remains a mainstay of prison management and control in the U.S. largely because many policymakers, corrections officials, and members of the general public still subscribe to some or all of the common misconceptions and misguided justifications addressed in this report. This publication is the first in a series on solitary confinement, its use and misuse, and ways to safely reduce it in our nation's correctional facilities made possible in part by the Robert W. Wilson Charitable Trust.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2015. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/solitary-confinement-misconceptions-safe-alternatives-report_1.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/solitary-confinement-misconceptions-safe-alternatives-report_1.pdf

Shelf Number: 135556

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Prisoners
Segregation
Solitary Confinement

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title: Tiger Chairs and Cell Bosses: Police Torture of Criminal Suspents in China

Summary: After cases of police brutality against criminal suspects emerged in 2009 and 2010, China's government announced new measures to curb torture and wrongful convictions. These included restrictions on the conduct of interrogations and prohibitions on using detainee "cell bosses" to oversee other detainees. The Ministry of Public Security claims that the use of coerced confessions has dropped significantly as a result of the reforms. Tiger Chairs and Cell Bosses- based primarily on an analysis of hundreds of newly published court decisions and interviews with recent detainees, family members, lawyers, and former officials-finds that the measures adopted between 2009 and 2013 have not gone nearly far enough to fully address abusive interrogations. Some police officers deliberately thwart the new protections by taking detainees from official detention facilities or by using torture methods that leave no visible injuries. Procurators and judges may ignore clear evidence of mistreatment, rendering China's new "exclusionary rule" - which prohibits the use of evidence directly obtained through torture - of little benefit. Police torture of suspects in pre-trial detention remains a serious concern. Former detainees described physical and psychological torture, including being forced to spend days shackled to a "tiger chair," hung by the wrists, and deprived of sleep for prolonged periods. While measures adopted since 2009 appear to have reduced certain abuses, they are being grafted onto a criminal justice system that still offers police numerous opportunities to abuse suspects and affords the police enormous power to resist any judicial supervision. Absent more fundamental reforms in the Chinese criminal justice system that empower defense lawyers, the judiciary, and independent monitors, the elimination of routine torture and ill-treatment is unlikely.

Details: New York: HRW, 2015. 143p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/china0515_ForUpload.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: China

URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/china0515_ForUpload.pdf

Shelf Number: 135632

Keywords:
Human Rights Abuses
Police Brutality
Police Misconduct
Police Use of Force
Prisoner Abuse
Prisoners
Torture

Author: Jules-Macquet, Regan

Title: The State of South African Prisons

Summary: NICRO has begun a series of publications entitled NICRO Public Education Series. These papers will be made available on the NICRO website at no cost. The purpose of the NICRO Public Education Series is to: Provide accessible material on the South African criminal justice system to the general public Improve the public's understanding of the criminal justice system Many of the publications focusing on the criminal justice sector are academic publications. Many members of the public do not know where to access these publications and find them difficult to read. The purpose of the first paper in the series is to provide an objective and accessible analysis of the prison statistics and trends in South Africa from 2008 till 2012. This paper intends to assist members of the public in improving their understanding of the state of South African prisons and be better informed of prevailing trends. There are 241 active correctional centres across South Africa. Eight are for women only, 13 are for youths and 129 are for men only. 91 accommodate women in a section of the prison. The total capacity of prisons is 118 154 people, with 25 000 places being reserved for people awaiting trial detainees (ATD). The total prison population is 162 162, of which 49 695 (31%) are ATD and 112 467 (69%) are sentenced offenders. Nationally, there is an overcrowding level of 137%. This paper focuses on sentenced offenders.

Details: Cape Town: National Institute for Crime Prevention and the Reintegration of Offenders (NICRO), 2014. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource: NICRO Public Education Series: Accessed May 20, 2015 at: http://www.nicro.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Public-Education-Paper-The-State-of-South-African-Prisons-2014.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: South Africa

URL: http://www.nicro.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Public-Education-Paper-The-State-of-South-African-Prisons-2014.pdf

Shelf Number: 135725

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: New Mexico Corrections Department

Title: Reducing Recidivism, Cutting Costs and Improving Public Safety in the Incarceration and Supervision of Adult Offenders

Summary: New Mexico is facing a growing prison population projected to exceed current capacity within the next decade. In FY11, New Mexico spent almost $300 million to house an average of 6,700 offenders and supervise another 18 thousand offenders each day. The New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) released 3,440 offenders from prison into the community that same year and if current trends continue, over half of these inmates will return to prison within five years. Although NMCD takes up a lesser amount of general fund compared with public education, the average cost per inmate in New Mexico was $34 thousand in FY10, whereas the average cost per public school student the same year was $7,300. Costs of offenders who recidivate are substantial and result in general expenses to taxpayers and specific expenses to victims. The average offender will have three trips to a NMCD facility. Therefore the citizens of New Mexico pay costs of arresting, prosecuting, housing, rehabilitating and supervising offenders many times over. Investments in programs for reducing recidivism and promoting rehabilitation and treatment, in addition to security, are vital in improving public safety and reducing costs. The state continues to make significant investments in such programs. The NMCD provides more than 40 programs within facilities and more than 30 providers conduct programs outside of NMCD facilities designed to facilitate reentry and reduce recidivism. According to the Pew Center on the States' Public Safety Performance Project, states that strategically improve release preparation and community supervision will see falling recidivism rates. Instead of falling, New Mexico's recidivism is on the rise. The NMCD has potential to reduce costs and improve public safety. However, the NMCD currently suffers from gaps in program oversight, ineffective use of resources, and patterns of inefficient spending. Programming is inadequately targeted or tracked, resulting in expansion of unproven programs and reductions in evidence-based programming. Programs available in the community for offenders on supervision lack adequate accountability, have limited resources for high-risk offenders, and are not measured for performance by the NMCD, the Behavioral Health Collaborative (BHC), or OptumHealth. As a result, contract funds are left unspent at OptumHealth for years at a time. Reduced programming, in turn, is partially responsible for the fact that 278 inmates are serving parole inside prison. Significant opportunities exist to improve the incarceration and supervision of offenders in New Mexico. The NMCD has recognized many of these and have started working on improving reentry and use of evidence based programs before this report was issued. As a part of this evaluation, the LFC has partnered with Results First, a project of the Pew Center on the States and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to implement a cost-benefit model that has the potential to be a key tool in strategic budget development. This report includes initial results from that model along with recommendations to improve assessment, management, and allocation of NMCD resources with a focus on development and expansion of evidence-based programs. If implemented, these recommendations will provide the tools needed to properly assess programs, result in cost-savings for the NMCD, and result in improved public safety outcomes.

Details: Albuquerque, NM: New Mexico Corrections Department, 2012. 57p.

Source: Internet Resource: Report #12-07: Accessed May 27, 2015 at: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/handouts/BHS%20101812%20NM%20Corrections%20Department%20LFC%20Program%20Evaluation.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: http://www.nmlegis.gov/lcs/handouts/BHS%20101812%20NM%20Corrections%20Department%20LFC%20Program%20Evaluation.pdf

Shelf Number: 128720

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Correctional Programs
Costs of Corrections
Costs of Criminal Justice
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons
Recidivism

Author: McDaniel, Dustin S.

Title: No Escape: Exposure to Toxic Coal Waste at State Correctional Institution Fayette

Summary: A 12-month investigation into the health impact of exposure to toxic coal waste on the prisoner population at State Correctional Institution (SCI) Fayette has uncovered an alarming rate of serious health problems. Surrounded by "about 40 million tons of waste, two coal slurry ponds, and millions of cubic yards of coal combustion waste," SCI Fayette is inescapably situated in the midst of a massive toxic waste dump.2 Over the past year, more and more prisoners have reported declining health, revealing a pattern of symptomatic clusters consistent with exposure to toxic coal waste: respiratory, throat and sinus conditions; skin irritation and rashes; gastrointestinal tract problems; pre-cancerous growths and cancer; thyroid disorders; other symptoms such as eye irritation, blurred vision, headaches, dizziness, hair loss, weight loss, fatigue, and loss of mental focus and concentration. The Human Rights Coalition (HRC), Center for Coalfield Justice (CCJ), and the Abolitionist Law Center (ALC) launched this investigation in August 2013. The investigation is not only ongoing, but also is expanding, as HRC and ALC continue to document reports of adverse health symptoms and environmental pollution, interview current and former prisoners at SCI Fayette, and conduct research. No Escape describes the preliminary findings from our investigation into the declining health of prisoners at SCI Fayette while providing context about the toxic environment surrounding the prison. Our investigation found: - More than 81% of responding prisoners (61/75) reported respiratory, throat, and sinus conditions, including shortness of breath, chronic coughing, sinus infections, lung infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, extreme swelling of the throat, as well as sores, cysts, and tumors in the nose, mouth, and throat. - 68% (51/75) of responding prisoners experienced gastrointestinal problems, including heart burn, stomach pains, diarrhea, ulcers, ulcerative colitis, bloody stools, and vomiting. - 52% (39/75) reported experiencing adverse skin conditions, including painful rashes, hives, cysts, and abscesses. - 12% (9/75) of prisoners reported either being diagnosed with a thyroid disorder at SCI Fayette, or having existing thyroid problems exacerbated after transfer to the prison. - Eleven prisoners died from cancer at SCI Fayette between January of 2010 and December of 2013. Another six prisoners have reported being diagnosed with cancer at SCI Fayette, and a further eight report undiagnosed tumors and lumps. Unlike reports of health problems from prisoners at other Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) prisons, most SCI Fayette prisoners discuss symptoms and illnesses that did not emerge until they arrived at SCI Fayette. The patterns of illnesses described in this report, coupled with the prison being geographically enveloped by a toxic coal waste site, point to a hidden health crisis impacting a captive and vulnerable population. Our investigation leads us to believe that the declining health of prisoners at SCI Fayette is indeed caused by the toxic environment surrounding the prison; however, the inherent limitations of the survey do not establish this belief at an empirical level. A substantial mobilization of resources for continued investigation will be required to confirm the relationship between prisoner health and pollution from coal refuse and ash.

Details: Pittsburgh, PA: Abolitionist Law Center, 2015. 30p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: https://abolitionistlawcenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/no-escape-3-3mb.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://abolitionistlawcenter.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/no-escape-3-3mb.pdf

Shelf Number: 135829

Keywords:
Health Care
Inmate Health
Prisoner Health
Prisoners
Toxic Waste

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Probation

Title: A joint inspection of Life Sentence Prisoners

Summary: Although life sentenced prisoners have committed the most serious crimes, most will be released at some point. The public, therefore, have a right to expect that this will not happen unless they can be safely managed within the community and that they will be effectively supervised and monitored. Being sentenced to an indeterminate period of imprisonment brings a unique dimension to incarceration, since it removes the certainty of release on a given date in the future. One of the key transitional phases in the life sentence is the move from the confines of closed prison to the relative freedom of open conditions. It is the stepping stone that leads towards an eventual return to the community. This inspection focused on that crucial period, given its huge importance for the prisoner, along with the equally significant release on life licence. We were interested in how well life sentence prisoners were supported in moving to open prison, preparing for release, reducing risk of harm and likelihood of reoffending, maintaining family and community links and resettling into society. Perhaps because of the length of time already spent in prison, assumptions were often made that life sentence prisoners knew all about 'the system'. This led to an underestimation in the amount of help and advice they needed, for example to prepare for moves to open prison or for Parole Board hearings. They tended to be treated very much the same as other prisoners, with little attention being given to their particular circumstances or to the importance of retaining family ties in order to support their eventual rehabilitation. As a result, some life sentence prisoners were able to serve their sentence with relatively little challenge to their attitudes and behaviour. Once in open conditions, preparation for release relied heavily upon release on temporary licence. The quality of offender assessments left room for improvement, particularly those completed in custody, and confusion abounded about who was responsible for completing these assessments at key times in the life sentence. Sentence planning was weak, in both prison and the community, and offender managers struggled to design meaningful objectives for those who appeared to have done all required work in custody. Nonetheless, the vast majority of those on life licence formed positive relationships with their offender managers, did not reoffend and, despite the stigma of the life sentence, were able to lead useful and productive lives after release. This inspection highlights the importance of both the work undertaken with the prisoner throughout their sentence to address their behaviour and the need for effective joint work between the prison and community to plan and prepare for safe release. This complementary balance is essential for rehabilitation and should inform the successful implementation of Transforming Rehabilitation. This report contains a number of recommendations to achieve this end.

Details: London: Criminal Justice Joint Inspection, 2013. 73p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 2, 2015 at: http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-client-groups/adult-offenders/criminaljusticejointinspection/158393life-sentence-prisoners.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://socialwelfare.bl.uk/subject-areas/services-client-groups/adult-offenders/criminaljusticejointinspection/158393life-sentence-prisoners.pdf

Shelf Number: 129971

Keywords:
Life Imprisonment
Life Sentencing
Prisoners
Rehabilitation

Author: Canada. Office of the Correctional Investigator

Title: Spirit Matters: Aboriginal People and the Corrections and Conditional Release Act

Summary: i. The Corrections and Conditional Release Act (CCRA) makes specific reference to the unique needs and circumstances of Aboriginal Canadians in federal corrections. The Act provides for special provisions (Sections 81 and 84), which are intended to ameliorate over-representation of Aboriginal people in federal penitentiaries and address long-standing differential outcomes for Aboriginal offenders. ii. It has been 20 years since the CCRA came into force, and the Office of the Correctional Investigator (OCI) believes that a systematic investigation of Sections 81 and 84 of the Act is both timely and important. This investigation aims to determine the extent to which the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) has fulfilled Parliament's intent at the time that the CCRA came into force. It examines the status and use of Section 81 and 84 provisions in federal corrections for the period ending March 2012, identifies some best practices in Aboriginal corrections and assesses the commitment by CSC to adopt principles set out in the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark decision of R. v. Gladue. The investigation concludes with key recommendations for enhancing CSC's capacity and compliance with Sections 81 and 84 of the CCRA. iii. Section 81 of the CCRA was intended to give CSC the capacity to enter into agreements with Aboriginal communities for the care and custody of offenders who would otherwise be held in a CSC facility. It was conceived to enable a degree of Aboriginal control, or at least participation in, an offender's sentence, from the point of sentencing to warrant expiry. Section 81 further allows Aboriginal communities to have a key role in delivering programs within correctional institutions and to those offenders accepted under a Section 81 agreement (Aboriginal Healing Lodges or Healing Centres). iv. The investigation found that, as of March 2012, there were only 68 Section 81 bed spaces in Canada and no Section 81 agreements in British Columbia, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada or in the North. Until September 2011, there were no Section 81 Healing Lodge spaces available for Aboriginal women. v. One of the major factors that inhibit existing Section 81 Healing Lodges from operating at full capacity and new Healing Lodges from being developed is the requirement that they limit their intake to minimum security offenders or, in rare cases, to "low risk" medium security offenders. The evolution of this policy, which was neither Parliament's intent nor CSC's original vision, is seen as a way for the Service to minimize risk and exposure. It creates a number of problems, exacerbated by the fact that only 11.3% of Aboriginal male offenders, or 337 individuals, were housed in minimum-security institutions in 2010-2011. In effect, CSC policy excludes almost 90% of incarcerated Aboriginal offenders from even being considered for transfer to a Healing Lodge. With this limitation, it is no surprise that the investigation found that Healing Lodges do not operate at full capacity. vi. In addition to the four Section 81 Healing Lodges, CSC has established four Healing Lodges operated as CSC minimum-security institutions (with the exception of the Healing Lodge for women that accepts both minimum and some medium security inmates). CSC-operated Healing Lodges can provide accommodation for up to 194 federal incarcerated offenders, which include 44 beds for Aboriginal women. vii. Section 81 Healing Lodges operate on five-year contribution agreement cycles and enjoy no sense of permanency. There is no guarantee that the agreements will be renewed. Indeed, they are subject to changes in CSC priorities and funding, including a 2001 reallocation of $11.6M earmarked for new Section 81 facilities to other requirements. viii. We found that the discrepancy in funding between Section 81 Healing Lodges and those operated by CSC is substantial. In 2009-2010, the allocation of funding to the four CSC- operated Healing Lodges totalled $21,555,037, while the amount allocated to Section 81 Healing Lodges was just $4,819,479. Chronic under-funding of Section 81 Healing Lodges means that they are unable to provide comparable CSC wages or unionized job security. As a result, many Healing Lodge staff seek employment with CSC, where salaries can be 50% higher for similar work. It is estimated that it costs approximately $34,000 to train a Healing Lodge employee to CSC requirements, but the Lodge operators receive no recognition or compensation for that expense. ix. Another factor inhibiting the success and expansion of Section 81 Healing Lodges has been community acceptance. Just as in many non-Aboriginal communities, not every Aboriginal community is willing to have offenders housed in their midst or take on the responsibility for their management. x. CSC did not originally intend to operate its Healing Lodges in competition with Section 81 facilities, but rather saw itself as providing an intermediate step that would ultimately result in the transfer of those facilities to community control under Section 81. As the investigation notes, however, negotiations to facilitate transfer of CSC Healing Lodges to First Nation control appear to have been abandoned. Most negotiations never moved beyond preliminary stages. In some Aboriginal communities, this breakdown in engagement has resulted in long-standing acrimony and mistrust directed at Canada's correctional authority. xi. The intent of Section 84 was to enhance the information provided to the Parole Board of Canada and to enable Aboriginal communities to propose conditions for offenders wanting to be released into their communities. It was not intended to be a lengthy or onerous process, yet that is exactly what it has become: cumbersome, time-consuming and misunderstood. A successful Section 84 release plan requires significant time-sensitive and co-ordinated action. As the investigation reveals, there are only 12 Aboriginal Community Development Officers across Canada responsible for bridging the interests of the offender and the community prior to release. xii. The Supreme Court of Canada in R. v. Gladue (1995) and, more recently, in a March 2012 decision (R. v. Ipeelee) compelled judges to use a different method of analysis in determining a suitable sentence for Aboriginal offenders by paying particular attention to the unique circumstances of Aboriginal people and their social histories. These are commonly referred to as Gladue principles or factors. CSC has incorporated Gladue principles in its policy framework, requiring it to consider Aboriginal social history when making decisions affecting the retained rights and liberties of Aboriginal offenders. Although the Gladue decision refers to sentencing considerations, it is reasonable to conclude that Section 81 facilities would be consistent with the Supreme Court's view of providing a culturally appropriate option for federally sentenced Aboriginal people. Notwithstanding, we find that Gladue principles are not well-understood within CSC and are unevenly applied. xiii. Today, 21% of the federal inmate population claims Aboriginal ancestry. The gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal offenders continues to widen on nearly every indicator of correctional performance: - Aboriginal offenders serve disproportionately more of their sentence behind bars before first release. - Aboriginal offenders are under-represented in community supervision populations and over-represented in maximum security institutions. - Aboriginal offenders are more likely to return to prison on revocation of parole. - Aboriginal offenders are disproportionately involved in institutional security incidents, use of force interventions, segregation placements and self-injurious behaviour. xiv. The investigation found a number of barriers in CSC's implementation of Sections 81 and 84. These barriers inadvertently perpetuate conditions that further disadvantage and/or discriminate against Aboriginal offenders in federal corrections, leading to differential outcomes: 1. Restricted access to Section 81 facilities and opportunities outside CSC's Prairie and Quebec regions. 2. Under-resourcing and temporary funding arrangements for Aboriginal-controlled Healing Lodges leading to financial insecurity and lack of permanency. 3. Significant differences in salaries and working conditions between facilities owned and operated by CSC versus Section 81 arrangements. 4. Restricted eligibility criteria that effectively exclude most Aboriginal offenders from consideration of placement in a Section 81 Healing Lodge. 5. Unreasonably delayed development and implementation of specific policy supports and standards to negotiate and establish an operational framework to support robust, timely and coordinated implementation of Section 81 and 84 arrangements. 6. Limited understanding and awareness within CSC of Aboriginal peoples, cultures, spirituality and approaches to healing. 7. Limited understanding and inadequate consideration and application of Gladue factors in correctional decision-making affecting the interests of Aboriginal offenders. 8. Funding and contractual limitations imposed by CSC that impede Elders from providing quality support, guidance and ceremony and placing the Service's Continuum of Care Model for Aboriginal offenders in jeopardy. 9. Inadequate response to the urban reality and demographics of Aboriginal offenders, most of whom will not return to a traditional First Nations reserve. 10. CSC's senior management table lacks a Deputy Commissioner with focused and singular responsibility for progress in Aboriginal Corrections. The OCI concludes that CSC has not met Parliament's intent with respect to provisions set out in Sections 81 and 84 of the CCRA. CSC has not fully or sufficiently committed itself to implementing key legal provisions intended to address systemic disadvantage. xv. It is understood that CSC does not control who is sent to prison by the courts. However, 20 years after enactment of the CCRA, the CSC has failed to make the kind of systemic, policy and resource changes that are required in law to address factors within its control that would help mitigate the chronic over-representation of Aboriginal people in federal penitentiaries.

Details: Ottawa: office of the Correctional Investigator, 2012. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20121022-eng.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20121022-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 135881

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Indigenous Peoples
Minority Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: de Oliveira Carlos, Juliana

Title: Drug policy and incarceration in Sao Paulo, Brazil

Summary: This briefing paper analyses the impact of drug policy on incarceration in Sao Paulo (Brazil), based on information collected among 1,040 people caught for having committed a drug-related offence (i.e. arrested in "flagrante delicto") between 1st April and 30st June 2011. The objective of the research was to use empirical data on those caught in the criminal justice system for drug traffic to demonstrate the fragile distinctions between drug users and traffickers, provide information on how police officers deal with drug-related offences, and analyse how the judiciary effectively responds to these crimes (at least in the initial phases of the criminal justice process).

Details: London: International Drug Policy Consortium, 2015. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-briefing-paper_Drug-policy-in-Brazil-2015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Brazil

URL: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/64663568/library/IDPC-briefing-paper_Drug-policy-in-Brazil-2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 135960

Keywords:
Drug Offenders
Drug Policy
Drug Trafficking
Prisoners

Author: James, Nathan

Title: Risk and Needs Assessment in the Criminal Justice System

Summary: The number of people incarcerated in the United States has increased significantly over the past three decades from approximately 419,000 inmates in 1983 to approximately 1.5 million inmates in 2013. Concerns about both the economic and social consequences of the country's growing reliance on incarceration have led to calls for reforms to the nation's criminal justice system. There have been legislative proposals to implement a risk and needs assessment system in federal prisons. The system would be used to place inmates in rehabilitative programs. Under the proposed system some inmates would be eligible to earn additional time credits for participating in rehabilitative programs that reduce their risk of recidivism. Such credits would allow inmates to be placed on prerelease custody earlier. The proposed system would exclude inmates convicted of certain offenses from being eligible to earn additional time credits. Risk and needs assessment instruments typically consist of a series of items used to collect data on behaviors and attitudes that research indicates are related to the risk of recidivism. Generally, inmates are classified as being high, moderate, or low risk. Assessment instruments are comprised of static and dynamic risk factors. Static risk factors do not change, while dynamic risk factors can either change on their own or be changed through an intervention. In general, research suggests that the most commonly used assessment instruments can, with a moderate level of accuracy, predict who is at risk for violent recidivism. It also suggests that no single instrument is superior to any other when it comes to predictive validity. The Risk-Needs-Responsivity (RNR) model has become the dominant paradigm in risk and needs assessment. The risk principle states that high-risk offenders need to be placed in programs that provide more intensive treatment and services while low-risk offenders should receive minimal or even no intervention. The need principle states that effective treatment should focus on addressing needs that contribute to criminal behavior. The responsivity principle states that rehabilitative programming should be delivered in a style and mode that is consistent with the ability and learning style of the offender. However, the wide-scale adoption of risk and needs assessment in the criminal justice system is not without controversy. Several critiques have been raised against the use of risk and needs assessment, including that it could have discriminatory effects because some risk factors are correlated with race; that it uses group base rates for recidivism to make determinations about an individual's propensity for re-offending; and that risk and needs assessment are two distinct procedures and should be conducted separately. There are several issues policymakers might contemplate should Congress choose to consider legislation to implement a risk and needs assessment system in federal prisons, including the following: - Should risk and needs assessment be used in federal prisons? - Should certain inmates be excluded from earning additional time credits? - Should risk assessment be incorporated into sentencing? - Should there be a decreased focus on punishing offenders?

Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service, 2015. 23p.

Source: Internet Resource: R44087: Accessed July 8, 2015 at: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44087.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R44087.pdf

Shelf Number: 135962

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Inmates
Prisoner Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Risk and Needs Assessment
Risk Assessment

Author: Levine, Barbara R.

Title: 10,000 fewer Michigan prisoners:Strategies to reach the goal

Summary: Michigan's prisoner population has grown from fewer than 7,900 in 1973 to over 43,000. Corrections has gone from 1.6 percent of General Fund spending to nearly 20 percent. Today the budget of the Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) is roughly $2 billion. This growth is not the inevitable product of increases in the size of the general population or of increased crime. On the contrary, Michigan's population growth has been modest and index crime rates have been declining steadily for the last three decades. Prison expansion resulted from specific changes in law, policy and practice that caused the state's incarceration rate to rise from 160 per 100,000 residents in 1983 to 442 today. Reexamining policies in light of current research could allow Michigan, in the next five years, to: 􀂍 Have 10,000 fewer prisoners. 􀂍 Reduce the prisoner population to 33,704 (about the same amount as in 1990 and 35 percent below the high point in 2006). 􀂍 Close seven entire prisons and six additional housing units. 􀂍 Avoid the need to train 2,000 new corrections officers to replace retirees. 􀂍 Save nearly $250 million annually.

Details: Lansing, MI: Citizens Alliance on Prisons and Public Spending, 2015. 94p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 17, 2015 at: http://media.mlive.com/lansing-news/other/CAPPS%20Report.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://media.mlive.com/lansing-news/other/CAPPS%20Report.pdf

Shelf Number: 136092

Keywords:
Alternatives to Incarceration
Costs of Corrections
Prison Population
Prison Reform
Prisoners

Author: Cohn, Alain

Title: Bad Boys: How Criminal Identity Salience Affects Rule Violation

Summary: We conducted an experiment with 182 inmates from a maximum security prison to analyze the impact of criminal identity salience on cheating. The results show that inmates cheat more when we exogenously render their criminal identity more salient. This effect is specific to individuals who have a criminal identity, because an additional placebo experiment shows that regular citizens do not become more dishonest in response to crime-related reminders. Moreover, our experimental measure of cheating correlates with inmates' offenses against in-prison regulation. Together, these findings suggest that criminal identity salience plays a crucial role in rule violating behavior.

Details: Munich: Center for Economic Studies & Ifo Institute, 2015. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: CESifo Working Paper No. 5363: Accessed July 17, 2015 at: https://www.cesifo-group.de/ifoHome/publications/working-papers/CESifoWP/CESifoWPdetails?wp_id=19160882

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://www.cesifo-group.de/ifoHome/publications/working-papers/CESifoWP/CESifoWPdetails?wp_id=19160882

Shelf Number: 136098

Keywords:
Cheating
Dishonesty
Illegal Behavior
Prisoners

Author: Johnson, Calvin

Title: Criminal Justice: Changing Course on Incarceration

Summary: Much has changed in New Orleans' criminal justice arena in the past 10 years: two consent decrees forcing reform in the police department and at the jail, a public defender office built on national models as part of a statewide system, an Inspector General's office with a focus on holding criminal justice officials accountable, the city's first Independent Police Monitor, and an active Criminal Justice Committee of the City Council exploring policy reforms. The most ambitious set of changes has addressed the city's dramatic overuse of incarceration in the local jail. Prior to Katrina, and for most of the last 10 years, New Orleans incarcerated residents in the jail at a much higher rate than any other city in the country. In a hopeful sign going forward, the city has reduced the number of people it incarcerates on any given day by more than two-thirds. New Orleans is now at a pivotal moment. Incarceration is being challenged as the reflexive response to crime. As then-City Council President Arnie Fielkow summed up in 2011, "You cannot incarcerate yourselves into a safer city, and we have learned that over recent years." But putting that lesson into practice in a fractured criminal justice system has been, and remains, an enormous challenge. Speaking earlier this year and looking to the future, First Deputy Mayor Andy Kopplin noted, "One of the biggest challenges going forward is maintaining the philosophical shift we have achieved-to reserve the jail principally for those who are arrested for violent felonies." This essay explores these dynamics, how the profound failings of the system were laid bare as the floodwaters receded, what city officials and community groups did to reverse course, and the culture change that remains to be fully embraced.

Details: s.l.: Data Center, 2015. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: New Orleans Index at Ten: Accessed July 20, 2015 at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/gnocdc/reports/The+Data+Center_NOI10_Changing+Course+on+Incarceration.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://s3.amazonaws.com/gnocdc/reports/The+Data+Center_NOI10_Changing+Course+on+Incarceration.pdf

Shelf Number: 136105

Keywords:
Criminal Justice Reform
Criminal Justice Systems
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: Liebling, Alison

Title: Birmingham prison: the transition from public to private sector and its impact on staff and prisoner quality of life - a three-year study

Summary: A three-year quality of life study was conducted at HMP Birmingham following its transfer from the public sector to G4S in 2011. The Prisons Research Centre team conducted detailed surveys of staff and prisoners; perceptions of their quality of life, interviews and observations, in 2011, 2012 and 2013, in order to evaluate the impact of this transition. The study found that, after an initial decline in quality of life, particularly for staff, the prison showed signs of positive progression by 2013. Seven prisoner quality of life dimensions showed statistically significant improvements from 2011 to 2013. Key findings - Seven of the 21 prisoner quality of life dimensions improved significantly from 2011 to 2013: respect/courtesy; humanity; decency; care for the vulnerable; staff-prisoner relationships; fairness; and personal autonomy. - Prisoners' overall "quality of life" score improved each year of the study, but it remained low compared to other local prisons. - In 2012 there were ten significant differences between dimension mean scores for White and Black/Minority Ethnic (BME) prisoners, where BME prisoners reported lower scores, primarily concentrated in the "harmony" and "professionalism" categories, suggesting perceived discrimination. In 2013, the only significant difference was in the overall quality of life score. Both of these groups rated their quality of life higher in 2013 than in 2012 and 2011. - For all staff, 17 of the 18 dimension mean scores moved in a positive direction from 2012 to 2013, 13 of them at a statistically significant level. In particular; attitudes towards the senior management team; recognition and personal efficacy; safety, control and security; and relationships with line management; all improved from 2011 and 2012 levels in 2013. - Overall staff quality of life improved particularly significantly from 2012 to 2013, reflecting a settling down, a stabilising of the workforce, and growing confidence in their leadership. - These improvements were accomplished against a low baseline, and major challenges in the delivery of a constructive regime remained.

Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 8p.

Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449351/birmingham-prison-3-study.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/449351/birmingham-prison-3-study.pdf

Shelf Number: 136261

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Kenny, Tom

Title: Experiences of prison officers delivering Five Minute Interventions at HMP/YOI Portland

Summary: This report summarises qualitative research into the experiences of prison officers implementing the Five Minute Intervention Project (FMI) at Her Majesty's Prison and Young Offender Institution (HMP/YOI) Portland. The FMI project trained prison officers to turn everyday conversations with prisoners into rehabilitative interventions. The study was funded by NOMS to understand how FMI may contribute to a positive rehabilitative environment in custody. Ten officers trained in FMI were interviewed at six-weekly intervals between June and October 2013, and their accounts of their conversations with prisoners were compared to ten officers who were not trained in FMI. Key findings A typology defined officers as Rehabilitative, Pre-Rehabilitative, Frustrated or Disengaged, referring to their motivation and ability to engage in rehabilitative efforts with prisoners. Positive process changes over time were observed in the FMI officer group: - Officers demonstrated improvements in the skill of rehabilitative conversation that were not seen in the comparison group. - The FMI officers appeared better able than comparison group colleagues to address underlying criminogenic needs. - Some FMI officers moved type to become Rehabilitative officers. For the successful delivery of FMIs, the following were identified as key components: - A focus on building rapport with prisoners before FMIs began. - Creating opportunities as well as seizing ad hoc chances to use FMIs. - Using a range of FMI skills, other skills and clear motivations to address prisoners' issues. The outcomes associated with FMI perceived by officers were: - Improved relationships with prisoners. - Increased job satisfaction. - Observable improvements in prisoners' thinking skills. - Observable improvements in prisoners' self-efficacy and problem-solving abilities. These changes and outcomes were observed despite the project taking place at a time of considerable national organisational change, with associated anxieties for the staff group involved.

Details: London: National Offender Management Service, 2015. 5p.

Source: Internet Resource: Analytical Summary: Accessed July 30, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448854/portland-fmi.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/448854/portland-fmi.pdf

Shelf Number: 136268

Keywords:
Corrections Officers
Interventions
Prison Guards
Prisoners
Rehabilitation
Treatment Programs

Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections Division

Title: The Impact of an Aging Inmate Population on the Federal Bureau of Prisons

Summary: In September 2013, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) incarcerated 164,566 federal inmates in 119 BOP-managed institutions.1 According to BOP data, inmates age 50 and older were the fastest growing segment of its inmate population, increasing 25 percent from 24,857 in fiscal year (FY) 2009 to 30,962 in FY 2013.2 By contrast, during the same period, the population of inmates 49 and younger decreased approximately 1 percent, including an even larger decrease of 29 percent in the youngest inmates (age 29 and younger). Based on BOP cost data, we estimate that the BOP spent approximately $881 million, or 19 percent of its total budget, to incarcerate aging inmates in FY 2013.3 The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) conducted this review to assess the aging inmate population's impact on the BOP's inmate management, including costs, health services, staffing, housing, and programming. We also assessed the recidivism of inmates who were age 50 and older at the time of their release.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, 2015. 72p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2015 at: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2015/e1505.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2015/e1505.pdf

Shelf Number: 136389

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Elderly Inmates
Prisoners

Author: MacDonald, Shanna Farrell

Title: Profile of Aboriginal Men Offenders: Custody and Supervision Snapshots

Summary: What it means Although Aboriginal offenders are often examined as one ethnic group, First Nations, Metis and Inuit offenders have distinct traditions, cultures and world views. In addition, they have unique characteristics that need to be understood and taken into account by decision and policy makers. Correctional staff could also benefit from a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by each of these groups. What we found Aboriginal offenders accounted for 22% of the in-custody offender population and 15% of the community population. First Nations were the largest Aboriginal group followed by Metis and Inuit offenders (in-custody: 70% First Nations, 25% Metis and 5% Inuit; supervision: 66% First Nations, 30% Metis, and 4% Inuit). First Nations and Metis offenders were more likely to be incarcerated and supervised in the Prairie Region compared to the Ontario and Quebec Regions for Inuit offenders. Both First Nations and Metis offenders had lengthy criminal histories. A large majority of Aboriginal offenders had committed violent offences, but Inuit offenders were most likely to commit a sex-related offence. First Nations offenders were more likely to participate in Aboriginal-Centred interventions and to be referred to Aboriginal-Centred programming. Regardless of Aboriginal group, however, a similar proportion of referred offenders participated and completed Aboriginal-Centred programming. Inuit offenders had the most stable institutional behaviour of the three Aboriginal groups, while First Nations experienced the most difficulties. Metis and Non-Aboriginal offenders had similar institutional behaviour patterns. Post-release outcomes were examined for the sample. Metis offenders were more likely to be released on discretionary release, while Inuit offenders had a greater number of supervision conditions imposed. About one-third of Aboriginal offenders in the sample returned to custody compared to 16% of Non-Aboriginal offenders. However, the overall return to custody rate for the general offender population in 2012 was 29%.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional S3rvice of Canada, 2014. 60p.

Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-321: Accessed August 31, 2015 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/r321-eng.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/r321-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 136627

Keywords:
Aboriginal Offenders
Aboriginals
Male Offenders
Prisoners
Recidivism

Author: Stys, Yvonne

Title: Violent Extremists in Federal Institutions: Estimating Radicalization and Susceptibility to Radicalization in the Federal Offender Population

Summary: There is a growing recognition of the need to understand and address violent extremist threats in Western countries. Given that the majority of research in this area has been conducted on nonoffender populations outside of Canada, there is a need to better understand the scope, nature, and process of radicalization in Canada. In recognition of the fact that the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) is in a position to contribute to addressing this gap, Public Safety Canada entered into a Letter of Agreement with the CSC to produce a report focused on CSC's data holdings on and estimation of violent extremism. This report summarizes the data holdings and gaps in the area, as well as the results of three studies focused on the examination and estimation of radicalization and susceptibility to radicalization of offenders under CSC's jurisdiction. The first study was a qualitative examination of the unique characteristics of offenders who are radicalized and who are susceptible to radicalization, from the perspective of operational staff. Based on data collected at a total of 10 focus groups involving institutional and community security and front-line staff from each of CSC's five regions, a number of themes emerged. Participants recognized the complex, multi-faceted nature of radicalization, and identified a wide range of behaviours indicative of radicalization or susceptibility to radicalization. In most cases, responses (e.g., vocalization of shared grievance, changes in religion) were consistent with the literature, though staff also suggested unique responses. Staff also drew attention to areas of possible improvement. The second study was a quantitative examination of differences between radicalized and nonradicalized offenders. Informed by literature and by the results of study 1, radicalized and nonradicalized offenders were compared on a wide variety of variables which could be measured using administrative data. There were many areas where radicalized offenders were found to differ from other offenders, including ethnicity and citizenship, education and employment, substance abuse history, previous contact with the criminal justice system, and characteristics of their offence(s). The data suggested that, in some ways, radicalized offenders may be more similar to radicalized individuals in the community than to other offenders. The third study involved a theory-drive attempt to identify constructs associated with susceptibility to radicalization. Based on a literature and data review, frequency analysis of variables, and principle component analysis, nine constructs were identified and explored. Though considerable additional work is required to confirm the role and nature of these constructs in influencing susceptibility, this study represents an important first step in this endeavour. Together, the three studies have allowed the CSC to contribute to the evidence base surrounding violent extremism in Canada. The results of these studies may also inform institutional operations and policies at CSC. They consistently demonstrate the need for additional research focused on population management for radicalized offenders, with a particular need for research focused on effective interventions for this group.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2015. 130p.

Source: Internet Resource: Report No. R-313: Accessed September 16, 2015 at: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn34475-eng.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/lbrr/archives/cn34475-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 136785

Keywords:
Extremist Groups
Inmates
Prisoners
Radical Groups
Radicalization
Terrorism
Violent Extremists

Author: Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC)

Title: Prison Problems: Planned and Unplanned Releases of Convicted Extremists in Indonesia

Summary: Many convicted Indonesian terrorists will be released over the next several years after serving time in prison. he Indonesian government has little capacity at present to provide adequate post-release monitoring, although it is taking some steps to remedy this. Under the circumstances, how much of a security risk do these releases pose? he answer is probably not as much as some people fear; the recidivism rate for convicted extremists remains low. he problem is that systems are not yet in place to keep track of individuals who are considered potential problems. Any evaluation of risk must take several factors into account. One is the numbers involved. In early 2013, articles appeared in the regional media suggesting that 300 prisoners were due for release by the end of 2014. he National Anti-Terror Agency (Badan Nasional Penganggulangan Terorisme, BNPT) later stated the real figure was only 39. A more reasonable estimate is about 80 releases in 2013-2014, some of which have already taken place, with over 100 more in 2015-2016. No one has exact data, however, and accurate predictions are close to impossible. A second factor is the prison experience of those scheduled for release. It is simply not possible to assess risk on the basis of the activities that led to their convictions. Some of the men that might have been judged most dangerous appear to have modified their views and behavior; others who might have seemed low risk have grown more militant because of associations made in prison. Which way an individual turns may depend less on government "deradicalisation" programs -- although interventions that provide status and income can help -- than on the nature and influence of fellow inmates and connections maintained on the outside. In general, senior JI leaders tend to exert a moderating influence, whereas those who follow radical preacher Aman Abdurrahman are likely to keep the level of militancy high. Other factors can also come into play, including the degree to which inmates can mix with ordinary criminal offenders. he problem of released prisoners does not relate just to those charged with terrorism but also to others they may have recruited. he largest cluster of repeat offenders among convicted extremists consists of men whose first offense had nothing to do with terrorism. The riot in Tanjung Gusta prison, Medan, on 11 July 2013 was a reminder that in thinking about scheduled releases, one should think of unscheduled ones, too, even if the number of terrorist escapes over the last decade has been remarkably low. Overcrowding, understaffing and the poor physical condition of many Indonesian prisons combine to produce escapes of ordinary criminals so frequently that it is a wonder that not more extremists make the attempt. To address these risks, improving the capacity of the Indonesian corrections system to analyse and respond to developments in prison is essential. It is also important for the government as a whole to recognize the need for improved post-release monitoring and allocate the necessary resources to put a better system in place. Managing convicted extremists goes to two much larger issues, however. One is overall prison reform: the government acknowledges that the prison system as a whole is in a state of crisis and the Corrections Directorate with the Law and Human Rights Ministry has been receptive to donor assistance in trying to address it. The second is the spread of extremist teachings in a way that generates new groups of young radicals convinced that violence is the way to address injustice, religious deviance and vice. Until the government does more to address this much more sensitive problem, the best monitoring program in the world will be of limited value.

Details: Indonesia: IPAC, 2013. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: IPAC Report No. 2: Accessed September 16, 2015 at: http://www.antoniocasella.eu/nume/Indonesia_2013.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Indonesia

URL: http://www.antoniocasella.eu/nume/Indonesia_2013.pdf

Shelf Number: 129777

Keywords:
Deradicalization
Prisoners
Radical Groups
Terrorists
Violent Extremists

Author: U.S. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General. Evaluation and Inspections Division

Title: Management of the Special Programs Unit at the Federal Bureau of Prisons Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York

Summary: The Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced today the release of a report examining the management of the Special Programs Unit (SPU) at the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York (MDC Brooklyn). The DOJ OIG's review sought to determine whether MDC Brooklyn's management controls, policies, and practices could have contributed to alleged disruptions to safety and security in 2011 and 2012 by inmate Ronell Wilson, who was convicted of capital murder and who had a months-long sexual relationship with a correctional officer that resulted in the birth of their child. Our review identified concerns related to BOP's placement of Wilson in the SPU, which primarily houses vulnerable inmates with mental health issues, without implementing safeguards or providing guidance to correctional staff on how to manage him. We also identified areas where MDC Brooklyn's ability to communicate information across shifts and housing units should be improved, although we did not find that these deficiencies directly led to Wilson's alleged disruptions.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2015. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 25, 2015 at: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2015/e1508.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2015/e1508.pdf

Shelf Number: 136880

Keywords:
Prison Administration
Prison Management
Prisoner Misconduct
Prisoners

Author: Baumgartel, Sarah

Title: Time-In-Cell: The ASCA-Liman 2014 National Survey of Administrative Segregation in Prison

Summary: Prolonged isolation of individuals in jails and prisons is a grave problem drawing national attention and concern. Commitments to lessen the numbers of people in isolated settings and to reduce the degrees of isolation have emerged from across the political spectrum. Legislators, judges, and directors of correctional systems at both state and federal levels, joined by a host of private sector voices, have called for change. In many jurisdictions, prison directors are revising their policies to limit the use of restricted housing and the deprivations it entails. Although a few in-depth reports and litigation have provided detailed accounts of specific systems, relatively little nationwide information exists about the number of people held in restrictive housing, the policies determining their placement, how isolated the settings are, and whether the rules governing social contact, activities, and length of stay vary from place to place. Therefore, in 2012, the Liman Program at Yale Law School joined with the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), which is the national organization of the directors of all the U.S. prison systems, to gather information. We asked the directors of state and federal corrections systems to provide their policies governing administrative segregation, defined as removing a prisoner from general population to spend 22 to 23 hours a day in a cell for 30 days or more. The result, Administrative Segregation, Degrees of Isolation, and Incarceration: A National Overview of State and Federal Correctional Policies (2013), based on responses from 47 jurisdictions, analyzed the criteria for placement in and release from administrative segregation. What we learned is that the criteria for entry were broad, as was the discretion accorded correctional officials when making individual decisions about placement. Many jurisdictions provided very general reasons for moving a prisoner into segregation, such as that the prisoner posed "a threat" to institutional safety or a danger to "self, staff, or other inmates." Some but not all jurisdictions provided notice to the prisoner of the grounds for the placement and an opportunity for a hearing. The kind of notice and what constituted a "hearing" varied substantially. In short, at the formal level, getting into segregation was relatively easy, and few policies focused on how people got out. In 2014, to understand the impact of these policies, the Liman Program and ASCA developed a survey of more than 130 questions, again sent to the directors of all the prison systems. Responses came from 46 jurisdictions, although not all jurisdictions answered all the ASCA-Liman questions. The result is this report, providing a unique inter-jurisdictional analysis of the use of administrative segregation around the United States. A basic question is the number of prisoners in isolation. Commentators have relied on estimates dating back ten years or more; the figures cited range from 25,000 to 80,000 prisoners. This Report is the first to update those figures; thirty-four jurisdictions, housing about 73% of the 1.5 million people incarcerated in U.S. prisons, provided numbers, totaling more than 66,000 prisoners in some form of restricted housing - whether termed "administrative segregation," "disciplinary segregation," or "protective custody." If that number is illustrative of the whole, some 80,000 to 100,000 people were, in 2014, in segregation. And none of the numbers include people in local jails, juvenile facilities, or in military and immigration detention. Having current information is one contribution of this Report. So is the documentation of the commitments of correctional officials, nationwide, to reduce these numbers dramatically. Thus, directors of prison systems believe that these numbers are "wrong" in the sense that they are or will soon be out-of-date, based on their plans to cut back on the use of isolation and to change the conditions in it. This Report focused on a subset of people in restricted housing - the 31,500 male prisoners held in administrative segregation. In terms of the demographics, 21 jurisdictions provided comparative information on general population and the administrative segregation population and, in those systems, Blacks and Hispanics were over-represented in administrative segregation. As for living conditions, the cells were small, ranging from 45 to 128 square feet, sometimes for two people. In many places, prisoners spent 23 hours in their cells on weekdays and 48 hours straight on weekends.

Details: New Haven, CT: Liman Program, Yale Law School, 2015. 96p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2015 at: http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/Liman/ASCA-Liman_Administrative_Segregation_Report_Sep__2_2015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.law.yale.edu/documents/pdf/Liman/ASCA-Liman_Administrative_Segregation_Report_Sep__2_2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 136890

Keywords:
Administrative Segregation
Prisoners
Protective Custody
Restrictive Housing
Solitary Confinement

Author: Lofstrom, Magnus

Title: Public Safety Realignment and Crime Rates in California

Summary: Public safety realignment substantially reduced the state's prison population. Between 2011 and 2012, property crime increased in California as a result of this policy change. Auto theft increased most dramatically, by 14.8 percent-or about 24,000 per year. By contrast, violent crime rates did not appear to be affected

Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2013. 24p., app.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2015 at: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_1213MLR.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_1213MLR.pdf

Shelf Number: 136924

Keywords:
Crime Rates
Criminal Justice Policy
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Prisons
Public Safety Realignment

Author: Angus, Christopher

Title: Older prisoners: trends and challenges

Summary: Australians are expected to continue living longer in the coming decades, benefiting from one of the world's longest life expectancies. Although this is undoubtedly a positive development, an older Australia creates numerous challenges, notably increased health and aged care costs. Australian prisons will face these same challenges, as increasing numbers of 'older prisoners'- commonly defined as inmates aged 50 years and over-place additional strain on State government authorities and resources. This e-brief looks at a range of issues relating to older prisoners in NSW, as well as in other Australian and international jurisdictions. The paper provides statistics showing the number of older prisoners in NSW and Australia, along with historical trends that have seen a rise in the overall number and proportion of older prisoners, including older female and Indigenous prisoners. An ageing prison population brings with it a number of problems, including: increased costs of remand; health issues such as age-related functional decline; a lack of appropriate and meaningful programs for older prisoners; and release and resettlement issues once older inmates leave prison. In response to these concerns, stakeholders have advocated for a range of policies that could more effectively support the needs of older prisoners. Some policies, such as tailored facilities for older prisoners, have been implemented in NSW. Chapter 8 of this paper notes a broader range of policies that have been implemented overseas and which are considered to be best practice responses to the challenges of an ageing prison population.

Details: Sydney: NSW Parliamentary Research Service, 2015. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: e-brief 14/2015: Accessed October 8, 2015 at: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/022A7DD47B719DECCA257ED00080EF3D/$File/Older+prisoners+-+trends+and+challenges.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Australia

URL: https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/publications.nsf/0/022A7DD47B719DECCA257ED00080EF3D/$File/Older+prisoners+-+trends+and+challenges.pdf

Shelf Number: 136974

Keywords:
Elderly Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Eisen, Lauren-Brooke

Title: The Reverse Mass Incarceration Act

Summary: Leaders across the political spectrum agree: The United States must end mass incarceration. But how? What bold solutions will achieve this change? Our prison crisis has many causes. One major contributor: a web of perverse financial incentives across the country that spurred more arrests, prosecutions, and prison sentences. A prime example is the 1994 Crime Bill, which authorized $12.5 billion ($19 billion in today's dollars) to states to increase incarceration. And 20 states did just that, yielding a dramatic rise in prison populations. To reverse course, the federal government can apply a similar approach. It can be termed a "Reverse Crime Bill," or the "Reverse Mass Incarceration Act." It would provide funds to states to reduce imprisonment and crime together. The United States has 5 percent of the world's population, yet has 25 percent of the world's prisoners. If the prison population were a state, it would be the 36th largest - bigger than Delaware, Vermont, and Wyoming combined. Worse, our penal policies do not work. Mass incarceration is not only unnecessary to keep down crime but is also ineffective at it. Increasing incarceration offers rapidly diminishing returns. The criminal justice system costs taxpayers $260 billion a year. Best estimates suggest that incarceration contributes to as much as 20 percent of the American poverty rate. During the crime wave of the 1970s and 1980s, lawmakers enacted stringent laws to instill law and order in devastated communities. But many of these laws went too far. The federal government played an outsize role by financially subsidizing states to incarcerate more people. Today, the federal government sends $3.8 billion to states and localities each year for criminal justice. These dollars are largely focused on increasing the size of our justice system. But times have changed. We now know that mass incarceration is not necessary to keep us safe. We now know that we can reduce both crime and incarceration. States like Texas, New York, Mississippi, and California have changed their laws to do just that. For the first time in 40 years, both crime and incarceration have fallen together, since 2008. How can this momentum be harnessed into action? Just as Washington encouraged states to incarcerate, it can now encourage them to reduce incarceration while keeping down crime. It can encourage state reform efforts to roll back prison populations. As the country debates who will be the next president, any serious candidate must have a strong plan to reform the justice system. The next president should urge Congress to pass the Reverse Mass Incarceration Act. It would encourage a 20 percent reduction in imprisonment nationwide. Such an Act would have four components: -A new federal grant program of $20 billion over 10 years in incentive funds to states. -A requirement that states that reduce their prison population by 7 percent over a three-year period without an increase in crime will receive funds. -A clear methodology based on population size and other factors to determine how much money states receive. -A requirement that states invest these funds in evidence-based programs proven to reduce crime and incarceration. Such an Act would have more reach than any of the other federal proposals. It could be implemented through budgeting procedures. It could be implemented as a stand-alone Act. Or, it could be introduced as an amendment to a pending bill.

Details: New York: Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, 2015. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 15, 2015 at: http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/The_Reverse_Mass_Incarceration_Act%20.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/The_Reverse_Mass_Incarceration_Act%20.pdf

Shelf Number: 136980

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Costs of Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Reform
Mass Incarceration
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: Miller, Sarah

Title: Non-Engagement in Offender Behaviour Programmes

Summary: Objective The objective of this study was to increase understanding of sexual offender lack of engagement in offender behaviour programmes. Methodology A qualitative research design was deemed appropriate because this subject matter has not been studied previously within the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). Two researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with a) 20 prisoners who had current convictions for sexual offences and who were not willing to engage in offender behaviour programmes, and, b) with 8 staff members working with sexual offenders in the SPS. All participants were recruited from HMP Edinburgh and HMP Dumfries and interviews were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings 19 of the 20 prisoners interviewed were not willing to engage in offender behaviour programmes because they denied their sexual conviction(s). Denial was dimensional in nature ranging from categorical (e.g. the offence did not happen at all) to varying forms of minimisation (e.g. the sexual activity was consensual). Analysis suggested that denial and appellant status protected participant's private and public identities by allowing them to avoid labelling and stigmatisation. Instead, denial and appellant status ensured (perceived) physical and psychological safety by allowing participants to detach from others. Prisoner interviewees had limited insight into peer influences at an individual level although they described how peers negatively influenced others. Participants were mostly ambivalent about progression and emphasised external needs, which, although relevant, indicated limited awareness of internal issues (e.g. emotional management, problem solving ability, interpersonal skills). The majority of concerns that participants had about programmes reflected those commonly expressed by other offenders (i.e. those with non-sexual convictions and those who admit their convictions), such as fears about lack of group confidentiality. Encouragingly the majority of participants described multifarious factors that would enhance their motivation to engage. Many were interested in exploring the events leading up to their conviction. Participants readily talked about problems that they had with emotional regulation, substance misuse and intimate relationships, although they did not think these factors would be problematic upon release. However, two participants struggled to identify any factors that would motivate them to engage, seemingly because of their strong detachment from others. Analyses of staff interviews revealed predominantly consistent findings to prisoner interviews increasing the validity of the findings. It is encouraging that staff and prisoners have a shared outlook. Staff participants recognised the complexity of denial, the perspectives of individuals unwilling to engage and the propensity for negative peer influences. They also expressed hope for future programme development. A minority of staff participants expressed the view that there was nothing that they could do to motivate sexual offenders who were unwilling to engage in programmes. Key considerations Findings provide support for an 'adaptational model' of offence denial in sexual offenders (Rogers and Dickey, 1991) which proposes that denial is used to manage highly adversarial settings. As such, findings do not support the separation of sexual offenders on the basis of offence denial and offence admittance as this strategy is likely to represent a repeat experience of social exclusion and increase offence denial by providing an opportunity to detach. Findings suggest a number of potential assessment and treatment approaches. Firstly, assessment procedures are likely to benefit from giving focus to all aspects of 'treatment readiness'. This could include enhancement of intrinsic motivations using motivational interviewing and adaptation of contextual/environmental factors negatively impacting on treatment readiness by running information sessions about programmes, pre-programme acclimatisation sessions and utilising positive peer influences. Secondly, as participants were able to identify factors that would motivate them to engage, it is likely that a Good Lives approach1 could be used to foster engagement and build upon existent motivations by focussing on how the individual conceptualises 'a good life' and the ways in which they can be fulfilled. Given the 'protective' function of offence denial for some offenders and the likely existence of other dynamic risk factors, that are known to be responsive to treatment, it is questionable whether focus is needed on the offence denial itself. Thirdly, attachment theory is likely to be relevant in the assessment and treatment of this offender group because of their propensity to detach from others in order to protect their private and public identities and thus 'survive' the prison setting. Given the qualitative nature of this study, these findings cannot be generalised. Further research could be undertaken by examining outcomes of larger samples of sexual offenders who engage in offender behaviour programmes and those who do not. Outcome measures could include adjudication records, reconvictions (nature and number) and parole decisions. In addition, a focus group study with those who have moved from offence denial to admittance could further inform future programme development.

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service, 2012. 48p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: http://www.hub.careinspectorate.com/media/107975/sps-sexual-offender-non-engagement-report.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.hub.careinspectorate.com/media/107975/sps-sexual-offender-non-engagement-report.pdf

Shelf Number: 137019

Keywords:
Behavior Modification
Prisoners
Sex Offenders
Treatment Programs

Author: Lydon, Jason

Title: Coming Out of Concrete Closets: A Report on Black & Pink's LGBTQ Prisoner Survey

Summary: This report lifts up the voices of LGBTQ prisoners from across the United States so that they can inform, shape, and lead the movement for prisoner justice. These numbers, statistics, and stories represent the largest ever collection of information from LGBTQ prisoners. This collection of information is possible because of the time taken by 1,118 prisoners across the United States to handwrite responses to our 133 question survey, which was itself designed/drafted with prisoners themselves. Black & Pink's free world leadership extends the utmost thanks to prisoner members who took the time to help design and respond to the National LGBTQ Prisoner Survey and for sharing their deeply personal and valuable stories of harm and resilience. This report will be printed in the Black & Pink newspaper for all prisoner members to read. Along with the report, there will be space for responses and reflections that will be compiled into a supplementary report to be released in Spring/Summer of 2016. LGBTQ people, particularly people of color and poor people, experience high levels of policing and criminalization, leading to arrest and incarceration. Once inside prison, LGBTQ people are subjected to constant violence by both prison staff and other prisoners. This report seeks to offer a tool for organizers, both inside and outside of prisons, to strengthen national campaigns and grassroots efforts to alleviate the immediate suffering of prisoners and bring an end to the prison industrial complex while centering the needs of LGBTQ prisoners.

Details: Dorchester, MA: Black and Pink, 2015. 68p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2015 at: http://www.blackandpink.org/wp-content/upLoads/Coming-Out-of-Concrete-Closets.-Black-and-Pink.-October-21-2015..pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.blackandpink.org/wp-content/upLoads/Coming-Out-of-Concrete-Closets.-Black-and-Pink.-October-21-2015..pdf

Shelf Number: 137159

Keywords:
Gays
Inmates
Lesbians
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Stanford Justice Advocacy Project

Title: Proposition 47 Progress Report: Year One Implementation

Summary: Since the enactment of Proposition 47 on November 14, 2014, the number of people incarcerated in California[s prisons and jails has decreased by approximately 13,000 inmates, helping alleviate crowding conditions in those institutions. Proposition 47 has also reduced the number of jail inmates released from custody early due to overcrowding and should generate over $150 million in state savings this fiscal year. County governments stand to save even more money: over $200 million annually, in aggregate.

Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Justice Advocacy Project, Stanford Law School, 2015. 11p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2015 at: https://2pe0o743k0s82lo5l6trs9j1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Prop-47-report.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://2pe0o743k0s82lo5l6trs9j1-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Prop-47-report.pdf

Shelf Number: 137299

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Early Release
Prison Overcrowding
Prison Population
Prisoners
Proposition 47

Author: Prison Reform Trust

Title: Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile. Autumn 2015

Summary: "Prison is a place where people are sent as a punishment, not for further punishments...Human beings whose lives have been reckoned so far in costs-to society, to the criminal justice system, to victims and to themselves-can become assets- citizens who can contribute and demonstrate the human capacity for redemption." Not the introduction to the latest Prison Reform Trust annual report, but the words of the incoming Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, in July 2015, and a welcome reassertion of principles which should underpin any civilised penal system. So far so good. But he has inherited both a system that is deteriorating on internal and external measures, and a requirement to carve anything from 25% to 40% out of its budget over the next five years. The prison service will be clinging to the hope that the worst is over, that after three years of drastic cuts prisons will slowly settle into diminished routines and staffing levels-a new impoverished normality. The evidence of this briefing gives little cause for optimism. Violence and disorder have risen sharply. Suicides continue to rise, and the reductions achieved through so much effort in the previous decade have been reversed. Levels of purposeful activity were judged unacceptable in three-quarters of prisons inspected. Some individual prisons buck the trend. The Mount, Peterborough, Kirklevington Grange and others have received warm praise from inspections in 2015. Even HMP Oakwood, heavily criticised after its opening in 2013, was judged to have turned a corner. But the worst reports conjured up images of almost Dickensian squalor. Longstanding structural flaws remain. More than a quarter of prisoners live in overcrowded prisons. One in four of the country's prisoners comes from an ethnic minority-compared to one in 10 of the general population. 82% of women are in prison for non-violent offences. 20% to 30% of prisoners have a learning disability or difficulty that interferes with their ability just to understand the criminal justice system. A staggering 12,000 prisoners do not even know when they will be released. During a period when crime has fallen sharply, average sentence length has increased by a third. We continue to use prisons in implausibly remote locations. The population of prisoners over 60 has tripled, while we build prisons designed (and priced) to contain the most determined escapee. There are new threats. The introduction of a year's mandatory post release supervision for short sentences guarantees a higher turnover in the most overcrowded prisons as inadequately prepared ex-prisoners fail to keep to their licence conditions. In prisons struggling with staffing reductions and reduced regimes, the advent of new psychoactive substances could hardly have come at a worse time. Above all, the government's determination to reduce the national fiscal deficit will hit unprotected departments-including the Ministry of Justice- with disproportionate force. That extraordinary challenge, however, represents an opportunity to rethink our approach both to the use of imprisonment and to the experience it should represent. The answer to the dilemma lies in one of the few success stories of recent years. The number of children (under-18s) in custody has fallen by over two-thirds in the last seven years. Yet at the same time, the crime committed by children has also plummeted, with proven offences down by 72% from their peak in 2005-06. The number of young adults (18-20 year olds) sent to prison has also started to decline, as the conveyor belt from child offender to young adult prisoner has slowed. If we translate that determination to make imprisoning children genuinely a last resort into the adult sphere, and reverse the sentence inflation which accounts for two-thirds of the population growth of the last two decades, the possibility of making dramatic savings is real. A prison population at the level it was the last time there was a Conservative majority government would save its current successor around $1bn a year. Increasing sentence lengths has been a comfort blanket for every government of the last 20 years. To make matters worse, prison is still seen as a free good so far as local communities are concerned- the trade off between money spent on prison officers rather than nurses or teachers remains invisible to the local taxpayer. The uncomfortable truth is that most of that expensive additional prison time is both unnecessary and wasted. The litany of frustration, depression and idleness described in this publication's statistics has its physical expression in underused facilities and long, pointless, hours behind cell doors. Reinvesting a fraction of the saving from closing prisons to create a custodial experience that is both purposeful and properly intense would be a practical legacy worthy of the new Secretary of State's visionary rhetoric.

Details: London: PRT, 2015. 76p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Factfile%20Autumn%202015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Factfile%20Autumn%202015.pdf

Shelf Number: 137362

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Anderson, Kirsten

Title: Music Education and Experience in Scottish Prisons

Summary: This research presents the first empirical study of music provision in Scottish prisons and explores the potential benefits of music engagement for prisoners, with a focus on young offenders' experience. The scope of the study begins with an investigation into music provision in prisons throughout Scotland by means of a small-scale survey. This survey showed that despite a lack of documentation, music is currently present in Scottish prisons and has been previously, albeit intermittently. Music provision included a range of activity: learning how to play musical instruments, singing, music theory, song-writing and composition. Subsequently, two music intervention studies were conducted with young offenders at HM Young Offenders Institution Polmont. The first study was a ten-week project with three participant groups: a music group, an art group and a control group. Pre- and post-interviews and measures were used to assess participants' self-esteem, self-control, behaviour, literacy skills and engagement with education. Numerous difficulties were identified with conducting such research in a prison environment, including the recruitment process and using standard assessment measures. However, results from the small number of men involved showed an increase in engagement with education for all three groups during the project and a steady continued increase in education engagement for the music group after the project ended. Additionally, the music and art groups showed a small increase in mean scores for self-esteem, positive emotions reported and self-control. The second study examined two music interventions with young offenders as part of the year-long Inspiring Change pilot project. This study used interviews and session review forms with education staff and arts practitioners to document the process of the organisations involved in the planning and implementation of the projects. Focus groups with young offenders were carried out to gather their opinions of the programmes. Participants expressed that they especially appreciated the high level of professionalism of the arts practitioners, working as a group, and being recognised as making an individual contribution towards a final project. In addition to the survey and intervention studies, a Knowledge Exchange workshop was designed for music tutors in Scottish prisons to meet, learn about research on music in prisons, and exchange ideas for best practice. A workbook and afternoon workshop format was investigated in terms of its effectiveness and was found to be beneficial for music tutors in learning more about the research and practice of teaching music in prisons. This thesis contributes to the developing research on the benefits of music provision for prisoners and provides a baseline of music provision in Scottish prisons for further study.

Details: Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh, 2011. 482p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/9598

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.era.lib.ed.ac.uk/handle/1842/9598

Shelf Number: 137365

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Music Education
Prisoners

Author: Lessing, Benjamin

Title: A Hole at the Center of the State: Prison Gangs and the Limits to Punitive Power

Summary: The state's central function is to establish authority through its monopoly on violence; the very attempt, however, can be counterproductive. Punishment incapacitates and deters individuals, but can empower destructive collective forces. Prison gangs, their ranks swelled by mass incarceration, transform the core of the coercive apparatus into a headquarters for organizing and taxing street-level criminal activity, supplanting state authority in communities, and orchestrating mass violence and protest. Drawing on a formal model, fieldwork, and case studies from the US and Latin America, I show how gangs use control over prison life, plus the state-provided threat of incarceration, to project power. The model predicts that common state responses-crackdowns and harsher sentencing- can strengthen prison gangs' leverage over outside actors, consistent with the observed expansion of prison gangs during mass-incarceration initiatives. These gang-strengthening effects of incarceration can have increasing returns, implying a point beyond which additional punishment erodes state authority.

Details: Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University, Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law, 2014. 57p.

Source: Internet Resource: CDDRL Working Papers, Vol. 149: Accessed January 13, 2016 at: http://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/Lessing_-_A_Hole_at_the_Center_of_the_State.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://cddrl.fsi.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/Lessing_-_A_Hole_at_the_Center_of_the_State.pdf

Shelf Number: 137558

Keywords:
Inmates
Prison Gangs
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Shalev, Sharon

Title: Deep Custody: Segregation Units and Close Supervision Centres in England and Wales

Summary: Segregation units and close supervision centres (CSCs) are complex places, where some of the prison's most challenging individuals are confined alongside some of its most vulnerable people, within a small, enclosed space. These units may house a combination of people with multiple and complex needs, including some who are at risk of self harm, some who pose a risk to others, and some who are both a risk and at risk, and people with literacy problems, particular mental health needs or physical illness. Under the Prison Rules, prisoners can be removed from the main prison population and housed in a segregation unit or a close supervision centre (CSC) for a variety of reasons, with periods of confinement in them ranging from a single evening in a segregation unit while facing a charge of breaking a prison rule, to years of indefinite confinement in a close supervision centre. In this sense, segregation units and close supervision centres function as a 'continuum of exclusion'. - In January, 2015 the total segregation capacity in England and Wales was 1586 cells. Close supervision centres had a capacity of 54. - In the first three months of 2014, almost 10% of the prison population spent at least one night in segregation. The CSC population averaged 50 people. - Of those segregated, 71% spent less than 14 days in segregation, 20% spent between 14 and 42 days, and 9% were segregated for longer than 84 days. The average stay in CSCs was 40 months. - The majority (95%) of those segregated were adult males. Their average age was 29. This study set out to: examine how segregation units and CSCs are used; describe the skills and views of staff who work there; and to explore prisoners' perceptions of fair processes and their treatment. We also wanted to profile good practice. The study, supported by the Barrow Cadbury Trust, was carried out by Dr Sharon Shalev of the Centre for Criminology at the University of Oxford and Dr Kimmett Edgar of the Prison Reform Trust. Its findings are based on a survey, distributed to all prisons in January 2014, and on visits to 15 prisons, including 14 segregation units and four close supervision centres. On the visits, we interviewed 25 managers, 49 officers and 67 prisoners (50 in segregation units and 17 in CSCs).

Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2015. 170p.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed January 13, 2016 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/deep_custody_111215.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/deep_custody_111215.pdf

Shelf Number: 137563

Keywords:
Inmate Discipline
Prisoner Misconduct
Prisoners
Segregation Units
Solitary Confinement

Author: Freire, Danilo Alves Mendes

Title: Entering the Underworld: Prison Gang Recruitment in Sao Paulo's Primeiro Comando da Capital

Summary: The present thesis provides a throughout discussion of the emergence of the Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC), a prison gang based in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Its main goal is to analyse how this criminal group selects its potential members. The work starts with a review of the recent literature on prison culture and gangs, with special emphasis on the Brazilian contributions to the field. Then it presents the first historical account of the PCC in the English language since previous research has been solely conducted in Portuguese. Lastly, the thesis offers a simple game-theoretical model to analyse both the incentives for a criminal to join a prison gang and how the PCC has been able to hire competent criminals under conditions of uncertainty and information asymmetry. The model suggest three findings. First, it stresses the role of informers in the gang's recruitment process. Informers allow the prison gang to keep a lower entry cost, so the gang can attract a larger pool of applicants and still be able to select competent candidates. Second, it indicates that there are cases in which joining a prison gang is not the best option for an inmate. When the detainee has enough skills to endure prison conditions by himself, the prisoner might be better off if he decides to "go it alone" and devote his ability exclusively to his own survival. Third, the models confirms the idea that the prison gang is not only a "school of crime", but perhaps most importantly, a highly effective screening device. Prison gangs increase the welfare of the inmates by providing an extremely valuable public good: reliable information. Public policies implications and possible extensions of the current study are also discussed.

Details: Geneva : Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, 2014. 93p.

Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed January 22, 2016 at: https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/pfigshare-u-files/1723348/MA_Thesis.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Brazil

URL: https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/pfigshare-u-files/1723348/MA_Thesis.pdf

Shelf Number: 137648

Keywords:
Organized Crime
Prison Gangs
Prisoners

Author: Western Australia, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services

Title: Western Australia's rapidly increasing remand population

Summary: The reviews undertaken as part of the Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services' Snapshot Series are designed to provide a brief summary of an issue or trend in the Western Australian custodial population. This is first of these reviews and it examines trends relating to people who are being held on remand in Western Australian prisons and in the state's sole youth detention centre, Banksia Hill. The review also gauges overall trends in remandee numbers in Western Australia against other Australian jurisdictions.

Details: Perth: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, 2015. 38p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/WebCMS.nsf/resources/file-tp---remandees-review/$file/Remandees-Review.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/WebCMS.nsf/resources/file-tp---remandees-review/$file/Remandees-Review.pdf

Shelf Number: 137688

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Bronson, Jennifer

Title: Veterans in Prison and Jail, 2011-2012

Summary: Presents counts and rates of veterans in state and federal prison and local jail in 2011 and 2012. This report describes incarcerated veterans by demographic characteristics, military characteristics, and disability and mental health status. It describes current offense, sentencing, and criminal history characteristics by veteran status. It also examines combat experience associated with lifetime mental health disorders among incarcerated veterans. Findings are based on data from the National Inmate Survey, conducted between February 2011 and May 2012. Data from previous BJS surveys of inmates in prison and jail are used to establish historical trends regarding incarcerated veterans. Highlights: The number of veterans incarcerated in state and federal prison and local jail decreased from 203,000 in 2004 to 181,500 in 201112. The total incarceration rate in 201112 for veterans (855 per 100,000 veterans in the United States) was lower than the rate for nonveterans (968 per 100,000 U.S. residents). Non-Hispanic black and Hispanic inmates made up a significantly smaller proportion of incarcerated veterans (38% in prison and 44% in jail), compared to incarcerated non-Hispanic black and Hispanic nonveterans (63% in prison and 59% in jail). A greater percentage of veterans (64%) than nonveterans (48%) were sentenced for violent offenses. An estimated 43% of veterans and 55% of nonveterans in prison had four or more prior arrests.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2015. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vpj1112.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/vpj1112.pdf

Shelf Number: 137800

Keywords:
Jail Inmates
Military
Prison Inmates
Prisoners
Veterans

Author: Bronson, Jennifer

Title: Disabilities Among Prison and Jail Inmates, 2011-12

Summary: Presents the prevalence of disabilities among prison and jail inmates, detailing the prevalence of six specific disability types: hearing, vision, cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living. Important differences in each type of disability are highlighted by demographic characteristics. The report also assesses the prevalence of disabilities with other health problems, such as a current chronic condition, obesity, ever having an infectious disease, and past 30-day serious psychological distress. Findings are based on prison and jail inmate self-reported data from BJSs 201112 National Inmate Survey (NIS-3). Data from the 2012 American Community Survey (ACS) and 20092012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were used to compare the incarcerated populations to the noninstitutionalized general population. Highlights: An estimated 32% of prisoners and 40% of jail inmates reported having at least one disability. Prisoners were nearly 3 times more likely and jail inmates were more than 4 times more likely than the general population to report having at least one disability. About 2 in 10 prisoners and 3 in 10 jail inmates reported having a cognitive disability, the most common reported disability in each population . Female prisoners were more likely than male prisoners to report having a cognitive disability, but were equally likely to report having each of the other five disabilities. Non-Hispanic white prisoners (37%) and prisoners of two or more races (42%) were more likely than non-Hispanic black prisoners (26%) to report having at least one disability. More than half of prisoners (54%) and jail inmates (53%) with a disability reported a co-occurring chronic condition.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2015. 13p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/dpji1112.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/dpji1112.pdf

Shelf Number: 137801

Keywords:
Disability
Disabled Persons
Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Stys, Yvonne

Title: Examining the Needs and Motivations of Canada's Federally Incarcerated Radicalized Offenders

Summary: This study allowed for an enhanced understanding of the motivations and needs of radicalized offenders, while providing the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) with further evidence that can be used in its considerations of how to intervene and case manage this population of offenders in the future. This research underscores the need for increased attention to offender motivation and how it impacts case management, supervision, and intervention strategies for radicalized offenders. What we found Results indicated that 30% of radicalized offenders had purely ideological motives for their actions, 17% were purely motivated by criminal (non-ideological) drivers, and 53% held both ideological and non-ideological motivations for their crimes. The most common ideological motivations included a desire for political change, and a desire to respond to a group grievance. Non-ideological motivations were most frequently identified as the desire for material gain and the desire for friendship. Those radicalized offenders who committed the more serious acts (as per the definition of radicalized offender) and those who were seen as leaders of the group were more frequently identified as having purely ideological motivations. Assessment of criminogenic needs via the Dynamic Factor Identification and Analysis instrument revealed that a large proportion of radicalized offenders had needs in the associates, attitudes, and personal/emotional domains and a small proportion had needs in the areas of substance abuse and community functioning. These differences were more pronounced when ideologically-motivated offenders were examined separately, indicating that perhaps the needs of non-ideologically motivated radicalized offenders are more similar to those found in the non-radicalized, general offender population. Similarly, ideologically motivated offenders held many more of the other violent-extremist needs than did non-ideologically motivated radicalized offenders. Why we did this study CSC strives to contribute to the safety and security of society through identifying and addressing the criminogenic needs and criminal motivations of the federally incarcerated offender population. While much is known about the needs of the general offender population, there exists significantly less empirical evidence concerning the needs of those federally-sentenced individuals motivated by ideology: radicalized offenders. This research sought to examine and understand the specific motivations and needs of federally incarcerated radicalized offenders, with the ultimate goal of contributing to an evidence-based approach to effective correctional interventions and case management for these offenders. What we did Using data from the Offender Management System (OMS) as well as information coded from various sources, the motivations (ideological

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2014. 30p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-r344-eng.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/005/008/092/005008-r344-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 137811

Keywords:
Extremist Groups
Prison Administration
Prisoners
Radical Groups
Radicalization
Radicalized Offenders

Author: Irish Penal Reform Trust

Title: The Vicious Circle of Social Exclusion and Crime: Ireland's Disproportionate Punishment of the Poor

Summary: The purpose of this Position Paper is to emphasise the complex matrix between social exclusion and crime, in order to impress on policy makers that an effective response to crime must, at the front end, involve investment in early intervention to combat social and educational disadvantage to prevent vulnerable young people embarking on criminality in the first instance. At the back end - i.e. post imprisonment - appropriate measures should be put in place to reintegrate ex-prisoners back into society, including comprehensive assistance with housing and work or training, for the benefit of the individuals themselves, as well as the communities to which they are returning.

Details: Dublin: IPRT, 2012. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 10, 2016 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Position_Paper_FINAL.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Ireland

URL: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Position_Paper_FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 137835

Keywords:
At-Risk Youth
Offenders
Poverty
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Reintegration
Social Exclusion
Socio-economic Conditions and Crime

Author: Sheahan, Frances

Title: A Shared Sentence: Children of imprisoned parents in Uganda

Summary: It is estimated that 200,000 children in Uganda have a parent in prison at any one time. Children of prisoners in Uganda and across Africa face many violations of their rights when their parents or primary caregivers are arrested and detained. They are confronted with the trauma of separation but also have to contend with subtle and not so subtle stigma and discrimination because of their parent's involvement with the criminal justice system. Children living in prison with their mothers often live in intolerable conditions with inadequate access to nutrition, play and education. In 2013, the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child adopted its first ever General Comment on the rights of children when their parents or primary caregivers are in conflict with the law. This research conducted jointly by the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative and PRI assesses to what extent the guidance contained in the General Comment has been implemented in Uganda, highlighting some of the gaps that need to be filled.

Details: London: Penal Reform International; Kampala, Uganda: Foundation for Human Rights Initiative: 2015. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2016 at: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PRI_FHRI-Report_-Implementation-of-GC-No1-WEB.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Uganda

URL: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/PRI_FHRI-Report_-Implementation-of-GC-No1-WEB.pdf

Shelf Number: 137933

Keywords:
Children of Prisoners
Families of Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Kindgren, Johanna

Title: Work, education and treatment in Swedish prisons. A study on occupational activities for inmates

Summary: The law requires inmates in Swedish prisons to participate in occupational activities during their sentence. The occupational activities may take the form of work, education, treatment programmes, or another structured activity. An inmate's repeated refusal to participate in assigned occupational activities may lead to a misconduct report. However, most inmates want to go to their occupational activities since they feel that it makes life in prison more manageable and makes time pass more quickly. Inmate participation in occupational activities can also be positive from a safety perspective; it can lead to fewer conflicts in the wings and closer contact between personnel and inmates. Last, but not least, occupational activities can contribute to the inmate's rehabilitation and thus reduce the risk of recidivism. Although occupational activities are a central element of the sentence, there are no comprehensive studies regarding its content and quality. The Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Bra) has therefore been instructed by the Government to survey occupational activities in Swedish prisons. The situation in Sweden and other relevant countries is also to be compared. Finally, Bra will evaluate the positive effects of occupational activities on the inmates and shed light on how they can be developed. The study is based on Bra's visits to twelve prisons in which a total of almost 200 people, both personnel and inmates, were interviewed. Two surveys were also sent out, one to conditionally released persons and one to heads of each prison. In addition, statistics from the Prison and Probation Service and the Swedish Public Employment Service were compiled for the report.

Details: Copenhagen: Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (Bra): 2015. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: English summary of Bra report 2015:20: Accessed March 1, 2016 at: https://www.bra.se/download/18.31d7fffa1504bbffea065d06/1448970661178/2015_20_Work%2C+training+and+treatment+in+Swedish+prison_r.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Sweden

URL: https://www.bra.se/download/18.31d7fffa1504bbffea065d06/1448970661178/2015_20_Work%2C+training+and+treatment+in+Swedish+prison_r.pdf

Shelf Number: 138007

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Prisoners
Prisons
Treatment Programs
Vocational Education and Training

Author: Pettus-Davis, Carrie

Title: From Mass Incarceration to Smart Decarceration

Summary: A prolonged era of mass incarceration has led to staggering rates of imprisonment in the United States, particularly among some of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. Given the rising social and economic costs of imprisonment and tight public budgets, this trend is beginning to reverse (Petersilia & Cullen, 2014). At the beginning of the 21st century, the United States finds itself facing the enormous challenge of decarcerating America, which is at the same time an enormous opportunity. Through decarceration, the lives of millions of people can be vastly improved, and the nation as a whole can leave behind this short-sighted and shameful period of mass incarceration. But how will this be accomplished, and by whom? Seldom before in the nation's history has the need for applied social innovation been more urgent. More so than most, the profession of social work is positioned to lead in this far-reaching social justice challenge. Social work is uniquely qualified because of its history of reform efforts, an ethical commitment to social justice, and emerging leadership in structural and behavioral interventions addressing complex social problems (Abramovitz, 1998; Brekke, Ell, & Palinkas, 2007; Fraser, 2004). Social work can bring siloed social sectors and diverse academic disciplines together to create a rational and effective response as prisons and jails devolve. Smart Decarceration will be proactive, transdisciplinary, and empirically driven. Effective decarceration will be occurring when (1) the incarcerated population in U.S. jails and prisons is substantially decreased; (2) existing racial and economic disparities in the criminal justice system are redressed; and (3) public safety and public health are maximized.

Details: St. Louis, MO: Washington University in St. Louis, 2014. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: CSD Working Paper No. 14-31: Accessed March 4, 2016 at: http://csd.wustl.edu/Publications/Documents/WP14-31.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: http://csd.wustl.edu/Publications/Documents/WP14-31.pdf

Shelf Number: 138033

Keywords:
Decarceration
Prison Population
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: New South Wales. Inspector of Custodial Services

Title: Full House: The growth of the inmate population in NSW

Summary: This first inspection by the office of the Inspector was undertaken in response to a rapid rise in the prison population in NSW in 2014. While long-term trends show a consistent rise in the number of people being incarcerated, this number peaked at 11,021 in May 2014, giving rise to significant overcrowding. NSW has the lowest number of hours out-of-cell each day for inmates, and this, combined with overcrowding, presents significant risks to the correctional system. Confining two or three inmates to cells designed for one or two for prolonged periods, where they shower, eat and defecate, inevitably raises tensions in an already volatile population. The experience in other jurisdictions has been that this potentially increases the risk of assault, self-harm and suicide and more general prison disorder. Rehabilitation outcomes are also compromised when inmate numbers are increased without a commensurate increase in appropriate resources. Overcrowding limits opportunities for parole because access to required programs is constrained. Reduced access to work and limited contact with families contribute to the creation of an unproductive environment. While it is difficult to define 'overcrowding', for the purposes of this inspection the term has been used to define a situation where a centre is holding a number of inmates that exceeds the original capacity that the centre was designed to accommodate. In NSW, 21 of 44 correctional centres are currently operating over design capacity. Prison overcrowding has the potential to negatively impact on all aspects of custodial life, from the initial reception of an inmate through to their transition back into the community upon release. Accordingly, this inspection examined the impact of overcrowding as it relates to three key areas: - Security and safety; - Health and wellbeing; - Resources and services. This inspection examined three metropolitan centres: Parklea Correctional Centre (the second largest centre in NSW and a privately operated centre), the Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre (the largest centre in NSW which receives over 40 percent of all new receptions to the correctional system), and the Metropolitan Special Programs Centre Area 2 (which accommodates a variety of inmate groups and offers a range of therapeutic programs). In July 2014, these centres were operating at a level of between 4.5 to 71 percent over their design capacity.

Details: Sydney: Inspector of Custodial Services, 2015. 77p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 15, 2016 at: http://www.custodialinspector.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Full%20House%20-%20Final%20report%20April%202015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.custodialinspector.justice.nsw.gov.au/Documents/Full%20House%20-%20Final%20report%20April%202015.pdf

Shelf Number: 138247

Keywords:
Inmates
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Manitoba Office of the Auditor General

Title: Managing the Province's Adult Offenders

Summary: The Department of Justice manages approximately 10,000 adult offenders. About 24% are in provincial correctional centres; the other 76% are supervised in the community. We examined how adequately the Department managed adult correctional centre capacity, adult offenders in the community, adult rehabilitation programs, and related public performance reporting. We found that the Department's management of its adult correctional centre capacity was inadequate for its long-term needs. Although it had increased capacity by 52% since 2008, overcrowding in centres was on-going; offender population forecasts were not always reliable; there was no comprehensive long-term capital plan to address either the forecast bed shortfall or the deterioration in aging correctional centre infrastructure; and initiatives to help reduce bed demand required greater attention. There were also problems in managing adult offenders in the community. While the Department had a number of policies in this area, we found that offenders were not always adequately supervised; their rehabilitation plans needed improvement; supervisors were not regularly reviewing staff's work to ensure it complied with standards; and management had reduced offender supervision standards in 3 regions to resolve workload issues. In addition, there were gaps in planning and monitoring adult rehabilitation programs, and limited public information provided on how well the Department was managing its adult offenders. Taken together, these issues affected the Department's contribution to public safety and reduced the likelihood of successful offender rehabilitation.

Details: Winnipeg, MB: Office of the Auditor General, 2014. 57p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 21, 2016 at: http://www.oag.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Chapter-6-Managing-the-Provinces-Adult-Offenders-Web.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: Canada

URL: http://www.oag.mb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Chapter-6-Managing-the-Provinces-Adult-Offenders-Web.pdf

Shelf Number: 138359

Keywords:
Adult Offenders
Community Corrections
Correctional Administration
Inmates
Offender Supervision
Prisoners
Prisons
Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Broderick, Roisin

Title: Ethnic Minority and Foreign National Prisoner Survey 2014

Summary: This thematic Bulletin presents the key findings of the Ethnic Minority & Foreign National Prisoners Survey 2014. The survey which was undertaken over the summer of 2014 in each of the 15 Scottish prisons involved all ethnic minority and foreign national prisoners. An ethnic minority survey has been carried out since 2004 and the survey was extended to include foreign national prisoners in 2007. A total of 192 ethnic minority and foreign national prisoners from 26 countries participated in the survey with an overall response rate of 51%. This is a drop from the 2012 response rate of 59%. The 192 responses comprised: - Male 85%, Female 15%; - Average age 36 years; - Convicted 67%; - Remand 33%. Methodology Working in association with Race Relation Managers within each prison, all prisoners identified as belonging to an Ethnic Minority or Foreign National group were visited and asked if they wished to complete a questionnaire. Questionnaires were available in a number of languages - English, Polish, Punjabi, Lithuanian, Russian, Romanian and Vietnamese. As questionnaires were not available in all languages, prisoners had the opportunity to use the services of an interpreter or alternatively, access to the help of a fellow prisoner who could help them complete the questionnaire. The questions in the survey reflect some key elements of the SPS equality and diversity agenda covering issues such as access to interpreters, mental health, food, relationships with other prisoners and staff. Ethnic minority & foreign national prisoner location Although there are ethnic minority and foreign national prisoners in all SPS establishment the majority of respondents were held in Barlinnie, Edinburgh, Glenochil and Perth. Custodial History Generally, the views of ethnic minority and foreign national prisoners with regard to many aspects of prison life, e.g. relationships, atmosphere, cleanliness, visits etc. are, with minor exceptions, very similar to other prisoners. However, when compared to other prisoners, there was a substantial difference in the number of ethnic minority and foreign national prisoners with no previous experience of prison. Ethnic minority and foreign national prisoners were more likely to report "never" having served a prison sentence (66%) or being on remand (53%) compared to other groups of prisoners (31% and 27% respectively).

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service, 2015. 22p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2016 at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3527.aspx

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3527.aspx

Shelf Number: 138388

Keywords:
Foreign Inmates
Inmates
Minorities
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Carnie, James

Title: Prisoner Survey 2015

Summary: This Report describes the key findings of the Scottish Prison Service's (SPS) biennial Prisoner Survey. The Survey, which is undertaken in each of the 15 Scottish prisons, involves all Scottish prisoners.1 The average age of prisoners was 33 yrs. Of the 92% of males and 8% of female prisoners, 80% were convicted and 20% were untried. The Survey has a number of objectives: - to make use of prisoners' perceptions of service-delivery and service-quality in business planning; - to provide prisoners with an opportunity to comment on a range of issues that impact on their experience in prison; - to allow staff to get a better understanding of how the halls or areas they manage compare to equivalent areas and halls and in so doing to provide a tangible way to help share items of "best practice"; and finally, - to allow the SPS through repetition of the same questions, to track progress (or the lack of it) across the various dimensions that are included in the Survey. The Use Made of the Survey The Survey is not simply about asking prisoners for their views. The Survey is about helping inform and shape change in the SPS and is directed at improving the quality of service delivery in every prison. This approach is predicated on the well-established belief that for change to be effective it is imperative that the views of prisoners are factored into the planning equation. The remainder of this Report sets out how prisoners view their experience of imprisonment and the way the SPS goes about delivering its services. Content and Coverage The Survey is focused intentionally upon the core elements of prison life: living conditions, family contact, healthcare, relationships and atmosphere. The Survey also seeks views on such issues as perceived safety, bullying, drug use and mental health. As it is completed in a relatively short timeslot it purposely avoids detailed questions on complex issues. The Survey is distributed to all prisoners and all establishments within Scotland. In this sense, the exercise is a census. This year's Survey, the fifteenth to run since 1990, achieved an overall prisoner response rate of 55%. Of these, 92% were male and 8% were female.

Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service, 2015. 60p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2016 at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3895.aspx

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3895.aspx

Shelf Number: 138389

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Pew Charitable Trusts

Title: The Punishment Rate: New metric evaluates prison use relative to reported crime

Summary: Researchers, policymakers, and the public rely on a variety of statistics to measure how society punishes crime. Among the most common is the imprisonment rate - the number of people in prison per 100,000 residents. This metric allows for comparisons of prison use over time and across jurisdictions and is widely seen as a proxy for punishment. States with high imprisonment rates, for example, are considered more punitive than those with low rates. A more nuanced assessment of punishment than the ratio of inmates to residents is that of inmates to crime - what The Pew Charitable Trusts calls the "punishment rate." This new metric gauges the size of the prison population relative to the frequency and severity of crime reported in each jurisdiction, putting the imprisonment rate in a broader context. Using the punishment rate to examine the U.S. criminal justice system, Pew found that all states became more punitive from 1983 to 2013, even though they varied widely in the amount of punishment they imposed. The analysis also shows that the nation as a whole has become more punitive than the imprisonment rate alone indicates.

Details: Philadelphia: Pew Charitable Trusts, 2016. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: Brief: Accessed March 24, 2016 at: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2016/03/the_punishment_rate.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.pewtrusts.org/~/media/assets/2016/03/the_punishment_rate.pdf

Shelf Number: 138410

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Punishment
Sentencing

Author: Mercadal, Gertrudis

Title: Prison Privatization in the United States: A New Strategy for Racial Control

Summary: There has been a stunning build-up of prisons and a growing trend in prison privatization in the last 30 years, including the rise of maximum security units. The goal of my dissertation is to understand the ideological, historic, political, and economic processes behind the changes in the criminal justice system of the United States. I analyze this problem from multiple angles - labor and policy history, discourse and public opinion, and race in America. The aim of this analysis is to uncover the reasons why crime legislation became progressively more punitive, reaction to African Americans gains in post-Civil Rights more hostile, and the manifold ways in which these phenomena drive the expansion of the prison system and its increasing privatization. In the process of this expansion, a racial caste system which oppresses young African Americans and people of color has become recast and entrenched. Specifically, I offer the notion that in the last three decades, punitive crime legislation focused on African Americans and served to deal with labor needs and racial conflict with harsher penal legislation; in doing so, it depoliticized race, institutionalized racial practices, and served the interests of private prison businesses in new ways oppressive ways. Using interdisciplinary methods which weave together qualitative and quantitative analysis, I find that punitive crime policies in the last thirty years used the concept of crime as political currency by government officials in order to appear tough on crime, and by business representatives interested in exploiting the prison industry. The conflation of business and political interests, and the recasting of crime as a race problem, served to taint public institutions and media dissemination with racist imperatives which stereotyped poor African Americans. The end result is a constant re-positioning of young black males as fodder for economic exploitation. The dissertation also addresses the high cost of imprisonment and the multiple social problems brought from shifting inmates from wards of the State to profit-making opportunities in the hands of private entrepreneurs. The result is high numbers of recidivism, and a growing underclass of people who will always be unemployed or underemployed and return to low income communities that suffer from the endless cycle of poverty and imprisonment.

Details: Boca Raton, FL: Florida Atlantic University, 2014. 245p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 28, 2016 at: https://fau.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fau%3A13688/datastream/OBJ/view/Prison_privatization_in_the_United_States__a_new_strategy_for_racial_control.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: https://fau.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fau%3A13688/datastream/OBJ/view/Prison_privatization_in_the_United_States__a_new_strategy_for_racial_control.pdf

Shelf Number: 138447

Keywords:
African Americans
Prisoners
Private Prisons
Privatization
Racial Bias
Racial Disparities

Author: Novis, Roberta

Title: Hard Times: Exploring the Complex Structures and Activities of Brazilian Prison Gangs

Summary: This research examines the presence of organised criminal groups in prison and its influence on inmate's interaction and on the prison system of Rio de Janeiro. Information collected from a series of in-depth interviews with prisoners and ex-prisoners, members and non-members of the criminal groups and authorities of the criminal justice system, suggests that the current social organisation of prisons is working favourably towards the further development of organised crime and deviant behaviour. Prisoners are subordinated not only to the prison administration but also to the gang leaders. If a convict had no links with drug trafficking prior to incarceration, they definitely create one behind bars. Ninety-eight percent (98%) of interviewees from the sensitive sample engaged in drug trafficking while in prison. Off-brand inmates, those who are the less conspicuous convicts, end up engaging in illegal activities to avoid retaliation, perpetuating then a cycle of violence in a fragmented geopolitical gang space behind bars. Political pressure towards the validity of the classification system stratified by gang affiliation has impacted on the prison administration to create multiple categories of prisoners, which are mutually exclusive. This has had pervasive impacts on penal affairs such as allocation of sentences, lack of vacancies and disruption of prisoner's routine. The research shows that the State goes beyond classification of inmates by gang affiliation; it has incorporated elements of gang's violent tradition to assess and influence justice and prisoner's progression. This study offers an interesting scope for a comparative analysis through the study of anti-prison gang strategies. Experiences around the globe have been driven to target gangs with racial and ethnical rivalries. Prison gangs in this study are devoted to a more capitalist goal: the monopoly of illegal drug markets in the streets. Such understandings and contextualizing make a significant contribution to re-examining the role of inmate culture as well as the value of contemporary penal reforms designed to making the penal institutions more responsive and interventionist in addressing inmate needs.

Details: London: London School of Economics, 2013. 279p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 29, 2016 at: http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/958/1/Novis_hard_times.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Brazil

URL: http://etheses.lse.ac.uk/958/1/Novis_hard_times.pdf

Shelf Number: 138455

Keywords:
Drug Trafficking
Organized Crime
Prison Administration
Prison Gangs
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Cilluffo, Frank

Title: Out of the Shadows: Getting Ahead of Prison Radicalization

Summary: The potential for radicalization of prison inmates in the United States poses a threat of unknown magnitude to the national security of the U.S. Prisons have long been places where extremist ideology and calls to violence could find a willing ear, and conditions are often conducive to radicalization. With the world's largest prison population (over 2 million - ninety-three percent of whom are in state and local prisons and jails) and highest incarceration rate (701 out of every 100,000), America faces what could be an enormous challenge - every radicalized prisoner becomes a potential terrorist recruit. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales recently stated that "[t]he threat of homegrown terrorist cells - radicalized online, in prisons and in other groups of socially isolated souls - may be as dangerous as groups like al Qaeda, if not more so. They certainly present new challenges to detection." The London transit bombings of 2005 and the Toronto terrorist plot of 2006, to name just two incidents, illustrate the threat posed by a state's own radicalized citizens. By acting upon international lessons learned, the U.S. may operate from a proactive position. Under the leadership of The George Washington University's Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) and The University of Virginia's Critical Incident Analysis Group (CIAG), a task force of diverse subject matter experts was convened to analyze what is currently known about radicalization and recruitment in U.S. prison systems at the federal, state and local levels. The goal of this diverse, multidisciplinary group was to give unbiased and well-informed recommendations for further action. The task force performed an extensive literature review and received briefings from professionals with expertise in this area. Federal, state and local officials provided background information on radicalization and ongoing efforts to decrease the threat of terrorist activity in prisons. The task force sought and received perspectives from religious service providers in prisons and jails, behavioral and social scientists, and members of the national security and intelligence communities. Researchers of radicalization in foreign prisons provided first hand accounts of radicalization and terrorist activities overseas. Due to the sensitive nature of many of these briefings and the desire of some briefers to remain anonymous, this report makes reference to information for which no source is cited. All information provided, where no source is provided, originates from task force briefings with subject matter experts and officials with personal experience in dealing with prisoner radicalization. This report focuses on the process of radicalization in prison. Radicalization "refers to the process by which inmates...adopt extreme views, including beliefs that violent measures need to be taken for political or religious purposes." By "extreme views," this report includes beliefs that are anti-social, politically rebellious, and anti-authoritarian. This report focuses, in particular, on religious radicalization in conjunction with the practice of Islam. Radical beliefs have been used to subvert the ideals of every major religion in the world. Just as young people may become radicalized by "cut-and-paste" versions of the Qur'an via the Internet, new inmates may gain the same distorted understanding of the faith from gang leaders or other influential inmates. The task force recognizes the potentially positive impact of religion on inmates, and it should be noted that inmates have a constitutional right to practice their religion, a right reinforced by further legislation.

Details: Washington, DC: George Washington University, Homeland Security Policy Institute; Charlottesville, VA: University of Virginia, Critical Incident Analysis Group, 2006. 38p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 31, 2016 at: https://med.virginia.edu/ciag/wp-content/uploads/sites/313/2015/12/out_of_the_shadows.pdf

Year: 2006

Country: United States

URL: https://med.virginia.edu/ciag/wp-content/uploads/sites/313/2015/12/out_of_the_shadows.pdf

Shelf Number: 102908

Keywords:
Gangs
Islam
Muslims
Prisoner Radicalization
Prisoners
Radicalization
Religion
Terrorists

Author: New South Wales. Parliament. Legislative Council. Standing Committee on Law and Justice

Title: Security classification and management of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment

Summary: In July 2015 it became publicly known that some inmates sentenced to life imprisonment had been reclassified to a medium or minimum security level. This became a prominent matter in the media following an outcry from the public and victims' families. The Commissioner of Corrective Services subsequently reclassified these inmates from their lower security classifications to maximum security. This inquiry was established soon afterwards to consider how lifers should be classified and whether they should have access to rehabilitation programs. Summary of recommendations Recommendation 1 32 That the NSW Government amend the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 to establish a separate classification for inmates sentenced to life imprisonment with little or no prospect of release from custody that is based on the risk they pose to the community, preserves the good order of correctional facilities and ensures the safe and effective management of the inmates. Recommendation 2 32 That Corrective Services NSW develop and action a comprehensive communication strategy to educate the public on the operation of the New South Wales correctional system. Recommendation 3 44 That the NSW Department of Justice consider merging the victims registers of the Mental Health Review Tribunal, Juvenile Justice and Corrective Services NSW. Recommendation 4 45 That Corrective Services NSW trial an opt-out Victims Register for victims of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. Recommendation 5 45 That, as part of the opt-out system at recommendation 4, Corrective Services NSW establish a policy whereby the Victims Register conduct a one-off follow up of victims of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment who have opted-out of the register to ask if the victim would like to reconsider joining the register, and that victims be informed of this policy when they initially make the decision to opt-out. Recommendation 6 49 That Corrective Services NSW establish a policy whereby, as soon as possible following sentencing, the Victims Register provide an information package to victims of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment and offer to telephone or meet with them to explain the correctional system, custodial management practices and the day-to-day life of an inmate and that it consider doing this in the presence of a counsellor. Recommendation 7 49 That Corrective Services NSW develop, in consultation with victim support groups and the Commissioner of Victims Rights, a form to be provided to victims of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment following sentencing that includes a list of matters that victims can nominate to receive updates about, and that this form also be made available to current victims of inmates sentenced to life imprisonment. Recommendation 8 55 That the NSW Government amend the Crimes (Administration of Sentences) Regulation 2014 to state that, in cases where the Commissioner for Corrective Services does not adopt the recommendations of the Serious Offenders Review Council, reasons as to why the recommendations were not adopted must be provided. Recommendation 9 62 That the NSW Government consider measures to improve the capacity of the prison system to adequately house, manage and care for aged and frail inmates, including to establish designated units and areas in more correctional centres in New South Wales.

Details: Sydney: NSW Parliament, 2016. 94p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 11, 2016 at: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/344106974ffada7bca257f8a0082b906/$FILE/Final%20Report%20-%20Security%20classification%20and%20management%20of%20inmates%20sentenced%20to%20life%20imprisonment.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/committee.nsf/0/344106974ffada7bca257f8a0082b906/$FILE/Final%20Report%20-%20Security%20classification%20and%20management%20of%20inmates%20sentenced%20to%20life%20imprisonment.pdf

Shelf Number: 138627

Keywords:
Inmate Classification
Inmates
Life Imprisonment
Life Sentence
Lifers
Prisoners

Author: Lessing, Benjamin

Title: Counterproductive Punishment: How Prison Gangs Undermine State Authority

Summary: States' efforts to provide law and order can be counterproductive: mass incarceration policies, while incapacitating and deterring individual criminals, can simultaneously strengthen collective criminal networks. Prison gangs, by promising rewards and punishments inside prison to those who anticipate incarceration, can control criminal activity on the street. A formal model reveals that common crime-reduction policies, by making incarceration more likely and sentences harsher, can increase prison gangs' power over street-level actors. Leading cases from across the Americas corroborate these predictions: periods of sharply rising incarceration, partly driven by anti-gang laws, preceded qualitative leaps in prison-gang projection of power onto the street. Prison gangs use their capacity to project power not only for criminal governance, but to orchestrate violence - or intentionally curtail it - providing them critical leverage over the state. Thus, even if increased incarceration reduces crime rates, it may do so by strengthening prison-gang power at the expense of state authority.

Details: Unpublished paper, 2015. 54p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 14, 2016 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2644812

Year: 2015

Country: International

URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2644812

Shelf Number: 138672

Keywords:
Inmates
Prison Gangs
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons

Title: Changing patterns of substance misuse in adult prisons and service responses

Summary: Drug misuse is a serious threat to the security of the prison system, the health of individual prisoners and the safety of prisoners and staff. Its effects ripple outwards to harm prisoners' friends and families and the wider community of which they are a part. An increasing number of reports of the misuse of medication in prison and concerns that traditional supply reduction and treatment strategies were ineffective were the initial driver for this thematic inspection. However, the availability of new psychoactive substances (NPS), particularly synthetic cannabis known as 'Spice' or 'Mamba', became highly prevalent during the preparation for this report. NPS have created significant additional harm and are now the most serious threat to the safety and security of the prison system that our inspections identify. This thematic inspection examined the changing extent and patterns of drug misuse in adult prisons and assessed the effectiveness of the response to it. The inspection's remit did not include tobacco and alcohol use by prisoners, which are important issues in their own right and raise significant operational and policy challenges. Of course, there are wider questions to be asked about the legal status of drugs in the community and the historical inconsistency of legal responses to various harmful substances. This report does not address those issues. There is no prospect of any relaxation of the rules governing the substances that are permitted in prisons and so there is an urgent requirement to address the harm that substance misuse causes in prisons in that realistic context. The report draws on the evidence of 61 adult prison inspections published between April 2014 and August 2015, the 10,702 survey responses from individual prisoners that were collected as part of those inspections, and detailed field work that was conducted in eight prisons between June and November 2014. We spoke to prisoners, prison staff and managers, drugs and health workers, and other experts. We reviewed a wide range of research undertaken by other bodies. We also considered some earlier inspection findings, where relevant. The inspection was carried out by the inspectorate's research team and specialist health and drugs inspectors. Changing patterns of drug use in the community provide a useful context for understanding drug misuse in prisons. It is impossible to know for certain the extent and type of drug misuse in the community or in prisons. Nevertheless, there is a wealth of evidence to suggest that patterns of drug use are changing in the community, with drug use appearing to be reducing. The 2014-15 Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 8-9% of adults reported illicit drug use over the previous year, down from 12% in 2003-04. Cannabis remains the most widely used drug and there has been a well-evidenced decline in illicit opiate use. The reported use of prescribed medication and NPS in the community is at a relatively low level. Patterns of dug misuse vary with age, gender, geography and lifestyle. There are important differences between drug misuse in prisons and the community. A declining number of prisoners needing treatment for opiate misuse reflects trends in the community, although many of those requiring opiate treatment in prison have complex dependence, social, physical and mental health issues. Prisoners are more likely to use depressants than stimulants to counter the boredom and stress of prison life. The use of synthetic cannabis and diverted medication reflects a response to comparative weaknesses in security measures. Often, the price of drugs is higher and the quality poorer in prison, reflecting greater difficulty of supply. The combination of community influences, prisoner demographics and individual prison contexts means that the patterns of drug use will differ from prison to prison. As this report was being prepared, there was an acceleration in the use and availability of NPS. It is important to understand, however, that success in combating current challenges in prisons, such as the availability of NPS or specific medications, will lead to an increased demand for other drugs, and to be prepared for this.

Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2015. 85p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 16, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/12/Substance-misuse-web-2015.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/12/Substance-misuse-web-2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 138694

Keywords:
Drug Abuse
Drug Offenders
Prison Contraband
Prisoner Misconduct
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Nese, Annamaria

Title: Cooperation, Punishment and Organized Crime: A Lab-in-the Field Experiment in Southern Italy

Summary: This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation which allows a deeper insight into the nature of social preferences amongst organized criminals and how these differ from "ordinary" criminals on the one hand and from the non-criminal population in the same geographical area on the other. We provide experimental evidence on cooperation and response to sanctions by running Prisoner's Dilemma and Third Party Punishment games on three different pools of subjects; students, 'Ordinary Criminals' and Camorristi (Neapolitan 'Mafiosi'). The latter two groups being recruited from within prisons. We are thus able to separately identify 'Prison' and 'Camorra' effects. Camorra prisoners show a high degree of cooperativeness and a strong tendency to punish, as well as a clear rejection of the imposition of external rules even at significant cost to themselves. In contrast, ordinary criminals behave in a much more opportunistic fashion, displaying lower levels of cooperation and, in the game with Third Party punishment, punishing less as well as tending to punish cooperation (almost as much) as defection. Our econometric analyses further enriches the analysis demonstrating inter alia that individuals' locus of control and reciprocity are associated with quite different and opposing behaviours amongst different participant types; a strong sense of self-determination and reciprocity both imply a higher propensity to cooperate and to punish for both students and Camorra inmates, but quite the opposite for ordinary criminals, further reinforcing the contrast between the behaviour of ordinary criminals and the strong internal mores of Camorra clans.

Details: Bonn: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2016. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 9901: Accessed April 27, 2016 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp9901.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Italy

URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp9901.pdf

Shelf Number: 138823

Keywords:
Economics of Crime
Inmates
Mafia
Organized Crime
Prisoners
Punishment

Author: Great Britain. HM Chief Inspector of Prisons

Title: Report on an unannounced inspection of HMP Lewes

Summary: HMP/YOI Lewes is a medium sized local prison with an uncrowded capacity of 617. At the time of the inspection it held just over 640 prisoners, including a substantial number awaiting trial or sentence. A third of the population were convicted of sexual offences, many with long or indeterminate sentences, and about 15% were in the last three months of their sentence and located at Lewes for pre-release resettlement support. As with other establishments, the number of older prisoners was rising and there was also a significant population of young adults. This complex mix presented considerable challenges and risks, exemplified by the first night centre. Sex offenders were held there because there was nowhere else to put them, and this meant that other new arrivals were placed wherever a space could be found in the prison. Some were even placed in the segregation unit, which is a particularly inappropriate location for someone new to prison. Most staff on other units were unaware of who the new arrivals were and could not therefore provide first night support and monitoring. Moreover, during our night visit, we found that some staff did not have anti-ligature knives and could not assure us that they would act appropriately in the event of a serious self-harm incident. This was in the context of over a quarter of prisoners in our survey reporting feeling depressed or suicidal on arrival, and a third saying they had mental health problems. Levels of violence and use of force were high and oversight of both was poor. Although we have seen rising violence in most prisons inspected over the last year, at Lewes the number of assaults was even higher than at other establishments recently inspected. However, the general picture on violence was complex and needed careful analysis; prisoners reported feeling relatively safe and selfharm was also lower than we see in other prisons. The safer custody structures that could have helped to understand and address such findings were lacking; violence reduction procedures were not being implemented and safer custody staff had no time to undertake the role. Most of the prison was clean and in good condition - a considerable achievement given that it was over 160 years old. Good relationships between staff and prisoners, many of whom were from the local area, were a strength that underpinned much of the positive work in the prison. The reassurance provided by the experienced staff group may help to explain why prisoners felt safe despite the high levels of violence. Health care was reasonably good but far too many external hospital appointments were missed as a result of a lack of escort staff. The increased number of hospital visits reflected the rise in older prisoners, approximately 10% of whom were over 60, more than double the figure at the last inspection. The oldest prisoner was over 90. However, despite creditable work by paid carers, provision for older and disabled prisoners was inadequate. Overall arrangements for equality and diversity were also poor. There was little systematic support for prisoners with protected characteristics and those from black and minority ethnic backgrounds and foreign national prisoners were much more negative than others about their treatment. Purposeful activity outcomes had dipped since the last inspection, although they were improving. More short education courses were provided, which better met the needs of many prisoners, and completion and success rates on short courses and in vocational training were high. The library was well run and access to PE was good. However, far too many prisoners were still without purposeful activity. Despite a very recently introduced new regime, on some units people were routinely locked up for 23 hours and we found half of the population in their cells during our spot checks over the course of the working day. There were not enough activity places and some of the available places were unused.

Details: London: HM Chief Inspectorate of Prisons, 2016. 119p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/04/Lewes-web-2015.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/04/Lewes-web-2015.pdf

Shelf Number: 138835

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Correctional Programs
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prison Violence
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Revold, Mathias Killengreen

Title: Innsattes levekar 2014 (Prison inmates' living conditions 2014)

Summary: This report on living conditions among inmates in Norwegian prisons is based on a survey conducted in the autumn of 2014. The report describes their lives before prison and to some extent their lives while incarcerated and their plans after they are released. A control group from the general population, with similar demographic characteristics, was made from Statistics Norway's other surveys. Most of the inmates are men, and the majority are younger than 40 years. Seven out of ten people surveyed were non-immigrants, but inmates with deportation orders and inmates held on remand were excluded from the sample. These groups have a high percentage of immigrants and the proportion of immigrants in the total prison population may be higher. The inmates had to a greater extent than the reference group been living alone and to a lesser extent been living in relationships with children before they were incarcerated. The proportion that are divorced or separated is higher than in comparable groups. 46 percent were serving their first sentence and 54 percent had served previous prison sentences. Many inmates had experienced a difficult childhood. 32 percent had little money compared to others or were among the poorest in the neighborhood. A large percentage had negative experiences in childhood. For example, 40 percent were abused while growing up, 38 percent lived with someone who had alcohol or drug problems and 41 percent have had family members in prison. Inmates who have served previous sentences and younger inmates had consistently experienced more of these negative childhood experiences than other inmates. The living conditions of the inmates before prison is consistently worse than in comparable groups of the general population. 68 percent lived in a dwelling they owned or rented, compared to 98 percent among comparable groups. 28 percent lived in cramped quarters, which is a much higher proportion than in the reference group. Education and employment levels are also markedly lower. 66 percent have secondary or lower as their highest education, and only 36 percent were employed when the were incarcerated. In the reference group, the proportions are respectively 24 and 82 percent. The share who had economic problems was also higher among inmates. The proportion with poor health was higher among inmates than in the reference group. It is also more common to have various symptoms of physical and mental disorders. One in five inmates consider their health as poor or very poor, and a majority has a long-term illness or disorder. Older inmates score worse on all health indicator compared to younger inmates. Inmates had been the subjected to violence and intimidation in the year before incarceration to a much greater extent than comparable groups in the population. A majority of inmates had used drugs in the year before they were inprisoned. This is a higher level of drug use than we find in the reference group, and the difference is particularly evident in the proportion who used hard drugs. There is less of a clear difference in the proportion who drink alcohol, but it is more common among inmates become intoxicated often. The majority of inmates have friends or family they can talk to and help them with problems, but the proportion without such close contacts is higher than in the reference group. Four out of ten do not have someone they can talk to in prison and a similar proportion have not been visited in the last three months. The inmates also exhibit less confidence that others can be trusted and that most people will treat them decently. Overall, we find that the vast majority of inmates have problems with their living conditions in one or more areas. We find the largest proportion with multiple problems among inmates under 40 years, inmates on short sentences and inmates who have served previous prison sentences. 18 percent of inmates think there is a quite small or small possibility that they will not commit new crimes after their release.

Details: Oslo: Statistics Norway, 2015. 80p. Publication is in Norwegian only.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2016 at: https://www.ssb.no/en/sosiale-forhold-og-kriminalitet/artikler-og-publikasjoner/_attachment/244272?_ts=150b8c1bce0

Year: 2015

Country: Norway

URL: https://www.ssb.no/en/sosiale-forhold-og-kriminalitet/artikler-og-publikasjoner/_attachment/244272?_ts=150b8c1bce0

Shelf Number: 138884

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Kristoffersen, Ragnar

Title: Correctional Statistics of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden 2009-2013

Summary: Exact statistical comparability is difficult to attain given that law, practice and methods of data compilation vary between the Nordic countries. Even though present and former members of the Nordic group of statisticians have tried to establish a high level of comparability by carefully working out common definitions over the years, any differences between the countries shown in this report still need to be interpreted with caution. The reader is therefore requested to note carefully the definitions and the footnotes to the tables.

Details: Oslo: Correctional Service of Norway Staff Academy, 2014. 60p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2016 at: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/226835/NordicStatistics2009_2013.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

Year: 2014

Country: Europe

URL: https://brage.bibsys.no/xmlui/bitstream/handle/11250/226835/NordicStatistics2009_2013.pdf?sequence=3&isAllowed=y

Shelf Number: 138912

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: O'Brien, Rachel

Title: RSA Transitions: A social enterprise approach to prison and rehabilitation

Summary: The introduction of working prisons is likely to require significant changes to the workforce and renegotiations of staff contracts. The government's proposals for working prisons risk becoming a good idea turned bad. Our pamphlet, RSA Transitions, is published at the start of the bidding process for new contracts worth $2.5 billion for running nine UK prisons. Under RSA plans, prisoners would be paid to work in social enterprises while in custody. This would continue through the gate with the aim of normalising work, addressing resettlement needs and securing employment in the community. Salaries would make a contribution towards reparation to victims and individual savings towards resettlement. There would be an element of staff and service user ownership linked to performance and rehabilitation. RSA Transitions has been developed with experts from the criminal justice social enterprise fields. It is designed as a social business that would work with different social enterprises within a single framework. This would be underpinned by rigorous evaluation and involve employers, service users, local services and members of the community in its design, delivery, learning and skills content and governance. The government's criminal justice green paper proposed that prisoners will work a 40-hour week and that providers would be paid by results in relation to tackling reoffending levels. The introduction of working prisons is likely to require significant changes to the workforce and renegotiations of staff contracts. RSA Transitions welcomes the government's focus on providing paid work in custody but warns that: - A 23 percent cut to the Ministry of Justice budget increases the pressure to cut costs and maximise profit, risking British prisons becoming more like American profit-led jailhouses that exploit prisoners and fail to rehabilitate. - Prisons are not currently constructed, managed or staffed to support the work ethic. Significant changes would be needed in all these areas in order for them do so. - Prison numbers and overcrowding are at peak levels, making change more difficult. According to the prison service, last week was the eighth consecutive week where over 87,000 people were in prison. - The RSA sets out an alternative model of a not-for-profit community prison that would provide custody and rehabilitation services on a single site, working with between 500 and 700 people at any one time. - The RSA sets out an alternative model of a not-for-profit community prison that would provide custody and rehabilitation services on a single site, working with between 500 and 700 people at any one time

Details: London: Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), 2011. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2016 at: https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/rsa-transitions-a-social-enterprise-approach-to-prison-and-rehabilitation/

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/rsa-transitions-a-social-enterprise-approach-to-prison-and-rehabilitation/

Shelf Number: 138966

Keywords:
Inmate Labor
Prison Labor
Prisoner Rehabilitation
Prisoners

Author: O'Brien, Rachel

Title: Building a Rehabilitation culture

Summary: This report argues that prisons will continue to struggle to rehabilitate offenders unless they are able to develop stronger, more positive links with their communities and economies. The RSA sets out an alternative model of a not-for-profit community prison that would provide custody and rehabilitation services on a single site, bringing back to life unused Moj assets adjacent to existing prisons. It proposed a model where prisoners and ex-offenders would be paid to work in social enterprises. Was there a way to benefit from the innovations and freedoms that can come with private investment and partnership, but with the ethical constraints and focus of the public and voluntary sector? We were struck by the fact that the work of prison officers and the service was largely invisible or misunderstood by the public. Whereas people would defend the NHS and schools and believed they understood health and education services, the prison service is something that happens 'out of sight', and is largely ignored, until something goes wrong. Yet in polls the public put crime at the top of their concerns. What kind of approach would better involve people, communities, and employers in helping prisons to do the work that we ask of them? These questions and more will inform the study the RSA is undertaking as we assess the potential for taking the Transitions idea to the next stage and is working with a public prison in East Yorkshire to this end. Since publication of its original 'vision' pamphlet in 2011, the RSA has secured funding to undertake a major feasibility study throughout 2013.

Details: London: RSA, 2014. 56p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2016 at: https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/building-a-rehabilitation-culture/

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.thersa.org/discover/publications-and-articles/reports/building-a-rehabilitation-culture/

Shelf Number: 138967

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Corrections Officers
Prison Guards
Prison Programs
Prisoner Rehabilitation
Prisoners

Author: Grimwood, Gabrielle Garton

Title: Radicalisation in Prisons in England and Wales

Summary: Many prisoners enter prison with a faith and others find one while in prison. Few of these prisoners will be "radicalized" or become involved in extremism or terrorist activity, although (obviously) those that do present huge challenges to the authorities. This Commons Library briefing describes how the Government is seeking to tackle extremism and, in particular, radicalisation in prisons. It examines -The difference between faith and radicalisation -Why people become radicalised -What is happening within prisons -How radicalisation is being countered in prisons and -Whether the National Offender Management Service is doing enough.

Details: London: Parliament, House of Commons Library, 2016. 34p.

Source: Internet Resource: Briefing Paper no. 07487: Accessed May 16, 2016 at: http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7487/CBP-7487.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/CBP-7487/CBP-7487.pdf

Shelf Number: 139055

Keywords:
Prisoner Radicalization
Prisoners
Radicalization
Terrorism
Violent Extremism

Author: Damm, Anna Piil

Title: Prison as a Criminal School: Peer Effects and Criminal Learning Behind Bars

Summary: We investigate peer effects on crime-specific recidivism, using register data for the entire Danish prison population. In line with a logic of crime specialisation we do not find that inmates build new criminal capital in prison but rather strengthen criminal capital due to exposure to offenders with the same field of specialisation (i.e. reinforcing peer effects). Our results accord with a theory of crime-specific knowledge transmission and network building in prison: we find reinforcing peer effects for crimes that require crime-specific capital, planning and network (e.g. drug crimes, theft, burglary and fencing) and/or are more effective when committed in groups (e.g. threats and vandalism). We find no reinforcing peer effects on recidivism with crimes that tend to be committed spontaneously and solo (e.g. violence and sexual assaults, weapon possession). Our findings carry important implications for prison assignment policies.

Details: Copenhagen: Rockwool Foundation Research Unit, 2016. 75p.

Source: Internet Resource: Study Paper No. 105: Accessed May 16, 2016 at: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/app/uploads/2016/04/Study-paper-105_med-forside_Final_WEB.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Denmark

URL: http://www.rockwoolfonden.dk/app/uploads/2016/04/Study-paper-105_med-forside_Final_WEB.pdf

Shelf Number: 139064

Keywords:
Peer Influence
Prisoners
Recidivism

Author: Carson, E. Ann

Title: Aging of the State Prison Population, 1993-2013

Summary: Discusses factors that have contributed to the growing number of older offenders in state prison, and examines changes in the sex, race, current offense, and sentencing characteristics of these offenders over time. It also describes how more prison admissions and longer lengths of stay contribute to the aging of the prison population and result in the growing numbers of offenders who are "aging in" to the older age cohorts. Data are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' National Corrections Reporting Program, National Prisoner Statistics program, and Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (1991 and 2004) and from the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting program. Highlights: The number of prisoners age 55 or older sentenced to more than 1 year in state prison increased 400% between 1993 and 2013, from 26,300 (3% of the total state prison population) in 1993 to 131,500 (10% of the total population) in 2013. The imprisonment rate for prisoners age 55 or older sentenced to more than 1 year in state prison increased from 49 per 100,000 U.S. residents of the same age in 1993 to 154 per 100,000 in 2013. Between 1993 and 2013, more than 65% of prisoners age 55 or older were serving time in state prison for violent offenses, compared to a maximum of 58% for other age groups sentenced for violent offenses. At yearend 1993, 2003, and 2013, at least 27% of state prisoners age 55 or older were sentenced for sexual assault, including rape. More than four times as many prisoners age 55 or older were admitted to state prisons in 2013 (25,700) than in 1993 (6,300). Press Release

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2016. 38p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2016 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/aspp9313.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/aspp9313.pdf

Shelf Number: 139353

Keywords:
Elderly Inmates
Elderly Offenders
Inmates
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Prisoner Operations: United States Marshals Service Could Better Estimate Cost Savings and Monitor Efforts to Increase Efficiencies

Summary: The Department of Justice's (DOJ) USMS is responsible for managing more than 50,000 federal prisoners during criminal proceedings until their acquittal or their conviction and transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons to serve their sentence. USMS provides housing, clothing, food, transportation, and medical care. The USMS does not own or manage any of its own facilities and instead relies on a combination of federal, state, local, and privately-managed facilities to house and care for these prisoners. Senate Report 113-78 of the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2014 included a provision for GAO to assess the costs of housing federal inmates and detainees. This report (1) identifies the primary costs associated with USMS prisoner operations, and the trends in spending from fiscal years 2010 through 2015; (2) assesses recent actions USMS has taken to reduce its prisoner operations costs and how much has been saved; and (3) determines systems USMS has to identify additional opportunities to save costs. GAO analyzed USMS's financial and operational data related to its prisoner operations costs from fiscal year 2010 through 2015, analyzed USMS documentation, and interviewed USMS officials. What GAO Recommends GAO recommends that USMS develop reliable methods for estimating cost savings and validating reported savings achieved, and establish a mechanism to aggregate and analyze the results of annual district self- assessments. USMS concurred with the recommendations.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2016. 68p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-16-472: Accessed May 24, 2016 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/677380.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/677380.pdf

Shelf Number: 139148

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Marshals Service
Prisoners

Author: James, Nathan

Title: The Federal Prison Population Buildup: Options for Congress

Summary: Since the early 1980s, there has been a historically unprecedented increase in the federal prison population. The total number of inmates under the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) jurisdiction increased from approximately 25,000 in FY1980 to over 205,000 in FY2015. Between FY1980 and FY2013, the federal prison population increased, on average, by approximately 5,900 inmates annually. However, the number of inmates in the federal prison system has decreased from FY2013 to FY2015. Some of the growth is attributable to changes in federal criminal justice policy during the previous three decades. These changes include increases in the number of federal offenses subject to mandatory minimum sentences, changes to the federal criminal code that have made more crimes federal offenses, and the elimination of parole. The growth in the federal prison population can be a detriment to BOP's ability to safely operate their facilities and maintain the federal prison infrastructure. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that the growing number of federal inmates has resulted in an increased use of double and triple bunking, waiting lists for education and drug treatment programs, limited meaningful work opportunities, and increased inmate-to-staff ratios. These factors can contribute to increased inmate misconduct, which negatively affects the safety and security of inmates and staff. The burgeoning prison population has contributed to mounting operational expenditures for the federal prison system. BOP's appropriations increased more than $7.1 billion from FY1980 ($330 million) to FY2016 ($7.479 billion). As a result, BOP's expanding budget is starting to consume a larger share of the Department of Justice's overall annual appropriation. Should Congress choose to consider policy options to address the issues resulting from the growth in the federal prison population, policymakers could choose options such as increasing the capacity of the federal prison system by building more prisons; investing in rehabilitative programming (e.g., substance abuse treatment or educational programs) as a way of keeping inmates constructively occupied and potentially reducing recidivism after inmates are released; or placing more inmates in private prisons. Policymakers might also consider whether they want to revise some of the policy changes over the past three decades that have contributed to the steadily increasing number of offenders being incarcerated. For example, Congress could consider options such as (1) modifying mandatory minimum penalties, (2) expanding the use of Residential Reentry Centers, (3) placing more offenders on probation, (4) reinstating parole for federal inmates, (5) expanding the amount of good time credit an inmate can earn, and (6) repealing federal criminal statutes for some offenses. Congress is currently considering legislation (e.g., S. 2123, H.R. 3713) that would put into effect some of the policy options discussed in this report, including expanding the "safety valve" for some low-level offenders, allowing inmates to earn additional good time credit as a part of a risk and needs assessment system, and reducing mandatory minimum penalties for some offenses.

Details: Washington, DC: Congressional Research Services, 2016. 23p.

Source: Internet Resource: R42937: Accessed May 26, 2016 at: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42937.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42937.pdf

Shelf Number: 139227

Keywords:
Federal Prisons
Prison Population
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio

Title: Shining a Light on Solitary Confinement: Why Ohio Needs Reform

Summary: Imagine you are locked inside a prison cell the size of your bathroom for 23 hours a day. You are released from this cell for one hour a day, when you are escorted to a different cage the size of a walk-in closet meant for recreation. Sometimes, perhaps on a weekend or when the weather is bad, you don't get out at all. You eat your meals in this room, just a few feet away from your toilet; you have limited access to books and televisions. This is solitary confinement in Ohio.

Details: Columbus: ACLU of Ohio, 2016. 26p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 7, 2016 at: http://www.acluohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ShiningALight-Report2016.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.acluohio.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/ShiningALight-Report2016.pdf

Shelf Number: 139290

Keywords:
Correctional Reform
Isolation
Prisoners
Prisons
Solitary Confinement

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons

Title: HM Chief Inspector of Prisons for England and Wales: Annual Report 2015-2016

Summary: Any improvement is welcome, but it is far too soon to say whether these improvements will be maintained. They are, in any event, still at historically low levels, and in all bar one area far below where they were five years ago. Year on year comparisons are also notoriously tricky as we do not inspect the same institutions each year, and we deliberately skew our inspection programme towards those places where we assess the risk to be greatest. These are usually announced rather than unannounced inspections, designed to help the establishment make improvements within a short timeframe. There is thus a risk in placing reliance in year on year comparisons. What I have seen is that despite the sterling efforts of many who work in the Prison Service at all levels, there is a simple and unpalatable truth about far too many of our prisons. They have become unacceptably violent and dangerous places. During 2015 there were over 20,000 assaults in our prisons, an increase of some 27% over the previous year. As if that were not bad enough, within that huge increase, serious assaults have risen by even more, by 31%, up to nearly 3,000. It is hardly surprising that in the face of this surge in violence, the number of apparent homicides between April 2015 and March 2016 rose from four to six. In the face of this upsurge in violence, we should not forget the dangers faced by staff who work in our prisons and other places of detention. The tragic death of court escort officer Lorraine Barwell, killed by a prisoner at Blackfriars Crown Court in June 2015, serves as a stark reminder of this. The picture in respect of self-harm and suicide is equally shocking. Over 32,000 incidents of self-harm in 2015 is an increase of 25% on the previous calendar year, and the tragic total of 100 selfinflicted deaths between April 2015 and March 2016 marks a 27% increase. It is clear that a large part of this violence is linked to the harm caused by new psychoactive substances (NPS) which are having a dramatic and destabilising effect in many of our prisons. In December 2015 we published our thematic report Changing patterns of substance misuse in adult prisons and service responses. The report pointed out that these synthetic substances, often known as 'Spice' or 'Mamba,' were becoming ever more prevalent in prisons and exacerbating problems of debt, bullying, self-harm and violence. The effects of these drugs can be unpredictable and extreme. Their use can be linked to attacks on other prisoners and staff, self-inflicted deaths, serious illness and life-changing self-harm. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has recently identified 39 deaths in prisons between June 2013 and June 2015 that can be linked to the use of NPS. The situation has shown no signs of improvement since June 2015; in fact quite the reverse, and tragically the death toll will inevitably rise. During my visits to prisons I have met prisoners who have 'self-segregated' in order to escape the violence caused by these substances, and I have talked with members of staff who have described the terrifying effects they can have on those who take them. Some prisons are making every effort to mitigate the impact of these drugs by trying to disrupt the supply routes and lessen demand for them through education and targeted interventions. However, in other places the response has been more patchy, with no clear strategy in place.

Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2016. 121p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 22, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/07/HMIP-AR_2015-16_web.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2016/07/HMIP-AR_2015-16_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 139792

Keywords:
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: ACT Corrective Services

Title: 2014-15 Internal Review of Relevant Recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody (RCIADIC)

Summary: The Royal Commission was completed in 1991 and remains the benchmark document for practitioners in the area of justice service delivery to Aboriginal peoples throughout this country. The review reflects the ongoing commitment of ACT Corrective Services to addressing the issues faced by Indigenous people in the prison system. The review found ACT Corrective Services performance against the relevant recommendations to be generally very strong with 67 recommendations found to have been fully implemented. Two recommendations were assessed as being partially implemented with the another two assessed as being not implemented due to issues surrounding jurisdictional boundaries and/ or legislative restrictions. Valuable advice and feedback was received from a number of key external community stakeholders including the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elected Body, the Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT Ltd, the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs and other agencies. Despite ACT Corrective Services positive showing in this report, we acknowledge a number of service delivery areas have been identified as areas with scope for improvement. Corrections also recognises that much work is still to be done in addressing the unacceptable incarceration rate of indigenous people.

Details: Canberra: ACT Corrective Services, 2016. 92p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/JACS/PDF/ACTCS_2014-15_Internal_Review_of_Relevant_Recommendations_of_RCIADIC_JUNE2016.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://cdn.justice.act.gov.au/resources/uploads/JACS/PDF/ACTCS_2014-15_Internal_Review_of_Relevant_Recommendations_of_RCIADIC_JUNE2016.pdf

Shelf Number: 139934

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Deaths in Custody
Indigenous Peoples
Prisoners

Author: Murdoch, Danielle

Title: Boise State University - Ada County Sheriff's Office Inmate Video Visitation Program Evaluation

Summary: Visitation has been an integral component of correctional facilities for decades, as an inmate's ability to maintain ties with their family and friends has been shown to improve their behavior while incarcerated, as well as upon release. While historically occurring in-person, visitation has fairly recently begun to be offered viavideo, which offers several advantages over in-person visitation, though there are some disadvantages as well. This report outlines the results of an evaluation of the inmate video visitation system (IVVS) at the Ada County Jail (ACJ) in Boise, Idaho. First implemented in 2010, ACJ was a pioneer in the use of remote video visitation in correctional facilities. Through a partnership between Ada County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and researchers at Boise State University, the evaluation began in July of 2015 and included interviews with nine key stakeholders involved in the development and implementation of IVVS, 10 Sheriff's deputies, and 12 inmates who regularly use the system. In addition, a survey assessing use of, and perceptions about, IVVS was completed by a sample of 58 inmates and a secondary data analysis was conducted with visitation and disciplinary violation records that were shared with the researchers.According to the key stakeholders, the goals of IVVS were to: prevent the desensitization of kids to the jail; increase jail security and order; promote public safety; reduce resource and space requirements; and increase access to, and frequency of, visitation. Additional themes that emerged through interviews with key stakeholders and Sheriff's deputies included difficulties and successes with the implementation of IVVS; technological issues and training; improvements in jail security and a shift in resources; concerns about the cost of additional visits and access to the required technology for visitors; perceived benefits of the elimination of wait time for visitors, removal of children from the jail environment, and increased frequency of visits; belief in the positive impact of IVVS on institutional behavior; and doubts about the impact of IVVS on recidivism. Some suggestions for improvement offered by these participants included additional training opportunities and installing a kiosk outside of thesecure part of thejail for visitor use.The interviews conducted with inmates revealed a number of strengths ofIVVS, though some weaknesses were noted as well. Identified strengths included appreciation for two free 30-minute visits per week and the perceived positive effect on behavior to avoid the loss of the privilege, the ability to maintain ties with family and friends, the convenience of visitors not having to travel to the facility, and improved visits with children,including protecting them from the jail environment. Some of the weaknesses mentioned by the participants included the lack of discretion to choose between in-person visitation or video visitation, the prohibitive cost of purchasing extra visits (nine dollars for 30 minutes), the lack of privacy given the location of kiosks in common areas, and technological issues with IVVS although many of these were believed to be due to issues on the visitors' ends. Last, some suggestions for improvement offered by the inmates interviewed included having the option to pick between in-person or video visits, implementing an incentive-based program to earn extra visits,and expanding the use of IVVS to include confidential visits with attorneys.The findings from the inmate surveys were similar in some ways to the inmate interviews, but different in many ways as well. In terms of usage, most indicated they use the two free video visits per week to visit with a variety of family and friends, though very few purchase additional visits due to the cost. Those who have not used IVVS cited scheduling and accessibility issues (i.e.,visitors not having the technology required tocomplete video visits) as the main reasons they have not used it. In terms of perceptions about IVVS, respondents clearly prefer in-person visitation over video visitation, believing in-person visits would better help them to maintain social ties. A largeproportion also noted some problems with the system and doubts about the positive impact of IVVS on their behavior in the jail or upon release. However, the majority of respondents agreed that video visitation is helpful for inmates. Some suggestions offered for improvement included having the option of in-person visits, installing kiosks outside the secure part of the jail for visitors, and reducing the cost of purchasing extra visits.The last portion of the evaluation was a secondary data analysis of official records provided by ACSO in regard to visitation, both in-person and video, and disciplinary violations. The results of the analysis suggested that the implementation of IVVS has increased the frequency of visits despite a relative stable average daily jail population. In addition, a demographic analysis of users suggested that IVVS has specifically increased visitation for female and older inmates, though there are other factors, such as the characteristics of inmates at ACJ, which could have accounted for the observed changes. Although one of the goals of video visitation is to improve institutional behavior, an analysis of disciplinary violations from 2009-2015 revealed an increase in the number of violations. However, the severity of violations appears to have decreased over time. Again, there are several factors that could have impacted the frequency and characteristics of disciplinary violations aside from the implementation of IVVS. Further research is needed to more closely examine the relationship between visitation and inmate behavior.Based on all of the data collected and analyzed for this evaluation of IVVS at ACJ, the following recommendations are offered: (1): Install kiosk(s) for visitor use.(2): Decrease the cost of purchasing additional video visits. prefer in-person visitation over video visitation, believing in-person visits would better help them to maintain social ties. A large proportion also noted some problems with the system and doubts about the positive impact of IVVS on their behavior in the jail or upon release. However, the majority of respondents agreed that video visitation is helpful for inmates. Some suggestions offered for improvement included having the option of in-person visits, installing kiosks outside the secure part of the jail for visitors, and reducing the cost of purchasing extra visits.The last portion of the evaluation was a secondary data analysis of official records provided by ACSO in regard to visitation, both in-person and video, and disciplinary violations. The results of the analysis suggested that the implementation of IVVS has increased the frequency of visits despite a relative stable average daily jail population. In addition, a demographic analysis of users suggested that IVVS has specifically increased visitation for female and older inmates, though there are other factors, such as the characteristics of inmates at ACJ, which could have accounted for the observed changes. Although one of the goals of video visitation is to improve institutional behavior, an analysis of disciplinary violations from 2009-2015 revealed an increase in the number of violations. However, the severity of violations appears to have decreased over time. Again, there are several factors that could have impacted the frequency and characteristics of disciplinary violations aside from the implementation of IVVS. Further research is needed to more closely examine the relationship between visitation and inmate behavior.Based on all of the data collected and analyzed for this evaluation of IVVS at ACJ, the following recommendations are offered: (1): Install kiosk(s) for visitor use.(2): Decrease the cost of purchasing additional video visits.

Details: Boise, ID: Boise State University, Department of Criminal Justice, 2016. 166p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 31, 2016 at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303818777_Ada_County_Sheriff%27s_Office_Inmate_Video_Visitation_Program_Evaluation

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303818777_Ada_County_Sheriff%27s_Office_Inmate_Video_Visitation_Program_Evaluation

Shelf Number: 140106

Keywords:
Prison Visitors
Prison Visits
Prisoners
Video Visitation

Author: Amnesty International

Title: "It Breaks the Human":Torture, Disease and Death in Syria's Prisons

Summary: The experiences faced by detainees in Syria's detention system are often lethal. An estimated 17,723 people were killed in custody across Syria between 2011 and 2015, with the real number likely to be even higher. Of the 65 former detainees interviewed by Amnesty International for this report, most had witnessed at least one death in custody. All had been tortured and/or otherwise ill-treated. This report charts the journey of detainees through what the UN Commission of Inquiry, among others, considers to be Syria's most lethal detention facilities, including Saydnaya Military Prison and the detention centres operated by Syria's four intelligence services - Air Force Intelligence, Military Intelligence, Political Security and General Intelligence. Based on the evidence presented in this report, as well as prior research by Amnesty International and the documentation of credible national and international monitoring groups, Amnesty International considers that the torture and other ill-treatment of detainees carried out by the Syrian government since 2011 has been perpetrated as part of a widespread and systematic attack against the civilian population, pursuant to a state policy, and therefore amounts to a crime against humanity. This report calls on the international community to pressure the Syrian authorities to abide by their international obligations and end the use of torture and other ill-treatment, arbitrary detention and enforced disappearances, and prevent further deaths in custody.

Details: London: AI, 2016. 73p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2016 at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/4508/2016/en/

Year: 2016

Country: Syria

URL: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/4508/2016/en/

Shelf Number: 140117

Keywords:
Detention Facilities
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons
Torture

Author: Chari, Karishma A.

Title: National Survey of Prison Health Care: Selected Findings

Summary: Objectives - This report presents selected findings on the provision of health care services in U.S. state prisons. Findings on admissions testing for infectious disease, cardiovascular risk factors, and mental health conditions, as well as the location of the provision of care and utilization of telemedicine are all included. Methods - Data are from the National Survey of Prison Health Care (NSPHC). The survey aimed to conduct semi-structured telephone interviews with respondents from all 50 state Departments of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Interviews were conducted in 2012 for calendar year 2011. The level of participation varied by state and questionnaire item. Results - Overall, 45 states participated in NSPHC. In 2011, the percentages of prison admissions occurring in states that tested at least some prisoners for the following conditions during the admissions process were: 76.9% for hepatitis A, 82.0% for hepatitis B, 87.3% for hepatitis C, 100.0% for tuberculosis, 100.0% for mental health conditions and suicide risk, 40.3% for traumatic brain injury , 82.5% for cardiovascular conditions and risk factors using electrocardiogram, 70.0% for elevated lipids, and 99.8% for high blood pressure. Of the 45 states that participated in the survey, most states delivered several services on-site, including inpatient and outpatient mental health care (27 and 44 states, respectively), care for chronic diseases (31 states), long-term or nursing home care (35 states), and hospice care (35 states). For inpatient and outpatient medical, dental, and emergency care, most states delivered services using a combination of on-site and off-site care locations. Most states delivered selected diagnostic procedures and radiologic tests off-site. Telemedicine was most commonly used for psychiatry (28 states).

Details: Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2016. 23p.

Source: Internet Resource: national Health Statistics Reports No. 96: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr096.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr096.pdf

Shelf Number: 140152

Keywords:
Correctional Health Services
Mental Health Services
Prison Health Care
Prison Medical Care
Prisoners

Author: Parker, Barbara Pierce

Title: Reshaping Restrictive Housing at South Dakota State Penitentiary

Summary: Across the United States, the use of restrictive housing has come under intense scrutiny by the public, courts, and policymakers. The concerns focus on the potentially damaging effects of segregation on a person's physical and mental health, public safety risks posed by incarcerating people in restrictive housing for extended periods, and the sometimes subjective criteria used by corrections staff to determine the placement, length of stay, and conditions imposed on inmates in restrictive housing. With funding from the Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, the Crime and Justice Institute (CJI) project team, which included a diverse group of restrictive housing experts, and South Dakota Department of Corrections (SD DOC) partnered to develop a plan to safely and securely reform of restrictive housing within the maximum-security South Dakota State Penitentiary (SDSP). CJI's Model for Reshaping Restrictive Housing guided the work. At its most basic level, the model ensures that - appropriate placements are made into restrictive housing using a fair and objective process; activities and interactions during inmates' restrictive housing placement are geared towards behavior change; inmates are prepared for their transition to general population; and the process used to retain or release an individual from restrictive housing is fair, objective, and based on behavioral indicators. In 1-year's time the South Dakota State Penitentiary reduced its restrictive housing population drop by 18 percent, while the violent incident rate in restrictive housing is now at its lowest point-lower than the rate in general population The report provides additional detail describing how the model was implemented within SDSP. Foundational supports for the restrictive housing reform effort are also discussed, including: clear policies and procedures; professional standards and state examples; staff engagement, buy-in, and training; performance measurement and quality assurance; and technical assistance. The report concludes with lessons learned: keys to restrictive housing reform, and time needed for implementation.

Details: Boston: Crime and Justice Institute, 2015. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 3, 2016 at: http://www.crj.org/page/-/publications/Reshaping%20Restrictive%20Housing%20-%20South%20Dakota.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.crj.org/page/-/publications/Reshaping%20Restrictive%20Housing%20-%20South%20Dakota.pdf

Shelf Number: 140157

Keywords:
Administrative Segregation
Prisoners
Restrictive Housing
Solitary Confinement

Author: Entorf, Horst

Title: The Analysis of Prison-Prisoner Data Using Cluster-Sample Econometrics: Prison Conditions and Prisoners' Assessments of the Future

Summary: The study investigates whether and how strong prison conditions contribute to the perceived propensity to recidivate after controlling for personal characteristics and criminal background. In order to combine different sources of information on personal characteristics of prison inmates and administrative prison data in an efficient way, we propose the use of matched prison-prisoner data and application of cluster-sample methods such as GEE (generalized estimating equations). Estimated average partial effects based on GEE and random-effects Probit modeling reveal that prison conditions show significant effects on the perceived likelihood of future reincarceration. Particularly, we find that inmates facing prison overcrowding show a reduced likelihood of recidivism.

Details: Bonn, Germany: Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA), 2016. 28p.

Source: Internet Resource: IZA Discussion Paper No. 10209: Accessed September 14, 2016 at: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10209.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Germany

URL: http://ftp.iza.org/dp10209.pdf

Shelf Number: 147869

Keywords:
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Prisons
Recidivism

Author: Pettus-Davis, Carrie

Title: Conceptual Model to Guide Practice and Research in the Development of Trauma Interventions for Men Releasing from Incarceration

Summary: A significant treatment gap exists for incarcerated men with lifetime traumatic experiences. A small research base for trauma interventions for incarcerated women is emerging, but incarcerated men have largely been ignored. Men comprise 90% of the incarcerated population and are at the greatest risk to be re-arrested for a new crime after release. One of the most ignored, but highly influential factors in poor post-release outcomes of formerly incarcerated men are unaddressed symptoms resulting from lifetime traumatic experiences. Studies of incarcerated men report up to 98% have had at least one lifetime traumatic experiences - many have experienced multiple traumas. With nearly 600,000 men releasing from correctional facilities each year, there is an urgent need to develop targeted interventions for incarcerated men. We propose a conceptual model of a multi-phased trauma intervention to guide practice and research on adapting existing trauma treatment approaches to the special circumstances of men releasing from incarceration. We divide up key treatment ingredients to respond to the complexities and stages of reentry from incarceration back to communities. We conclude with critical next steps needed to advance the practice and research of trauma intervention implementation for incarcerated men nearing release.

Details: St. Louis: Concordance Institute for Advancing Social Justice, George Warren Brown School of Social Work, Washington University in St. Louis, 2016. 47p.

Source: Internet Resource: Working Paper #CI080316: Accessed September 17, 2016 at: https://concordanceinstitute.wustl.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Conceptual%20Model%20to%20Guide%20Practice%20and%20Research%20in%20Trauma%20Interventions%20for%20Men%20Releasing%20from%20Incarceration.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://concordanceinstitute.wustl.edu/SiteCollectionDocuments/Conceptual%20Model%20to%20Guide%20Practice%20and%20Research%20in%20Trauma%20Interventions%20for%20Men%20Releasing%20from%20Incarceration.pdf

Shelf Number: 147943

Keywords:
Correctional Treatment Programs
Mental Health
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Trauma

Author: Correctional Association of New York

Title: Voices From Clinton: First-Hand Accounts of Brutality, Torture, and Cover-Up from People Incarcerated at an Infamously Abusive New York State Prison

Summary: New York State prisons are plagued by a pervasive and entrenched culture of staff brutality, violence, abuse, racism, dehumanization, and intimidation, as well as the routine infliction of solitary confinement. As Correctional Association of NY (CA) reports on Clinton, Attica, Greene, Fishkill Correctional Facilities and other prisons have long documented, these abuses and their cover-ups are regular and typical practices in Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) prisons. An underlying culture and environment of abuse - not the acts of a few individual bad actors - drive the dehumanization and brutalization taking place. This culture is undergirded and fueled by racism, staff impunity, a lack of meaningful programs, a history of violent repression (especially at Attica and Clinton), and a reliance on force, punishment, and disempowerment. In the mid-1990s, the New York Times reported that federal judges "have repeatedly found that excessive force by guards has violated [incarcerated persons'] civil rights," that corrections experts found the settling of 10 brutality lawsuits at Clinton to be "extraordinary, since [incarcerated persons] rarely win such cases and officials rarely settle them," that Clinton had an internal culture that tolerates a higher level of violence than others, and where guards are more likely to test the boundaries of what is considered acceptable force," and that vast racial and cultural disparities between incarcerated persons and staff exacerbated conflicts. As reported in the CA's 2014 Clinton report, as well as in its August 2015 documented investigations, officers at Clinton have engaged in the most horrific violence against incarcerated people long before the June 2015 escape, in its immediate aftermath, and still today. People incarcerated at Clinton have given first-hand accounts of being suffocated by plastic bags, physically beaten so severely as to result in broken bones, and other forms of brutality, harassment, and abuse. The June 2015 escape and its aftermath only exacerbated the abusive conditions and provided opportunities for staff to utilize longstanding tactics of dehumanization, racism, and brutality. The following narratives provide an in-depth look at the ongoing brutality, torture, and cover-up at Clinton C.F. Based on over 40 interviews, as well as correspondence with over 75 people, the narratives are a representative sample of the experiences, insights, and analyses of people incarcerated at Clinton in 2015. These narratives paint a picture of several recurring themes of staff violence and abuse at Clinton, including: 1) suffocation of people during interrogations; 2) severe and widespread brutality in the aftermath of the June 2015 escape; 3) longstanding and ongoing brutality at Clinton to this day; 4) people with special needs targeted for abuse by staff; 5) widespread use of solitary confinement, including for years and decades; 6) a lack of transparency and accountability for abuses; 7) the denial of the most basic rights and living conditions; and 8) racism and dehumanization at the core of all abuses. Something must be done to stop these human rights violations - at Clinton and across New York State prisons. Due to its infamous history and ongoing horrors, the state should close Clinton, along with Attica, to send a clear message that New York State will no longer tolerate staff brutality, torture, and abuse.

Details: New York: Correctional Association of New York, 2016. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 26, 2016 at: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Voices-From-Clinton-FINAL-6-2016.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Voices-From-Clinton-FINAL-6-2016.pdf

Shelf Number: 140458

Keywords:
Prison Conditions
Prisoner Abuse
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Weatherburn, Dan

Title: What's Causing the Growth in Indigenous imprisonment in NSW?

Summary: Aim: To examine the rise in the NSW Indigenous prison population. Method: Descriptive analysis of trends in bail, sentencing and court appearances. Results: The rise in Indigenous imprisonment in NSW is due to a combination of higher rates of arrest resulting in conviction, a greater likelihood of imprisonment given conviction and a higher rate of bail refusal. The growth in number of arrests, percentage imprisoned and percentage bail refused has been especially large in the categories justice procedure offences and acts intended to cause injury. Most of the growth in justice procedure offences is coming from breach of custodial orders (e.g. breach of a community-based order) and breach of Apprehended Violence Orders. Most of the growth in acts intended to cause injury is coming from serious assault resulting in injury and stalking/intimidation. Conclusion: Efforts to arrest growth in the Indigenous imprisonment rate should focus on measures which reduce the number of Indigenous persons being arrested and imprisoned for serious assault resulting in injury, stalking/intimidation and breach of community-based orders.

Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. 11p.

Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper No. 118: Accessed September 29, 2016 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/BB/Report-2016-What's-causing-the-growth-in-Indigenous-Imprisonment-in-NSW-BB118.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/BB/Report-2016-What's-causing-the-growth-in-Indigenous-Imprisonment-in-NSW-BB118.pdf

Shelf Number: 140508

Keywords:
Bail
Indigenous Offenders
Indigenous Peoples
Prisoners
Sentencing

Author: Lofstrom, Magnus

Title: California's Historic Corrections Reforms

Summary: California leads the nation in correctional reforms and reduced reliance on incarceration. In 2011, the state enacted public safety realignment, which shifted the management of lower-level felons from the state prison and parole systems to county jail and probation systems. Three years later, voters approved Proposition 47, which further re-prioritized correctional resources and lowered incarceration. In this report, we describe the impact of these historic changes. Over the past decade, California has reversed a long-term trajectory of increasing incarceration. - Since reaching a peak in 2006 of almost 256,000 inmates, the total population incarcerated in California's state prisons and county jails has dropped by roughly 55,000. The incarceration rate has fallen from 702 to 515 per 100,000 residents-a level not seen since the early 1990s. - Realignment substantially reduced the prison population, but led to an increase in the county jail population of about 10,000 inmates, pushing the statewide jail population above its rated capacity and leading to more early releases due to overcapacity. Proposition 47 brought the statewide jail population down to pre-realignment levels. Dramatically reduced incarceration from realignment did not lead to a broad increase in crime rates. - Crime rates in California are on a long-term decline, though there are year-to-year fluctuations. Realignment resulted in an additional 18,000 offenders on the street, but through 2014, we found no evidence of an impact on violent crime. Auto thefts did increase, by about 60 per 100,000 residents in 2014. - From 2014 to 2015, the violent crime rate increased by 8.4 percent and the property crime rate by 6.6 percent. The role of Proposition 47 on crime remains unknown, but preliminary data show that compared to other states, California's increase in property crime appears to stand out more than its increase in violent crime. Reforms have not yet succeeded in reducing the state's high rates of recidivism. - Rearrest and reconviction rates for offenders released from state prison are similar to pre-realignment levels. The two-year rearrest rate is 69 percent. The two-year reconviction rate (42%) is about 5 percentage points higher than before realignment, but this higher rate may simply reflect prosecution of offenses that in the past would have been processed administratively. - Realignment helped stanch the flow of returning offenders to state prison for parole violation. Two-year return-to-prison rates dropped from 55 percent pre-realignment to 16.5 percent. - Offenders released from state prison who are supervised by county probation have higher recidivism rates than those supervised by state parole. This difference is primarily due to a significantly higher share of so-called high-risk offenders among the former population.

Details: Public Policy Institute of California, 2016. 36p., app.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 7, 2016 at: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_916MLR.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_916MLR.pdf

Shelf Number: 140601

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Correctional Reform
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Barabas, Tunde

Title: Responsibility-taking, Relationship-building and Restoration in Prisons. Mediation and Restorative Justice in Prison Settings

Summary: This publication includes the research studies, results, observations, experiences and proposals relating to the work carried out by the participating partners over the three years of the MEREPS project (JLS/2008/JPEN015-30-CE-0267156/00-39), co-funded by the Criminal Justice Programme 2008 of the European Commission. Following the introduction by Martin Wright, first the chapters written by Tunde Barabas and Szandra Windt presents the background of the empirical research of several years carried out by the National Institute of Criminology, the summary of the different target groups and methods of the survey and, on the basis of all this, the possibilities of mediation in Hungarian prisons. In the course of this, we will present the results of the examinations conducted in the penal institutions in Balassagyarmat and Tokol, you can get to know the feelings and circumstances of inmates as well as their attitude to repentance, what the Hungarian prison system has to offer and the attitude of those working in the prisons. You can also read about the needs of victims, based on victims' forums and the relevant research. This is followed by the evaluation study of Dora Szego and Borbala Fellegi (Foresee Research Group) of the one-year pilot project implemented in Hungary: the disclosure of the difficulties, (partial) successes and the tasks arising in the everyday life of prisons, which have to be addressed and solved and which will lay the foundation of the domestic application of prison mediation. The pilot project tested the applicability of the restorative justice (RJ) approach in the Hungarian prison system: how can practices representing restorative principles be introduced in prison settings? What are the institutional, legal and personal conditions that serve as supportive circumstances, and what are the specific challenging circumstances? Based on in-depth interviews and participant observations, the study shows a thorough picture about the internal dynamics and mechanisms of the prison, about the attitudes of staff and about the ways in which RJ can be integrated into this world. The Hungarian chapter ends with the evaluation of a practicing public prosecutor, Andras Szucs (High Prosecution Service) of the opportunities offered by the legal and institutional framework which are necessary for the application of penal mediation and which can be realised in the current legal framework. The presentation of the research carried out by our foreign partners begins with the study conducted in England, concentrating on juvenile offenders. According to this chapter, written by Theo Gavrielides, director of IARS, in Britain there are fewer legal barriers to the introduction and application of restorative practices (compared to the continent), and so they are significantly ahead of us in the field of introducing and applying restorative tools. This may facilitate the experiences of the British being regarded as exemplary when introducing penal mediation in Hungary. The essay, however, looks further ahead, and presents a much broader range of the programmes of a restorative approach applied in the different prisons of the world, primarily in respect of juvenile offenders. The essay mentions the research carried out among English experts and makes recommendations concerning the application of the restorative approach in prisons. After that you can read about the results achieved in the German study and pilot project, led by Arthur Hartmann (professor of the University of Bremen). You can become acquainted with the complex system of the German federal rules and the rules of the state of Bremen, as well as the general conditions and current practice of Restorative Justice in Germany. The chapter details the research carried out by the University of Bremen and the results of the model experiment subsequently conducted in the penal institution in Oslebshausen (Bremen). The closing study written by Ivo Aertsen (professor at the University of Leuven) in the volume describes the history and possibilities of prison mediation already implemented and operating efficiently in Belgium. On the one hand, it outlines the Belgian legislative environment and current regulatory framework; on the other hand it presents the structural barriers and difficulties as well as the good practices and other development trends. A special feature of the book is that its last part contains three case studies (a mediation case written by Els Gossens, mediator of the Belgian Suggnome, and two family group conferencing cases by Vidia Negrea (director of the IIRP Hungary) and by Dora Szego and Borbala Fellegi) that illustrate the resolution of "real-life", successfully closed and very serious cases, from preparation to closing, through a restorative approach. This seemingly small volume may represent an important milestone in the adaptation and introduction of restorative practices such as mediation and group conferencing in prison settings. We are hopeful that the studies in this book will contribute to the communication of the various programmes and models of a restorative approach. And maybe they can also make us reflect on programmes that make it possible to get those affected by a crime to sit down and discuss the issues that are important to them, so that they can develop a mutually acceptable solution together.

Details: Budapest: P-T Muhely: Commissioned by the National Institute of Criminology, 2012. 330p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2016 at: http://mereps.foresee.hu/uploads/tx_abdownloads/files/MEREPS_FinalPublication_EN.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: Europe

URL: http://mereps.foresee.hu/uploads/tx_abdownloads/files/MEREPS_FinalPublication_EN.pdf

Shelf Number: 145116

Keywords:
Prisoners
Prisons
Restorative Justice
Victim-Offender Mediation

Author: Indig, Devon

Title: Comorbid substance use disorders and mental health disorders among New Zealand prisoners

Summary: Introduction Mental health and substance use disorders are known to be substantially higher among prisoners than in the general population. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence and co-occurrence of mental health and substance use disorders among New Zealand prisoners. Methods This study used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview 3.0 (CIDI 3.0) and the Personality Diagnostic Questionnaire 4+ (PDQ-4) to assess the prevalence of mental health and substance use disorders. The study sample included 1209 New Zealand prisoners across 13 prisons. This report presents the prevalence for the 12-month and lifetime diagnosis of mental health and substance use disorders including breakdowns by gender, age and ethnicity. Comparisons have been provided where possible for the general population using the 2006 New Zealand Mental Health Survey (unless noted otherwise) or the 1999 New Zealand Prisoner Mental Health Study. Results Mental disorders  Nearly all (91%) prisoners had a lifetime diagnosis of a mental health or substance use disorder and 62% had this diagnosis in the past 12-months.  Female prisoners were significantly more likely to have a 12-month diagnosis of any mental disorder than male prisoners (75% compared to 61%).  General population comparison: Prisoners were three times more likely than the general population to have a 12-month diagnosis of any mental disorder (62% compared to 21%). Anxiety disorders  Just over one in five (23%) prisoners had an anxiety disorder diagnosis in the past 12-months, while 30% had a lifetime anxiety diagnosis.  Female prisoners had a significantly higher prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder compared to males for both 12-month and lifetime diagnoses, with over half (52%) of women having a lifetime posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis.  General population comparison: A lifetime post-traumatic stress disorder diagnosis was four times higher among prisoners (24%) than in the general population (6%).  Prison population comparison: The lifetime prevalence of generalised anxiety disorder was just over 1% in the 1999 prisoner mental health study which had increased to nearly 9% in 2015, while the lifetime prevalence of panic disorder had also increased from nearly 2% in 1999 to nearly 6% in 2015. Mood disorders  Nearly a third (32%) of prisoners had a lifetime diagnosis of any mood disorder, while 24% had a 12- month mood disorder diagnosis.  When compared to other ethnic groups, Māori prisoners had the lowest prevalence of lifetime diagnosis of major depressive disorder (17%).  General population comparison: The 12-month prevalence of any mood disorder was three times higher for prisoners (24%) than in the general population (8%).  Prison population comparison: When compared to the 1999 prisoner mental health study, the lifetime prevalence of major depressive disorder decreased slightly (from 23% to 21%), the lifetime prevalence of bipolar increased from 2% to 11%, and dysthymia increased from 1% to 5%. Substance use disorders  A substantial majority of prisoners (87%) had a lifetime diagnosis of a substance use disorder, and just under half (47%) had a 12-month diagnosis of a substance use disorder.  Marijuana was the most prevalent drug of abuse with 24% of prisoners having a lifetime diagnosis, while stimulants were the most common drug of dependence with 23% having a lifetime diagnosis.  General population comparison: Prisoners were seven times more likely to have a lifetime prevalence of any substance use disorder compared to the general population.  Prison population comparison: The prevalence of stimulant abuse and dependence (combined) had increased nearly 10-fold since the 1999 prisoner mental health study, from 4% reported in the 1999 study to 38% (15% for abuse and 23% for dependence) in 2015. Eating disorders  The lifetime prevalence of eating disorders among prisoners was 5%, while 3% were found to have a 12-month diagnosis.  The prevalence of eating disorders was twice as high among female prisoners as among male prisoners, for both 12-month (7% compared to 3%) and lifetime (10% compared to 5%) diagnoses.  General population comparison: Prisoners were seven times more likely to have a 12-month eating disorder diagnosis than the general population (3% compared to 0.5%).  Prison population comparison: The lifetime prevalence of eating disorders increased five-fold (from 1% to 5%) from the 1999 prisoner mental health study to the 2015 study. Comorbidity  One in five (20%) of prisoners were found to have a 12-month diagnosis of a comorbid mental health and substance use disorder, while 42% were found to have a lifetime comorbidity diagnosis.  Comorbidity was higher among women than men, for both 12-month and lifetime diagnoses.  There was little variation by ethnicity for the lifetime and 12-month prevalence of comorbidity, with the highest rates found among prisoners of European descent.  Prisoners with a lifetime diagnosis of a substance use disorder had almost half (48% compared to 93%) the prevalence of comorbidity compared to people with a lifetime anxiety disorder. Multiple disorders  Two-thirds (66%) of prisoners were found to have two or more lifetime diagnoses of a mental or substance use disorder, while 31% were found to have two or more 12-month diagnoses.  A higher proportion of female prisoners (72%) compared to male prisoners (65%) had a lifetime diagnosis of two or more mental health and substance use disorders.  A high proportion of prisoners diagnosed with a lifetime anxiety (84%) or mood (81%) disorder were found to have a lifetime diagnosis of three or more disorders, compared to 40% of prisoners with a substance use disorder.  General population comparison: Prisoners were nearly four times more likely to have two or more 12- month diagnoses of mental health and substance use disorders than the general population (30% compared to 8%). Personality disorders  One in three (33%) prisoners was found to have a clinically significant personality disorder, with a slightly higher prevalence among men than women.  The most common personality disorders detected were paranoid (15%), antisocial (11%), obsessive compulsive (10%) and borderline (9%).  The highest prevalence (46%) of personality disorders were found among prisoners with a lifetime comorbid mood disorder diagnosis.  Prison population comparison: The lifetime prevalence of personality disorders was nearly twice as high (60% compared to 33%) among New Zealand prisoners in 1999 compared to the current 2015 study. Psychosis symptoms  The lifetime presence of psychosis symptoms (such as seeing visions and hearing voices) was present in 13% of prisoners, and in 7% of prisoners in the past year.  Prisoners with a lifetime diagnosis of an anxiety (23%) or mood (20%) disorder had the highest prevalence of ever experiencing symptoms of psychosis compared to 13% overall.  Prison population comparison: The lifetime prevalence of schizophrenia and related disorders was estimated to be 6% in the 1999 prisoner mental health study, while 12% of prisoners were found to report symptoms of psychosis in 2015. Psychological distress  Over one in four (28%) of prisoners experienced psychological distress in the past 30 days.  There were significantly higher rates of psychological distress among female (47%) compared to male (27%) prisoners.  The prevalence of psychological distress was more than twice as high (60% compared to 28%) for prisoners with a 12-month diagnosis of an anxiety disorder compared to the total.  General population comparison: Prisoners were nearly five times more likely (28% compared to 6%) to have experienced psychological distress in the past 30 days compared to the general population from the 2013/14 New Zealand Health Survey. Suicidal behaviours  Over one-third (35%) of prisoners had ever thought about suicide, 17% had ever made a suicide plan and 19% of prisoners had ever attempted suicide.  Female prisoners had higher rates of suicidal behaviours than men, including ever thinking about suicide (44% compared to 34%) and ever attempting suicide (29% compared to 18%).  General population comparison: Prisoners had higher rates of suicidal behaviours than people in the general population, including being twice as likely to have ever thought about suicide (35% compared to 16%) and four times as likely to have ever attempted suicide (19% compared to 5%). Mental health treatment  Nearly half (46%) of prisoners diagnosed with a 12-month mental health or substance use disorder had received some form of mental health treatment in the past year.  Female prisoners had significantly higher rates of mental health treatment than males for nearly all disorders, including 60% of women with a 12-month diagnosis of any mental disorder obtaining mental health treatment compared to 45% of men.  Pacific peoples were substantially less likely to access health services for their mental health than prisoners of European descent (33% compared to 54%).  General population comparison: Fewer than half (46%) of prisoners with a 12-month diagnosis of any mental disorder received some form of mental health treatment in the past year, which was slightly higher (39%) than found in the general population. Conclusions In summary, prisoners had high rates of mental health and substance use disorders including high rates of comorbidity which were often undetected and under-treated. The findings of this report provide important evidence to assist with identifying areas for improved detection, early intervention, treatment and rehabilitation and diversion away from the criminal justice system. In particular, the findings suggest that improved integration of mental health and substance use disorder treatment would be an important strategy for improving the health and reducing re-offending among prisoners.

Details: Wellington: New Zealand Department of Corrections, 2016. 93p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2016 at: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/846362/Comorbid_substance_use_disorders_and_mental_health_disorders_among_NZ_prisoners_June_2016_final.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: New Zealand

URL: http://www.corrections.govt.nz/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/846362/Comorbid_substance_use_disorders_and_mental_health_disorders_among_NZ_prisoners_June_2016_final.pdf

Shelf Number: 145371

Keywords:
Drug Offenders
Mental Health
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners
Substance Abuse

Author: Gooch, Kate

Title: Prison Bullying and Victimisation

Summary: Executive Summary i. Victimisation has long been recognised as significant problem across the young offender institution (YOI) estate. However, relatively little research has focused on the specific problem of bullying amongst young prisoners and much of the available research, both about bullying and prison violence more generally, is dated. Thus, we know relatively little about why young prisoners are more likely to engage in violence and bullying, and how the dynamics of these may have changed over time. In addition, there is little academic material on how to address and reduce the incidence of violence and bullying in prison more generally. Yet, the effects and impact of victimisation can be significant, both for the individuals concerned and the wider prison community. Thus, understanding how, when and why prison violence and bullying occurs is crucial. ii. This study was authorised by a Governing Governor in response to the high levels of bullying within a specific establishment. However, in seeking to understand the problem of bullying within a particular YOI, this report also generates findings and makes recommendations designed to address broader issues of national policy and practice. We argue that high levels of victimisation are neither inevitable nor acceptable. However, in order to reduce the incidence of victimisation, a specific anti-victimisation strategy and a 'whole prison approach' is required. iii. The aims of this study were fourfold. First, to explore the nature and dynamics of bullying amongst young prisoners aged 18-21 years old. Second, to assess how young prisoners construct and rationalise their involvement in bullying and victimisation, as well as how they conceptualise and define bullying and victimisation. Third, to explore the perceptions of prison staff and, finally, to identify areas of good practice and make recommendations. Key Findings 1. Victimisation was a widespread problem and a largely 'taken for granted' aspect of prison life. Within that context, bullying occurred frequently but it was often difficult to tease out incidents of 'bullying' from the broader range of victimising behaviours. 2. Bullying is an ambiguous, subjective and 'slippery' term and not everyone - whether staff or prisoners - had a shared understanding of precisely what constitutes 'bullying.' 3. Bullying was a form of predatory behaviour where prisoners who were perceived to be weak, vulnerable or otherwise inadequate were targeted. In this respect, bullying was distinguishable from acts of physical violence where the roles were not necessarily sharply divided and where the purpose, interests and gains varied. 4. Technological advances, operational changes, social changes and the increased availability of contraband items such as mobile telephones and new psychoactive substances (NPS, typically dubbed 'legal highs') have re-shaped the dynamics of prison bullying and victimisation. 5. Prison violence often has roots in an array of conflicts occurring in the community and spilling over into the prison environment. 6. Sexual violence, gang activity, initiation ceremonies, faith-related conflict, the misuse of prescription medication and violence directly related to the use NPS were less common forms of victimisation. 7. Perpetrators were not always 'lone rangers' and some of the worst acts of victimisation occurred when several prisoners acted in a 'joint enterprise' to assault, bully, extort or steal from others. 8. Perpetrators were often opportunistic. Thus, situational controls, effective staff supervision and good 'jail craft' are essential in limiting the instances of bullying and inter-prisoner conflicts. The structure and management of the prison regime can also either limit or increase opportunities for victimisation. 9. Prisoners were 'tested' to determine their susceptibility to extortion, exploitation and abuse. If prisoners failed to 'stand up for themselves', this often attracted sustained victimisation with little compassion or empathy from their peers. 10. The ways in which prisoners engaged in victimisation are not as narrow as previously thought. Both the behaviour and needs of perpetrators, perpetrator-victims and victims vary. Thus, understanding the individuals involved and the circumstances of their involvement is key. 11. There were marked similarities between victims and perpetrators. Looked after children, disabled prisoners and young people moving from the juvenile secure estate to the young adult YOI estate featured as both victims and perpetrators. Their needs, and the link between vulnerability and victimisation, were not always well understood by frontline staff. 12. There is no 'magic bullet' or single solution that will solve the problem of prison victimisation, however, the frequency and severity of victimisation can be reduced if a 'whole prison approach' is adopted. 13. Strong staff-prisoner relationships are central, not only in preventing victimisation but also in terms of enabling victims to disclose concerns and in supporting victims and perpetrators effectively and appropriately. 14. Perpetrators can and often do change their behaviour given the right opportunities and in the right context. Thus, any anti-victimisation strategy must be set within a context where there is an emphasis on rehabilitation and on moving prisoners from negative to positive behaviour. 15. Punishment alone is insufficient and will not necessarily lead to behavioural change. In order to engage prisoners in behavioural change, there must be more 'carrots' than 'sticks' and prisoners must be able to access more rewards through positive than through harmful behaviour.

Details: Birmingham, UK: Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham, 2015.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 8, 2016 at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-artslaw/law/Prison-Bullying-and-Victimisation.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/college-artslaw/law/Prison-Bullying-and-Victimisation.pdf

Shelf Number: 145134

Keywords:
Prison Bullying
Prison Gangs
Prison Victimization
Prison Violence
Prisoners

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title:

Summary: Since Egypt's military removed President Mohamed Morsy from office in 2013, the authorities have engaged in one of the widest arrest campaigns in the country's modern history, imprisoning tens of thousands. Most of the Muslim Brotherhood's top leadership, alongside alleged members of the Islamic State as well as non-Islamist critics of the government, are serving prison sentences in a maximum security facility known as Scorpion, part of the Tora prison complex in southern Cairo. "We Are in Tombs" documents conditions inside Scorpion, which since it was built in 1993 has served as the central detention facility for those deemed the most dangerous enemies of the state. What occurs inside lies hidden behind a wall of secrecy kept in place by the Interior Ministry, which oversees all aspects of Egypt's internal security, from arrest to investigation to imprisonment. Based on interviews with 20 relatives of inmates, two lawyers, and a former prisoner, as well as the review of medical documents, the report details how prison officials, under the authority of the Interior Ministry, subject inmates to cruel and inhuman treatment that in some cases probably amounts to torture, including severe beatings, prolonged confinement in cramped "discipline" cells, and interference in medical care that in some cases may have led to serious complications and even death. Inmates are locked away with prolonged bans on any access to relatives or lawyers, all in violation of international standards for the treatment of prisoners. The report calls on the Egyptian government to improve conditions in Scorpion, invite international detention monitors to visit, and prosecute officials with command responsibility if they are found to have committed abuses.

Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 89p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 13, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/egypt0916_web_4.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Egypt

URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/egypt0916_web_4.pdf

Shelf Number: 145445

Keywords:
Human Rights Abuses
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Yenkong, Pangmashi E.N.

Title: Prisoners in-justice: Prisoners' encounters with the criminal justice system in Cameroon

Summary: Imprisonment is the ultimate sanction of the state in nearly all countries, and its use in the developing world has risen considerably in recent years. The prison occupies a central place in the politics of crime control and has become a normal social destination for growing numbers of citizens. More than 9.25 million people today are held in penal institutions throughout the world mostly as pre-trial detainees or as sentenced prisoners. Africa now has one of the highest pre-trial detainees comprising of 45 per cent per 100,000. Overcrowding and under resourced are one of Africa's most pressing problems. African states such as Cameroon comprise one of Africa's most overcrowded prisons. Cameroon's prisons face a host of challenges, including deficits of good governance, funding and other resources. Two thirds of the entire prisoners in Cameroon are yet to be tried. The Bamenda Central prison comprises of one of the 72 prisons scattered around the national territory with an average prison population of 575 inmates. Cameroon is party to a number of International human rights treaties including the Convention against Torture and other cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT). The Cameroonian government has also made considerable efforts recently to promote the rule of law in the country. This includes constitutional and legislative guarantees for fair judicial processes. Nonetheless, upon examination of the Bamenda Central prison, several common themes of human rights abuses emerges including the failure to protect the rights of accused persons, overcrowding and abusive prison conditions, and the unfulfilled mandate of rehabilitation. Throughout the country, as a result of the social and economic inequities that plagues the Cameroonian society, the difference between the rich and the poor continues to increase. A majority of the population remains unable to have access to the Criminal Justice system. The poor are far more likely than the rich to be arrested, if arrested charged, if charged convicted, and if convicted sentenced to prison. Hence the criminal justice has a model: the rich get richer and the poor get prison. At the time when it seems essential to comprehend what the prison is and how accused people get there, research into the criminal justice system lacks scholarship dearth. There has been a decline in academic interest, coupled with low levels of government research funding; and the failure to adequately address sensitive issues plaguing the criminal justice system. To date, the majority of research in prison has focused primarily on common areas of enquiry in prison and prison programs notably administration in prison, prison programs and prison welfare services. Prisoners have become less enthusiastic research areas as no study has been addressed relating to inmate's perception of justice. The central problematic in this research is how the prisoners view their situation in prison and how they see themselves with regard to the justice system in Cameroon. My main aim of this research was to engage in a dialogue with prisoners through interviews to be able to understand their agency in the prison and how that informs their perception of justice. Providing a space for these perspectives and experiences within the criminal justice system positions this thesis within a larger dialogue with human rights discourses, analysis of the prison, relationships of power and informal justice systems. Given these practical and theoretical interests, I discovered that I could only conduct such a study employing qualitative research methods skills. My methodology was guided by principles of participatory action research. In this context, I was actively involved with prisoners and families. I immersed my self in their prison culture and became part of a number of activities carried out by prisoners. I interacted with more than two hundred prisoners, and had extensive interviews with ninety-seven prisoners over an extended period of seven months. I wrote their lives prior to imprisonment, during and after prison. My primary goal was to relay their interviews using their words. I equally carried out a participant observation of the criminal justice agencies. I decided to employ a feedback to the outside community by building a bridge between prisoners to their respective families whom I considered as vital actors in the lives of inmates.

Details: Leiden: Leiden University, African Studies Centre, 2011. 112p.

Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed October 13, 2016 at: https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/18563/ASC-075287668-3175-01.pdf?sequence=2

Year: 2011

Country: Cameroon

URL: https://openaccess.leidenuniv.nl/bitstream/handle/1887/18563/ASC-075287668-3175-01.pdf?sequence=2

Shelf Number: 144936

Keywords:
Criminal Justice System
Inmates
Pre-trial Detainees
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Wan, Wai Yin

Title: Forecasting prison populations using sentencing and arrest data

Summary: Aim: To develop a method for forecasting the NSW remand and sentenced prisoner populations. Method: Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) models with other time series as input variables were employed to estimate and forecast changes in the remand and sentenced prisoner populations. Models were tested by estimating model parameters over the period January 1998 - December 2010 and then comparing model forecasts with actual prison population trends over the period January 2011 - March 2013. Comparison of actual with forecast remand and sentenced prisoner numbers revealed that both models provide fairly reliable predictions of prison population trends over a three year time horizon. Results: Barring any significant change to policing and penal policy, the prison population is expected to rise in the first half of 2013 and then to drop steadily over the next three years. Although modelling suggests an uptrend in the remand prisoner population, this should be more than offset by a decrease in the sentenced prisoner population over the next thirty-three months. Conclusion: Although the models developed here provide accurate forecasts in retrospective testing, they should not be used as the sole basis for projecting future prison numbers. Future projections of prisoner numbers should also be based on advice from correctional administrators, police prosecutors, legal policy analysts, and others on the likely effects of any proposed change to policing, bail or sentence policy. Construction of a simulation model may help in quantifying the effects of these changes.

Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2013. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, no. 174: Accessed October 15, 2016 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/cjb174.pdf

Year: 2013

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/cjb174.pdf

Shelf Number: 144867

Keywords:
Prison Population Forecast
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Cleary, Andrew

Title: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) Wave 1 (Reception) Samples 1 and 2 Technical Report

Summary: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) is a longitudinal study which aimed to track the progress of 4,000 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010. At the time it was the largest survey of prisoners ever undertaken in Britain. Ipsos MORI was commissioned to carry out the survey by the Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) National Offender Management Service (NOMS) at the Home Office, now Offender Management and Sentencing Analytical Services (OMSAS) at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The broad aim of SPCR was to explore how interventions might work in combination to address the range of prisoners' needs. More specifically, SPCR aimed to assess prisoners' problems and needs on reception, how these are addressed during and after custody and the combined effect of any interventions on offending and other outcomes, in light of prisoners' background characteristics, after release from prison. This report focuses in detail on the first stage of interviews ("reception" stage) of the study, undertaken with an overall sample of 3,849 prisoners in two parts: a representative sample of 1,435 prisoners (Sample 1) sentenced up to four years, and a sample comprising 2,414 prisoners sentenced to between 18 months and four years (Sample 2). The rationale of Sample 2 was to interview more prisoners who had been in custody long enough to undertake prison interventions. In addition to this element the study involved three further stages of interviews (a longitudinal design): - pre-release interviews, conducted shortly before release - post-release two-month interviews, conducted in the community one to two months after release - post-release six-month interviews, conducted in the community six months after release (Sample 2 only).

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 135p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Research Series 5/12 : Accessed October 21, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278843/surveying-prisoner-crime-reduction-wave-1.pdf

Year: 2012

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/278843/surveying-prisoner-crime-reduction-wave-1.pdf

Shelf Number: 131154

Keywords:
Interventions
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Recidivism
Treatment Programs

Author: Donnelly, Neil

Title: Adult prison population size in New South Wales: comparative forecasts

Summary: Aim: To compare the accuracy of Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) model and Holt-Winters additive exponential smoothing method for forecasting the size of the total NSW adult prison population. Method: NSW adult prison population data was obtained up until July 2016. A rolling origin approach was used with 20 estimation periods (of increasing length) and 20 validation periods (12-months length). ARIMA model and Holt-Winters additive method were applied to each rolling estimation period. Shorter term (e.g. 1 to 3 months) through longer term (e.g. 6 to 12 months) forecasts were made for the relevant 12-months validation period. These forecasts were compared with the actual monthly number of prisoners using mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) to assess accuracy. The average of each accuracy measure was calculated for the one-step through 12-steps lead times across the 20 estimation and validation periods. Results: For shorter forecast lead times (e.g. one-step through three-steps) the ARIMA model and Holt-Winters additive method gave similar accuracy measures for MAE, RMSE and MAPE. In each case, the accuracy of the forecasts decreased as the lead time increased. ARIMA was more accurate than Holt-Winters additive at longer lead times (e.g. six-steps through 12-steps) with smaller forecasting errors. Conclusion: The ARIMA model provided more accurate forecasts compared with the Holt-Winters additive method for longer periods such as six-months to 12-months

Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2016. 8p.

Source: Internet Resource: Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, no. 199: Accessed November 8, 2016 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Adult-prison-population-size-in-NSW-Comparative-Forecasts-cjb198.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/Documents/CJB/Report-2016-Adult-prison-population-size-in-NSW-Comparative-Forecasts-cjb198.pdf

Shelf Number: 146280

Keywords:
Prison Population
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Nellis, Ashley

Title: The Color of Justice: Racial and Ethnic Disparity in State Prisons

Summary: Growing awareness of America's failed experiment with mass incarceration has prompted changes at the state and federal level that aim to reduce the scale of imprisonment. Lawmakers and practitioners are proposing "smart on crime" approaches to public safety that favor alternatives to incarceration and reduce odds of recidivism. As a result of strategic reforms across the criminal justice spectrum, combined with steadily declining crime rates since the mid-1990s, prison populations have begun to stabilize and even decline slightly after decades of unprecedented growth. In states such as New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and California, prison depopulation has been substantial, declining by 20-30%. Still, America maintains its distinction as the world leader in its use of incarceration, including more than 1.3 million people held in state prisons around the country. At the same time of productive bipartisan discussions about improving criminal justice policies and reducing prison populations, the U.S. continues to grapple with troubling racial tensions. The focus of most recent concern lies in regular reports of police brutality against people of color, some of which have resulted in deaths of black men by law enforcement officers after little or no apparent provocation. Truly meaningful reforms to the criminal justice system cannot be accomplished without acknowledgement of racial and ethnic disparities in the prison system, and focused attention on reduction of disparities. Since the majority of people in prison are sentenced at the state level rather than the federal level, it is critical to understand the variation in racial and ethnic composition across states, and the policies and the day-to-day practices that contribute to this variance. Incarceration creates a host of collateral consequences that include restricted employment prospects, housing instability, family disruption, stigma, and disenfranchisement. These consequences set individuals back by imposing new punishments after prison. Collateral consequences are felt disproportionately by people of color, and because of concentrations of poverty and imprisonment in certain jurisdictions, it is now the case that entire communities experience these negative effects. Evidence suggests that some individuals are incarcerated not solely because of their crime, but because of racially disparate policies, beliefs, and practices, rendering these collateral consequences all the more troubling. An unwarranted level of incarceration that worsens racial disparities is problematic not only for the impacted group, but for society as whole, weakening the justice system's potential and undermining perceptions of justice.

Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2016. 35p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2016 at: http://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Color-of-Justice-Racial-and-Ethnic-Disparity-in-State-Prisons.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/The-Color-of-Justice-Racial-and-Ethnic-Disparity-in-State-Prisons.pdf

Shelf Number: 146680

Keywords:
Ethnic Disparities
Prison Population
Prisoners
Racial Disparities

Author: Cleary, Andrew

Title: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR): Waves 3 and 4 (Post-release): Samples 1 and 2 Technical Report

Summary: Surveying Prisoner Crime Reduction (SPCR) is a longitudinal study which aimed to track the progress of 4,000 newly sentenced prisoners in England and Wales from 2005 to 2010. At the time it was the largest survey of prisoners ever undertaken in Britain. Ipsos MORI was commissioned to undertake the survey by the Research Development and Statistics Directorate (RDS) National Offender Management Service (NOMS) at the Home Office, now Offender Management and Sentencing Analytical Services (OMSAS) at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ). The broad aim of SPCR was to explore how interventions might work in combination to address the range of prisoners' needs. More specifically, SPCR aimed to assess prisoners' problems and needs on reception, how these are addressed during and after custody and the combined effect of any interventions on offending and other outcomes, in light of prisoners' background characteristics, after release from prison. 1.2 Research Design This report describes the data collection for the Waves 3 and 4 interviews, each of which was conducted after release from prison for the SPCR sentence. Wave 3 field work was conducted from April 2006 to April 2010 and Wave 4 from May 2007 to October 2010. Separate reports provide the sampling and data collection information for the Wave 1 and Wave 2 interviews (Cleary et al. 2012a; 2012b). SPCR consists of an overall sample of 3,849 prisoners in two parts: a representative sample of 1,435 prisoners (Sample 1) sentenced to between one month and four years (76% were sentenced to less than 12 months), and a sample comprising 2,414 prisoners sentenced to between 18 months and four years (Sample 2). The rationale for Sample 2 was to interview more prisoners who had been in custody long enough to undertake prison interventions. Both samples followed the same four-stage longitudinal design: 1. Wave 1 (reception) interviews, conducted shortly after prisoners' reception into custody 2. Wave 2 (pre-release) interviews, conducted shortly before release, or at the same time as the reception interview (using a "combined" version of the questionnaire) for those Sample 1 prisoners on shorter sentences (mostly sentenced to less than six months) 3. Wave 3 (post-release two-month) interviews, conducted one to two months after release 4. Wave 4 (post-release six-month) interviews, conducted six months after prisoners' release (Sample 2 only) 1.3 Structure of the Waves 3 and 4 Technical Report This report describes the methodology and processes employed during setup, field work, data processing, and data outputs processes for the Waves 3 and 4 (post-release) stages of SPCR. Survey results from Waves 3 of SPCR are available on the MoJ website (e.g. MoJ, 2010, Sadlier 2010, Williams et al., 2012a, Williams et al., 2012b, Cunniffe et al., 2012, Hopkins, 2012, Boorman & Hopkins, 2012; Light et al., 2013; Brunton-Smith & Hopkins 2013; 2014; Hopkins & Brunton-Smith 2014). It is structured into the following sections: Section 2: Sample eligibility and tracing procedures - keeping in contact with eligible prisoners. Section 3: Field work - interviewer briefings, field work procedures and survey response rates. Section 4: Waves 3 and 4 interviews - topics covered and procedures used. Annex: Waves 3 and 4 questionnaires.

Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 70p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series : Accessed November 15, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296776/spcr-waves-3-and-4-technical-report.pdf

Year: 2014

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/296776/spcr-waves-3-and-4-technical-report.pdf

Shelf Number: 146642

Keywords:
Interventions
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners
Recidivism
Treatment Programs

Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons

Title: Unintended Consequences: Finding a way forward forward for prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment for public protection

Summary: This short thematic review outlines the significant ongoing challenges of managing and progressing the large number of prisoners serving sentences of imprisonment for public protection (IPP) who remain in the prison system in England and Wales. It is widely accepted that implementation of the sentence was flawed and that this has contributed to the large numbers who remain in prison with this sentence, often many years post-tariff. It has to be recognised that some people with IPP sentences remain dangerous, and need to be held in prison to protect the public. However others present much lower levels of risk but system failures have impeded their progress. These failures have been evident since the sentence was introduced, a fact acknowledged by the Home Secretary responsible for implementing the sentence, David Blunkett MP, who has said: 'We certainly got the implementation wrong. The consequences of bringing that Act in had led, in some cases, to an injustice and I regret that.'1 In the introduction of the joint thematic report about IPP sentences (2008), the then chief inspectors of prisons and probation said: ‘This report should be required reading for all those in the criminal justice system, but particularly those who propose and put in place new sentences or are responsible for implementing them. It is a worked example of how not to do so.’ They went on to say: ‘The crisis (with the IPP sentence) has a long tail: there are thousands of prisoners already in the system who, together with the prison and probation services, will feel its consequences for a long time to come.’ These were prophetic words, given that eight years later the system is still struggling to find solutions to the legacy of the IPP sentence. Although the sentence has been abolished, a significant number of men and women are still in prison well beyond the point originally intended by the courts and politicians who legislated for the sentence. While decisions about progression and release by the Parole Board are based on the principle of risk, it is clear that significant failings in the prison, probation and parole systems are contributing to the numbers of IPP prisoners still in prison years after the end of their tariff. In addition, the number of those recalled to prison is high, which begs the question of whether preparation for release is fully effective in preparing prisoners for this step, and whether support in the community is appropriate. There are three main reasons why decisive action must be taken to improve this situation. Firstly, for many of the IPP prisoners, it is not clear that holding them well beyond their end-of-tariff date is necessarily in the interests of public protection, and therefore there are issues of fairness and justice. Secondly, the cost to the public purse of continuing to hold the high numbers of IPP prisoners is significant. Thirdly, the pressures IPPs exert on the system in terms of risk management activity, demand for offending behaviour programmes and parole processes is significant. Resources are being stretched increasingly thinly and there are risks that prisoners will struggle to access the support they need and that delays will increase still further. The problems with the legacy of the IPP sentence are well understood and there is an openness in government to find new and innovative solutions to the problem, but action does need to be taken, and taken quickly, to ensure the consequences of mistakes made in the past do not continue to resonate for many years to come. We make a small number of recommendations which we hope will assist with a decrease in the number of people with IPP sentences held beyond their tariff expiry date.

Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2016. 107p.

Source: London: Thematic Review: Accessed November 18, 2016 at: http://www.prisons.org.uk/ippTR2016.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisons.org.uk/ippTR2016.pdf

Shelf Number: 147948

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Human Rights Watch

Title: A Blank Check: Turkey's Post-Coup Suspension of Safeguards Against Torture

Summary: On July 15-16, 2016, elements of the military attempted a coup d'etat against the elected government of Turkey, which led to at least 241 deaths among citizens and security personnel. Shortly aft­er the failed coup, the Turkish government declared a state of emergency and adopted emergency decrees that signifi€cantly weaken safeguards against abuse in detention. While the government has the right to declare a state of emergency as an exceptional measure, to investigate crimes - including murder and bodily harm - committed during the attempted coup, and to hold those responsible to account, it should do so within the framework of its legal human rights obligations, including the absolute prohibition against torture and ill-treatment. Based on interviews with more than 40 lawyers, human rights activists, former detainees, medical personnel and forensic specialists, A Blank Check documents how the weakening of safeguards against abuse has negatively affˆected police detention conditions. It details 13 cases of alleged abuse in police detention since the coup attempt, including the use of stress positions, sleep deprivation, severe beatings, sexual abuse and rape threats. Human Rights Watch calls on the Turkish authorities to immediately restore safeguards against abuse in detention by rescinding relevant provisions of the emergency decrees, to ensure adequate and independent medical examinations of all detainees, and promptly and impartially to investigate all allegations of torture and ill-treatment.

Details: New York: HRW, 2016. 54p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2016 at: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/turkey1016_web.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Turkey

URL: https://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/report_pdf/turkey1016_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 140258

Keywords:
Detention
Human Rights Abuse
Prisoners
Torture

Author: Austin, James

Title: How Many Americans are Unnecessarily Incarcerated?

Summary: Nearly 40 percent of the U.S. prison population - 576,000 people - are behind bars with no compelling public safety reason, according to a new report from the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law. The first-of-its-kind analysis provides a blueprint for how the country can drastically cut its prison population while still keeping crime rates near historic lows. In 1963, the March on Washington marked a turning point in the long fight for civil rights for African Americans. A century after President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, hundreds of thousands converged at his memorial to celebrate a century of liberation and to protest what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination. In the intervening fifty years, we have come a remarkable distance, but the shackles of systemic racism continue to bind communities of color. We stand on the frontlines in the fight to build a society free from racial discrimination. In 2015, we honored the sacrifices of our forbearers and galvanized international attention to systemic discrimination with a "Journey for Justice from Selma, Ala. to Washington, D.C. While national support for this effort provides hope the tide may be turning, it also belies a sad truth: Many of the grave inequalities we fought decades ago still persist, more than fifty years after the Civil Rights Act. The single greatest injustice that threatens our safety and hinders our progress? Mass incarceration. People of color bear the brunt of our criminal justice system in disproportionate and devastating numbers. This is in part because racial disparities exist at all stages of the system, which relies on corrosive practices that harm people of color. Our communities have already suffered from historic and systemic economic injustice and racially targeted criminal justice policies. These wounds have not healed and have been aggravated by the staggering number of people trapped in prisons over the past forty years. Today, an estimated 2.2 million people are locked inside jails and prisons. African Americans make up roughly 13 percent of the U.S. population but 37 percent of the nation's prisoners. People with dreams and aspirations suffer in airtight cells of prison and poverty. But the injustice does not end there. More than half of formerly incarcerated Americans are unemployed a year after release. Communities of color are over policed, over-prosecuted, over-incarcerated and yet underemployed. If we do not take steps now, Americans of color will forever be relegated to a penal and permanent underclass, and mass incarceration will continue to cage the economic growth of our communities. We have reached a crisis point, and we need solutions. This groundbreaking report from the Brennan Center for Justice offers a pathway to reduce our prison population and its tragic racial disparities. It documents the number of people behind bars without rationale, and reveals the unnecessary trauma this causes. It recommends real solutions that can help end over-incarceration. I urge lawmakers to give deep consideration and deeper commitment to this report's findings and recommendations. This nation must continue to march forward, toward a day when all people are treated based not on the color of their skin but on the content of their character, uncolored and un-stigmatized by a criminal record. It is time that we end the plague of mass incarceration

Details: New York: Brennan Center for Justice at New York University School of Law, 2016. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 9, 2016 at: https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/Unnecessarily_Incarcerated.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/publications/Unnecessarily_Incarcerated.pdf

Shelf Number: 145623

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Correctional Policies
Correctional Reform
Mass Incarceration
Prison Reform
Prisoners

Author: Crittenden, Courtney A.

Title: Gender and Programming: A Comparison of Program Availability and Participation in U.S. Prisons for Men and Women

Summary: The current study examines the state of prison programming across the U.S. and whether availability of and participation in prison programs varies by gender and other key factors such as the interaction effects of race and gender, self-identified needs, and facility-level characteristics. Using Morash, Rucker, and Haarr's (1994) study, the last major study comparing prison programming for men and women in U.S. prisons, as a guide, I explore the current state of prison programming using national-level survey data. The results indicate that gender does indeed matter for both prison programming availability and participation with women having more programs available to them and participating in more programs than men. Moreover, the findings suggest that programming might be influenced by both stereotypical gender expectations and gender-responsive principles. The interactions of race and gender were also significant for at least one programming option in every domain examined. Results also indicated that inmates are being placed into programming based on self-identified needs, which is promising. Finally, facility-level characteristics are important factors for both program availability and participation.

Details: Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina, 2013. 424p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed December 16, 2016 at: http://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1610&context=etd

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://scholarcommons.sc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1610&context=etd

Shelf Number: 146124

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Gender-Based Programs
Prisoners
Rehabilitation Programs

Author: Cooper, Therezia

Title: Imprisoned Voices: Corporate Complicity in the Israeli Prison System

Summary: This briefing is being published on 17 April 2015 to coincide with the annual day of solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. It collects the memories of the pain, suffering and resilience of Palestinians who have been imprisoned by Israel. In 2013, Corporate Watch visited the West Bank and Gaza Strip and interviewed released prisoners about their experiences. The 11 accounts give a glimpse of the struggles of Palestinian prisoners. They have been collected together here to inspire readers to take action in solidarity with them and against the companies profiting from their suffering. The first part of this briefing compiles interviews with prisoners from the Gaza Strip. The second part focuses on the West Bank. The final part summarises the companies providing equipment and services that aid the arrest and imprisonment of Palestinians and gives detailed profiles of two of the biggest culprits: G4S and Hewlett Packard.

Details: London: Corporate Watch, 2015. 45p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 19, 2016 at: https://corporatewatch.org/publications/2015/imprisoned-voices-corporate-complicity-israeli-prison-system

Year: 2015

Country: Israel

URL: https://corporatewatch.org/publications/2015/imprisoned-voices-corporate-complicity-israeli-prison-system

Shelf Number: 147773

Keywords:
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Amnesty International

Title: Human Slaughterhouse: Mass Hangings and Extermination at Saydnaya Prison, Syria

Summary: At Saydnaya Military Prison, the Syrian authorities have quietly and methodically organized the killing of thousands of people in their custody. Amnesty International's research shows that the murder, torture, enforced disappearance and extermination carried out at Saydnaya since 2011 have been perpetrated as part of an attack against the civilian population that has been widespread, as well as systematic, and carried out in furtherance of state policy. We therefore conclude that the Syrian authorities' violations at Saydnaya amount to crimes against humanity. Amnesty International urgently calls for an independent and impartial investigation into crimes committed at Saydnaya.

Details: London: AI, 2017. 48p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 15, 2017 at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/5415/2017/en/

Year: 2017

Country: Syria

URL: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde24/5415/2017/en/

Shelf Number: 145306

Keywords:
Disappearances
Murder
Prisoners
Prisons
Torture

Author: Chauhan, Preeti

Title: Trends in Admissions to the New York City Department of Correction: 1995-2015

Summary: The Misdemeanor Justice Project (MJP) is pleased to publish this report focused on individuals admitted into the custody of the New York City Department of Correction (DOC). This is the fifth report released by the MJP, a research initiative at John Jay College of Criminal Justice dedicated to promoting a better understanding of the enforcement of low-level offenses such as misdemeanors, summonses, and pedestrian stops. Our goal is to inform the current public and policy discourse surrounding interactions between the public and the criminal justice system. To date, our reports have focused on trends in police enforcement practices. We have published reports examining misdemeanor arrests, criminal summonses, pedestrian stops, and the mobility of individuals arrested for misdemeanors. With this report, we now shift our attention to trends in corrections, specifically the New York City DOC which houses individuals charged with crimes and awaiting trial, serving short sentences, being held on warrants, or for other reasons. The City's correctional system serves as another critical point of contact between the public and the criminal justice system, but compared to police activities, is often neglected in policy discussions about crime and justice in New York City. Our focus on corrections will result in two reports. This report will examine the "front door" of the correctional system to provide a better understanding of the longitudinal trends in admissions to the DOC. This report is split into two sections. The first section provides an in-depth portrait of admissions to corrections in 2015, breaking out the data by demographics (i.e. gender, age, and race), legal status, and criminal charges. The second section contextualizes 2015 admissions by examining these characteristics (demographics, legal status, and charges) longitudinally to see how they have changed during the two decades of our study (1995 to 2015).

Details: New York: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 2016. 100p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 22, 2017 at: http://misdemeanorjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DOC_Trends_Final.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://misdemeanorjustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/DOC_Trends_Final.pdf

Shelf Number: 141176

Keywords:
Misdemeanors
Prison Population
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Parker, Tony C.

Title: Establishing a Deradicalization/Disengagement Model for America's Correctional Facilities: Recommendations for Countering Prison Radicalization

Summary: Prison radicalization has been identified as a potentially significant threat to America's homeland security. When considering the inmate population currently housed within the Federal Bureau of Prisons with a terrorism nexus and the fact that 95 percent of our inmate population will return to our communities, the need for a proactive posture to prison radicalization becomes evident. Currently, the United States has no prison deradicalization program. This thesis provides a comparative analysis of two deradicalization/disengagement programs currently utilized in Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The analysis identifies externally valid data that provides the basis for recommendations for United States correctional policymakers in building a framework for a United States prison deradicalization model. This thesis also examines the current literature, relevant to prison radicalization and the prison environment that may promote prison radicalization. Through an analysis of these environmental elements, specific recommendations are made that attempt to counter the contributing factors, within the prison environment, that make the prison setting a fertile ground for radicalization.

Details: Monterey, CA: Naval Postgraduate School, 2013. 106p.

Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: http://calhoun.nps.edu/bitstream/handle/10945/32881/13Mar_Parker_Tony.pdf?sequence=1

Year: 2013

Country: United States

URL: http://calhoun.nps.edu/bitstream/handle/10945/32881/13Mar_Parker_Tony.pdf?sequence=1

Shelf Number: 144858

Keywords:
Counter-Terrorism
Deradicalization
Extremism
Homeland Security
Prisoners
Prisons
Radical Groups
Radicalization
Terrorism

Author: Pope, Leah G.

Title: Creating a Culture of Safety: Sentinel Event Reviews for Suicide and Self-Harm in Correctional Facilities

Summary: Since 2011, the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), through its Sentinel Events Initiative, has been investigating the feasibility of using a sentinel events approach to review and learn from errors in the criminal justice system such as wrongful convictions, eyewitness misidentifications, or incidents of suicide and self-harm in custody. Recognizing that adverse situations are rarely caused by a single event or the actions of an individual person, NIJ defines a sentinel event as a significant negative outcome that: 1) signals underlying weaknesses in a system or process; 2) is likely the result of compound errors; and 3) may provide, if properly analyzed and addressed, important keys to strengthening the system and preventing future adverse events or outcomes. With funding from NIJ, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) has been examining the applicability and appropriateness of using sentinel event reviews for incidents of suicide and serious self-harm in detention. This report focuses on these incidents as prime opportunities to implement sentinel event reviews in the criminal justice context.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2017. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 28, 2017 at: https://www.vera.org/publication_downloads/culture-of-safety-sentinel-event-suicide-self-harm-correctional-facilities/culture-of-safety.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: https://www.vera.org/publication_downloads/culture-of-safety-sentinel-event-suicide-self-harm-correctional-facilities/culture-of-safety.pdf

Shelf Number: 141251

Keywords:
Mental Health
Mental Health Services
Prison Suicide
Prisoners
Self-Harm
Suicide

Author: Hayes, Clare

Title: A Review of service user involvement in prisons and probation trusts

Summary: Offenders engaged with the Criminal Justice System (CJS), whether they are in prison or under the supervision of a probation trust, are also citizens. Service user involvement refers to the process by which the people using a service become involved in the planning, development and delivery of that service to make changes and improvements. Over recent years, there have been efforts in the CJS to promote and develop the involvement of offenders in the services with which they engage. Desistance theory supports the view that playing an active role in one's community and taking on a measure of responsibility can assist in the offender journey away from crime. This review investigates the extent and nature of service user involvement in prisons and probation trusts across England & Wales and raises a number of recommendations to improve quality and ensure sustainability. Main findings Service user involvement was generally more developed in the prisons than the probation trusts in our sample. Of those prisons and trusts interviewed: The researchers interviewed staff at prisons and probation trusts to generate information on staff experiences of service user involvement and the perceived benefits and challenges of using different models. ✪ Prison and probation staff viewed service user involvement as a dynamic process with a number of benefits including voice and empowerment, a way of channelling difficult issues and reducing conflict, gaining expertise, and measuring quality of services. ✪ There was evidence of Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) contribution to focus group and consultative committees, particularly in the prisons. However, there was uncertainty over the extent and nature of VCS provision in this area and this report calls for a further mapping exercise and improved collaboration. ✪ There was a perception that service user groups have been more successful and meaningful where they are co-designed and co-developed by the service users themselves and the offenders involved have a role in taking actions forward. ✪ More consistency is needed to ensure that service user representatives are genuinely representative and diversity is monitored. Prisons that have introduced Council elections have reported a transformation in the way that consultative bodies operate. ✪ More guidance is needed on recruitment, providing incentives and training for both service users and staff involved. ✪ Some organisations, particularly prisons, have moved beyond communication and consultation, to a more proactive model where offenders participate in taking solutions forward. Greater service user ownership precipitates a more sustainable and dynamic process. ✪ Wide-ranging changes have been seen in response to service user involvement projects. ✪ Challenges to effective service user involvement include staff apprehension, the prevailing culture of criminal justice agencies, knowledge and understanding of the service users, reluctance of offenders to be involved and decreasing resource. ✪ There is very little research on the outcomes of service user involvement in prisons and trusts. This is an area that requires development to provide evidence for the widely held perception that service user involvement is a very useful mechanism for making services more effective, improving offender confidence and self esteem and assisting on the path to desistance. The review concludes that guidance and a more systematic approach to service user involvement is required. It is essential, particularly in a time of reducing budgets and competing priorities, that the learning from evolving service users projects is shared and capitalised upon. Offenders are a source of ideas, creativity and direct experience of NOMS services and service user involvement should be a priority for every prison and probation trust. This review has raised a series of recommendations in response to the identified challenges and barriers to service user involvement and staff views on how to set up and sustain an effective service user involvement project.

Details: London: Clinks, 2011. 56p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 2, 2017 at: https://www.clinks.org/sites/default/files/Service%20User%20Findings%20Sept%2011.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.clinks.org/sites/default/files/Service%20User%20Findings%20Sept%2011.pdf

Shelf Number: 141258

Keywords:
Prisoners
Probation
Probationers
Service User Involvement

Author: Brazil Ministry of Justice

Title: Levantamento Nacional DE INFORMAÇÕES PENITENCIÁRIAS Inoopen - December 2014 (National Survey of Information Penitentiary INFOPEN - December 2014)

Summary: Provides statistics and information on prisons and prisoners in Brazil.

Details: Ministry of Justice, 2014. 80p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 20, 2017 at: http://www.justica.gov.br/seus-direitos/politica-penal/documentos/infopen_dez14.pdf (in Portuguese)

Year: 2014

Country: Brazil

URL: http://www.justica.gov.br/seus-direitos/politica-penal/documentos/infopen_dez14.pdf

Shelf Number: 144511

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Aebi, Marcelo

Title: Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics. SPACE 1 -- Prison Populations. Survey 2015

Summary: 1. The participation rate in the 2015 SPACE I Survey was 87%: 45 out of the 52 Prison Administrations of the 47 Member States of the Council of Europe answered the questionnaire. 2. The median European Prison Population Rate [PPR] was 115.7 inmates per 100 000 inhabitants. There was noted a decrease of almost 7% compared to 2014 (124.0 inmates per 100 000 inhabitants). As median calculated values are less sensitive to the extreme figures (i.e. very low prison population rates in small countries with less than 1mln inhabitants), it is preferable to use these values as a more reliable alternative to the average figures. Therefore, all the figures presented in the Key points section refers to median values (unless indicated) 3. On 1st September 2015, there were 1 404 398 inmates held in penal institutions across Europe (this total does not include figures for Bosnia & Herzegovina Fed. And State, Iceland, Malta, Monaco, Iceland and Ukraine, as they were not available). On the same date in 2014, there were 1 507 278 inmates (for the exactly same prison adinistrations and, in 2013 there were 1 529 447 inmates. The total number of inmates has been decreasing. 4. On 1st September 2015, European prisons were at the top of their capacity, holding almost 94 inmates per 100 places (average: 91). In particular, 33.3% of the Prison Administrations were experiencing overcrowding. Since 2009, the European prison density remains close to full. 5. The median age of the European prison population was 35 years, which is higher than in 2014, 2013 and 2012, when it was 34. 6. The median proportion of female inmates was 5.2% of the total prison population. Compared to the same indicator in 2014 (5.0%), there is no significant difference. 24% of female inmates were pre-trial detainees, compared to 22% in 2014. 7. The median proportion of foreign inmates was 10.8% of the total prison population. The average value being of 22.6%. Yet, there are very big differences between countries, from 0.9% in Romania to 100% in San Marino. In 2014, the same indicator was 13.3%. 8. Length of custodial sentences: a. The median proportion of sentenced prisoners who were serving sentences shorter than one year was 13.5%, which is lower compared to 2014 (15.2%). b. The most common category of lengths of sentences was the one lasting from one to less than three years (the median percentage of such inmates was 24.2%). c. Around 11% of inmates were serving very long sentences of 10 years and over. This proportion remained close to the one of 2014 (12%) and 2013 (11%). 9. Inmates were sentenced mainly for the following types of criminal offences: drug offences (18.7%), theft (16.2%), homicide (13.2%) and robbery (12.6%). 10. The average length of imprisonment in 2014 was in median 7 months, which is the same value as in 2013. The median duration of the pre-trail detention remained the same as in 2013 and 2012 (about 4 months). 11. The median mortality rate in 2014 was 27 deaths per 10 000 inmates,less than in 2013 and 2012 (28 deaths per 10 000 inmates). 12. The median amount spent per day and per inmate in 2014 was 52 Euros. It is 7 more Euros than in 2013 ( 45 Euros). On the other hand, the average amount is 101 Euros, 2 more Euros than in 2013 (99 Euros). The amounts vary widely across Europe: from almost 6 to more than 480 Euros per day and per inmate. The 44 Prison Administrations that provided data on this item had spent more than 26 billion Euros in 2014 for the penitentiary needs 13. There were about 3 inmates per one custodian in 2015. This ratio remained the same as in 2014 and 2013.

Details: Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 2017. 143p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 28, 2017 at: http://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2017/03/SPACE_I_2015_Report_170314.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Europe

URL: http://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2017/03/SPACE_I_2015_Report_170314.pdf

Shelf Number: 144597

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Stavrou, Efty

Title: Changing age profile of NSW offenders

Summary: Aim: To report on the age profile of the NSW offender population with particular attention given to older offenders. Method: This is a descriptive study utilising criminal court data from BOCSAR’s Reoffending Database and inmate census data from Corrective Services NSW. Results: Older offenders increasingly contributed to the NSW offender population and those sentenced to custody at finalisation. The largest increases in the proportion of older offenders were for drug, other traffic offences, PCA / DUI and violent offences. Conclusion: The ageing population cannot be given as the main reason for the increase in older offenders and inmates in NSW. Future research should focus on the reasons for older people offending. Corrective services should prepare infrastructure for the estimated increase in the older inmate population which adequately services the physical and psychosocial needs of older people.

Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2017. 7p.

Source: Internet Resource: Issue paper no. 123: Accessed April 5, 2017 at: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/bocsar_changingageprofileofnswoffenders_mar_2017.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Australia

URL: http://apo.org.au/files/Resource/bocsar_changingageprofileofnswoffenders_mar_2017.pdf

Shelf Number: 144715

Keywords:
Aged Offenders
Elderly Inmates
Elderly Offenders
Prisoners

Author: DeHart, Dana D.

Title: The Impact of Incarceration on Families: A Single-Jurisdiction Pilot Using Triangulated Administrative Data & Qualitative Interviews

Summary: This project utilizes three strategies to investigating the impact of incarceration on families. First, we tap into a powerful, statewide integrated data system to examine impacts of incarceration in a novel way, using administrative data from corrections, juvenile justice, mental health, social services, substance use services, healthcare, and education. Statewide corrections visitation data from male and female adult offenders are linked to multi-agency administrative data to create a de=identified data processing "cube" representing service utilization for focal prisoners (n = 18,786) and their visitors (n = 44,848) including children, married and unmarried partners, parents, siblings, and others. The cube allows authorized users to easily manipulate multi-agency data to answer queries and create visual displays through tables and graphs. Inclusion of time as a variable standardized to pre-incarceration, incarceration, and post-release periods allows cube users to explore impacts of incarceration on service utilization and outcomes for families. Second, we link multi-agency data to address specific research questions regarding impact of incarceration on families, including impact of incarceration on family physical and mental health, children's involvement with the child welfare and juvenile justice systems, family receipt of economic services, and school performance. Third, we conduct focus groups and family interviews with 77 prisoners and 21 prisoner family members sampled from three correctional facilities. We identify qualitative themes regarding impact of incarceration in the lives of prisoners and their families. Here we summarize major points for each of our three strategies, with further detail available in published manuscripts, briefs, and presentations in the Appendix.

Details: Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina, 2017. 159p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 6, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250657.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/250657.pdf

Shelf Number: 144736

Keywords:
Children of Inmates
Families of Prisoners
Prisoners

Author: Loi, Valerio

Title: Tendencies in World Imprisonment for Drug Related Crime

Summary: The latest estimates on the world prison population indicate that 10.35 million people are incarcerated worldwide, according to calculations presented in February 2016. The assertion this figure can be correlated to the effects and outcomes of the global drug prohibition regime is the starting point of this chapter, which will try to give an overview of to what extent the use of criminal law has contributed to this figure on a global scale. Drug control policies with a strong emphasis on criminal law became a global reality particularly after the adoption of the 1988 UN Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychoactive Substances, which requires countries to suppress the illicit production, supply and consumption of drugs through criminal law. As an indirect result, it can be one of the main causes of imprisonments worldwide, as many countries have adopted legislation with prison sentences for all drugs related offences after signing this treaty. This emphasis on criminal law to deal with the drugs market has provoked thirty three countries to prescribe the death penalty for drug offences. And last but certainly not least, hundreds of thousands of people are locked up without any trial for lengthy periods of time in the name of drug treatment. The 2014 UNODC "World crime trends and emerging issues and responses in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice", of April 2014, shows the global trend on drug offences remains on the increase: drug trafficking grew by 11%, while offences related to drug possession increased over 18%, in the period 2003-2012. It is of high relevance to stress that most legislations do not distinguish between possessions of and traffic in drugs, possibly altering these figures even more towards the latter. Although exact figures lack, the 2014 World Drug Report indicates that, "worldwide, the large majority of drug use offences are associated with cannabis"; an indication that a large share of penal prosecutions globally is geared towards the cannabis market. Meanwhile, policy debates in different parts of the world reflect certain recognition of both the ineffectiveness of the current penal focus, especially for non-violent offences, such as possession for personal use and use, but sometimes including small scale traffic; and the degree of injustice being done to certain vulnerable population groups, such as single mothers, and people imprisoned abroad. This has lead in some countries to legislative reform and changing practice in the criminal justice system. Questioning the exclusive penal model is no longer taboo, and the need to restore the balance between punishment and care is long overdue. The following chapter will basically focus on the impact of the present drug laws enforcement in the world's prison systems. It won't be a mere recount of the share of detainees for drug crimes within the overall inmates' population, as far as data for that is available, according to geographical macro-regions. While assessing the main trends, we want to highlight the challenges and possible reform proposals of the present prison systems.

Details: El Colectivo de Estudios Drogas y Derecho (CEDD), 2016. 33p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 2, 2017 at: http://www.drogasyderecho.org/pses/restoi.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: International

URL: http://www.drogasyderecho.org/pses/restoi.pdf

Shelf Number: 145234

Keywords:
Drug Control
Drug Enforcement
Drug Offenders
Drug Trafficking
Drugs and Crime
Imprisonment
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Urban Affairs

Title: D.C. Prisoners: Conditions of Confinement in the District of Columbia

Summary: On average, the daily population of D.C. Department of Corrections (DCDOC) facilities exceeds 2,000 prisoners. About three-quarters of these individuals are detained at the Central Detention Facility, a nearly forty-year-old facility commonly referred to as the "D.C. Jail." Just under one quarter are detained at the privately-run Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF). The rest are located at one of the District's three halfway houses. This report examines the conditions of confinement at the D.C. Jail and the CTF and discusses several recurring and serious problems that require the prompt attention of the DCDOC and District policymakers.

Details: Washington, DC: The Committee, 2015. 73p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2017 at; http://www.washlaw.org/pdf/conditions_of_confinement_report.PDF

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: http://www.washlaw.org/pdf/conditions_of_confinement_report.PDF

Shelf Number: 135232

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Jails
Prison Conditions
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Ring, Kevin

Title: Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism

Summary: Families Against Mandatory Minimums (FAMM) today released the findings of the first-ever independent survey of federal prisoners, which focused on the type and quality of educational and vocational training programs, as well as substance abuse and mental health treatment, currently available in America's federal prisons. "Using Time to Reduce Crime: Federal Prisoner Survey Results Show Ways to Reduce Recidivism" offers unique insights from inside federal prisons and includes 13 recommendations for reform. "Roughly 94 percent of federal prisoners are going to go home one day. If they leave smarter, sober, and job-ready, they will be much more likely to thrive - and our country will be safer and more prosperous," said FAMM President Kevin Ring. "Unfortunately, our survey found that the federal government is failing to make recidivism-reducing programming available to all prisoners who need it. President Trump's new budget proposal, which slashes the Bureau of Prisons' staff and corrections officers, will only make the problem worse." Key findings from the report include: Access to quality education is scarce. Most classes lack rigor and substance and are taught by other prisoners. Inmates reported taking classes such as crocheting and one based on the TV show Jeopardy. Attaining a college degree is difficult, if not impossible, for most prisoners. Most jobs afforded to inmates are "make work" jobs to service the prisons, such as cleaning bathrooms and living spaces or dining hall services. Vocational training is popular and coveted, but is limited and only offered to prisoners who are close to their release dates. Not all inmates who need substance abuse or mental health services are getting help. Two-thirds of respondents said they entered prison with a drug or alcohol addiction. In addition, more than two-thirds said they had not received mental or behavioral health treatment in prison. These types of programs should be expanded to help all prisoners in need of treatment, no matter the length or duration of their sentence. Most prisoners are housed too far away from their families to maintain connections. Family connections have been proven to reduce recidivism, yet most prisoners are housed more than 500 air miles away from home. The report also provides 13 recommendations for policymakers to improve prisoners' chances of success once they reintegrate into society.

Details: Washington, DC: Families Against Mandatory Minimums , 2017. 32p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2017 at: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Prison-Report_May-31_Final.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: http://famm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Prison-Report_May-31_Final.pdf

Shelf Number: 145922

Keywords:
Correctional Treatment Programs
Federal Inmates
Offender Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Recidivism
Vocational Education and Training

Author: Bronson, Jennifer

Title: Indicators of Mental Health Problems Reported by Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2011-12

Summary: Presents prevalence estimates of mental health indicators among state and federal prisoners and jail inmates by different time periods, demographics, criminal justice history, most serious offense, mental health treatment received while incarcerated, and rule violations. Indicators were defined as serious psychological distress (SPD) in the 30 days prior to the interview or having a history of a mental health problem. Data are from BJS's 2011-2012 National Inmate Survey. Comparisons to the general population are based on data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration's National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted in 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. Highlights: More jail inmates (26%) than prisoners (14%) met the threshold for serious psychological distress (SPD) in the past 30 days. Among those who had ever been told they had a mental disorder, the largest percentage of prisoners (24%) and jail inmates (31%) reported they had a major depressive disorder. More prisoners (14%) and jail inmates (26%) met the threshold for SPD in the past 30 days than the standardized general population (5%). Prescription medication was the most common treatment type for prisoners and jail inmates who met the threshold for SPD in the past 30 days. Fourteen percent of prisoners and 10% of jail inmates who met the threshold for SPD in the past 30 days were written up or charged with assault.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2017. 17p,

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 24, 2017 at: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/imhprpji1112.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/imhprpji1112.pdf

Shelf Number: 146354

Keywords:
Jail Inmates
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Fair, Helen

Title: Peer relations: Review of learning from the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Prison Reform Fellowships - Part IV

Summary: This Briefing is concerned with the broad theme of 'connections'. Its particular focus is on interventions visited by the Churchill Fellows which aim to harness the power of peer relations towards positive goals. - This report looks at the importance of positive peer relations at all stages of the criminal justice programme, specifically: - Peer relations as a tool to support desistance and diversion - Promoting positive peer relations in prison - Peer support on release from prison - Research has long documented the enormous influence of peer pressure - whether positive or negative - on offending behaviour. Positive peer pressure is utilised in work with young fathers and programmes which help to develop youth leadership, while work to reduce gang violence aims to counteract the negative effects of peer pressure. - In England and Wales, the growing use and benefits of peer support across the prison estate have been recognised by inspectors. Mentoring roles encompass the provision of emotional support, advising, and facilitating self-help or learning. - Examples of peer support programmes visited by Fellows include a programme run by ex-prisoners in the US which encourages the peer-led and grassroots education of prisoners; the use of drama to promote positive behaviour in prison in South Africa; and a programme in the US which uses life sentence prisoners as 'social mentors' to help new prisoners to adapt to prison life. - The importance of peer support for those leaving prison and re-entering the community is widely recognised, and is increasingly viewed by the UK government as a key means of ensuring continuity of support for those released from prison. - Examples of such 'through the gate' support was seen in Finland, where former prisoners work with those being released from prison to help them access the services they need to resettle back into the community, and in the US through the Delancey Street Foundation, which is entirely staffed by people who have been through the prison system, and teaches marketable skills to recently released prisoners.

Details: London: Prison Reform Trust, 2017. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2017 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/WCMT/peer_relations_FINAL.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/WCMT/peer_relations_FINAL.pdf

Shelf Number: 146485

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Inmates
Peer Relations
Peer Support
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoner Rehabilitation
Prisoners
Volunteers in Criminal Justice

Author: Duwe, Grant

Title: The Use and Impact of Correctional Programming for Inmates on Pre- and Post-Release Outcomes

Summary: State and federal prisons have long provided programming to inmates during their confinement. Institutional programming encompasses a broad array of services and interventions, including substance abuse treatment, educational programming, and sex offender treatment. The objective of providing prisoners with programming is to improve their behavior, both before and after release from prison. Indeed, institutional programming is often intended to not only enhance public safety by lowering recidivism, but also to promote greater safety within prisons by reducing misconduct. Although U.S. correctional systems typically offer some programming opportunities within prisons, research suggests many prisoners do not participate in programming while incarcerated (Lynch & Sabol, 2001). This paper reviews the available evidence on the impact of institutional programming on pre- and post-release outcomes for prisoners. Given the wide variety of institutional interventions provided to inmates in state and federal prisons, this paper focuses on programming that: (1) is known to be provided to prisoners, (2) has been evaluated, and (3) addresses the main criminogenic needs, or dynamic risk factors, that existing research has identified. This paper, therefore, examines the empirical evidence on educational programming, employment programming, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), chemical dependency (CD) and sex offender treatment, social support programming, mental health interventions, domestic violence programming, and prisoner re-entry programs. In addition to reviewing the evidence on the effects of these interventions on pre- and post-release outcomes, this paper identifies several broad conclusions that can be drawn about the effectiveness of institutional programming, discusses gaps in the literature, and proposes a number of directions for future research.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Justice, 2017. 41p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 1, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250476.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/250476.pdf

Shelf Number: 147487

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Inmates
Prisoners
Rehabilitation

Author: Digard, Leon

Title: Closing the Distance: The Impact of Video Visits in Washington State Prisons

Summary: Research has shown that continued connection to family and friends is a critical factor in incarcerated people's successful post-prison outcomes. Because many prisons around the country are in remote locations, far from the communities where the majority of incarcerated people live, in-person visits present often insurmountable logistical and financial challenges. For corrections officials looking to keep those in prison in touch with those in the community, video visiting offers a new route. Given its ability to bridge physical separation, this technology lends itself to addressing the difficulties incarcerated people and their loved ones in the community face to keep in touch. In 2016, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) published a national study of state corrections systems' adoption of video telephony as a way to visit incarcerated people. The study found that many state prison systems were weary of adopting video visiting, given security concerns and implementation costs. One early adopter of the technology was the Washington State Department of Corrections, which introduced video visiting using computers in its prisons in 2014. The current study examines the impact of video visiting in Washington on incarcerated people's in-prison behavior and analyzes their experience of the service. The principle finding was that using the service had a positive impact on the number of in-person visits the video visit users received. In at least one significant sense, the findings follow what we know about the digital divide: Younger people tended to adopt the new technology more than older people. And video visit users also had the most in-person visits both before and after introduction of the service, suggesting that those with strong social bonds tend to sustain them in as many ways as possible. Vera's researchers found no significant correlation between video visiting and people's in-prison behavior, as measured by the number of infractions they committed during the period under study. Overall, the analysis drew a sobering big picture: Nearly half of the people in Washington's prisons do not have visitors of any kind. And those who do don't have many. One factor was constant across sub-groups: The distance from home had a negative effect on visiting. Travel is expensive and time-consuming; video calls, while cheaper, cost more than a lot of people can spend and are rife with technical glitches. Those who used the service despite its costs and limitations told poignant stories of its benefits: the opportunity for parents and children to bond; the possibility for people in prison to show their families and friends that they are doing well; the chance to talk in a setting less stressful than a prison. Given the importance of sustained human ties for people reentering the community from prison, it behooves corrections officials and policymakers to devote ongoing attention to promoting successful family and community ties while reducing the factors that strain these vital connections.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2017. 36p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 21, 2017 at: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/closing-the-distance/legacy_downloads/The-Impact-of-Video-Visits-on-Washington-State-Prisons.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/closing-the-distance/legacy_downloads/The-Impact-of-Video-Visits-on-Washington-State-Prisons.pdf

Shelf Number: 146795

Keywords:
Families of Inmates
Prison Visits
Prisoners
Video Technology
Visitation

Author: Solis, Leslie

Title: Prisons in Mexico: What For?

Summary: The Mexican penitentiary system is in crisis and yet the issue is not being addressed, much less solved. The Last Administration concentrated on expanding the capacity of the federal prison system. More cells were built for more inmates, without thinking about an essential question: Prison, what for? An for Whom?

Details: San Diego: Center for U.S.-Mexican Studies, UC San Diego, 2013. 37p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2017 at: https://issuu.com/irpsmedia/docs/mex-eva_indx-prisons_english_versio

Year: 2013

Country: Mexico

URL: https://issuu.com/irpsmedia/docs/mex-eva_indx-prisons_english_versio

Shelf Number: 131752

Keywords:
Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Almohammad, Asaad

Title: The ISIS Prison System: Its Structure, Departmental Affiliations, Processes, Conditions, and Practices of Psychological and Physical Torture

Summary: This paper endeavors to explore the ISIS prison system, the arrest or abduction, interrogation and confession and total detention processes; as well as the condition of detention facilities, and the physical and psychological torture taking place within the terrorist organization's jails. Fifty-five ISIS cadres (defectors, returnees or prisoners) and 17 Syrian civilian interviewees who had been detained by ISIS were interviewed regarding their knowledge of and first experiences of incarceration in ISIS prison facilities. Their reports are compiled and dissected into three phases: 1) abduction/arrest, 2) initial processing including interrogation and confession phases, and 3) post interrogation processing. The accounts obtained from ISIS cadres, detainees and sources on the ground provided a chilling portrayal of ISIS' prison system. The detention facilities are run by different entities. These entities are namely: the Islamic police, military police, hisbah (morality police), raid squads, and Emni (security forces). Methods of detention, conditions, and torture and punishment varied across the aforementioned entities. Throughout their abduction/arrest and interrogation, detainees are subjected to a number of psychological methods of torture. These include the threat of execution, promises to receive similar fates as other tortured fellow detainees, solitary confinement, and the placement of severed heads in cages in which detainees are being held. Elaborate physical torture includes seven methods named as follows: Lashing, the Fuel, Bisat al-Rih (Flying Carpet), Shabeh (Ghost), German Chair, the Biter, and the Tire. It is hard to assess whether ISIS operatives gained actionable information or confessions as result. For many of the tortured interviewed detainees as well as the defectors, confessions meant that they would be executed by the terrorist organization. Though, detainees appear to collectively develop coping mechanisms and strategies including sharing information to avoid coerced confessions to inhibit the effectiveness of ISIS' interrogations. The use of torture serves as a reinforcement of ISIS' brand of terror. In that sense, torture is a violent method that scares civilians into submitting to ISIS' theological codes and socio-political aims. Throughout detainees' time in shared cells, they were expected to participate in sharia courses. The first course was called Redemption. The sharia lectures were often delivered by highly ranked sharia figures. The courses are carried out to indoctrinate detainees in ISIS ideology prior to their release. The last phase of the incarceration starts when the interrogation is concluded. Former detainees reported that they were not made aware beforehand of meeting sharia judges. Detainees who have been cleared of their purported offences and those who have survived ISIS' punishment are subjected to conditional release. ISIS is reported to offer former detainees to either make a ransom-like payment, or for those with skills needed by the terrorist organization to work for ISIS directorates. ISIS operatives try to coerce former detainees who can neither make the payment nor possess the skills deemed valuable by the terrorist organization to commit suicide operations. The presented findings illustrate that ISIS jailors cooperate with media operatives to use, most probably coerced, pre-execution testimony for its propaganda. The current paper also puts forth a number of names and details on ISIS operatives engaged in detaining, torturing, and extorting civilians to supply the terrorist organization with material support. Evidence of the terrorist organization's handling of hostages suggests that they were subjected to various methods of psychological and elaborate physical torture. The category of detainees that ISIS uses as sabaya or sex slaves include the Yazidis captured in Iraq, wives and daughters of captured Free Syrian Army and Jabhat al Nusrah cadres. These women are either sold or given to foreign fighters, ISIS cadres or outsiders or held in detention facilities in both Syria and Iraq. Those held in detention centers are subjected to repeated rapes by ISIS cadres who are given access to them as a reward for service. The report also demonstrates a level of sophistication in the organizational structure and governance of ISIS' prison system and interrogation processes. Based on evidence provided throughout the paper, ISIS has been observed to move its detention facilities when fearing territorial loss. This trend may be informative in reading future movements of the terrorist organization. Alongside ISIS cash reserves and ISIS leadership, the cities of Mayadin and al-Bukamal, Deir ez-Zor received a significant number of detainees and hostages. The aforementioned indicators suggest the operational significance of the two cities in taking the fight to ISIS.

Details: International Center for the Study of Violent Extremists, 2017. 91p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 29, 2017 at: http://www.icsve.org/research-reports/the-isis-prison-system-its-structure-departmental-affiliations-processes-conditions-and-practices-of-psychological-and-physical-torture/

Year: 2017

Country: Syria

URL: http://www.icsve.org/research-reports/the-isis-prison-system-its-structure-departmental-affiliations-processes-conditions-and-practices-of-psychological-and-physical-torture/

Shelf Number: 146928

Keywords:
ISIS
Prisoners
Prisons
Terrorist
Torture
Violent Extremists

Author: Wooff, Andrew

Title: Measuring Risk and Efficiency in Police Scotland Custody Settings: A Pilot Study

Summary: Police custody is a complex area of policing which requires Police Scotland to carefully balance the risks associated with detainees, the new localism agenda and making efficiency savings. With the move to a national Custody Division as part of Police Scotland now beginning to mature, it is an important time to assess how variation in custody practices impacts on police staff and on detainees. This pilot study used qualitative methods to investigate the challenges around risk and efficiency in two separate police custody environments - one rural and one urban. The study found that staffing, healthcare, the Police Scotland custody estate and trust are key for understanding how risks can be minimised and efficiency maximised. The study identified a series of recommendations which if implemented would help improve police custody in Scotland. The study also identifies a series of gaps in the systematic knowledge base which, if addressed, would assist in developing and supporting the recommendations we have identified.

Details: Dundee: Scottish Institute for Policing Research, School of Social Sciences, University of Dundee, 2017. 10p.

Source: Internet Resource: SIPR Research Summary No. 27: Accessed August 31, 2017 at: http://www.sipr.ac.uk/downloads/Research_Summaries/Research_Summary_27.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.sipr.ac.uk/downloads/Research_Summaries/Research_Summary_27.pdf

Shelf Number: 146958

Keywords:
Police Custody
Prisoners
Risk Assessment

Author: Western Australia, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services

Title: Western Australia's Prison Capacity

Summary: Western Australia's prison population has risen very rapidly over recent years. Two new prisons have opened in the last four years (West Kimberley and Eastern Goldfields Regional Prisons) but the system has largely absorbed the extra numbers by adding bunk beds to single cells and by adding new accommodation units to existing prisons. This has led the Opposition and the WA Prison Officers Union (WAPOU) to claim our prisons are overcrowded to the point of crisis, posing risks to staff and prisoners. However, the government and the Department of Corrective Services (the Department) say the system is not overcrowded, the risks are overstated, and there is actually still spare capacity. Based on a snapshot date of 30 June 2016, this report evaluates: - different tests of prison capacity - prison occupancy rates - whether prisoners' living conditions meet Australian and international standards - risks arising from current population levels. Our conclusions This review is supported by the evidence contained in our inspection reports on individual prisons. It concludes that: - most of our prisons are very crowded (too many prisoners for the available space and facilities) - the Department's method of reporting has hidden the extent of the problem - too many prisoners are held in cells that do not comply with Australasian standards and even International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) standards - occupying cells above intended capacity is: -compromising prisoners' rights to privacy and decent treatment - generating risks to safety and rehabilitation - services to prisoners are increasingly stretched - staff, management and prisoners deserve the community's appreciation for the way they have coped with these pressures. Some of the pressures at some sites will be temporarily relieved when the new Eastern Goldfields Regional Prison is filled and when the 'new' women's prison at the Hakea site ('Melaleuca') opens in December. However, most prisons will continue to operate above intended capacity and the new facilities will not meet future demand. A new prison is needed. It should be designed with the flexibility to cater for different groups but the most obvious need is for a large metropolitan remand prison for men.

Details: Perth: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, 2016. 59p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2017 at: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/WebCMS.nsf/resources/file-tp---oics-wa-prison-capacity/$file/OICS%20WA%20Prison%20Capacity.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/WebCMS/WebCMS.nsf/resources/file-tp---oics-wa-prison-capacity/$file/OICS%20WA%20Prison%20Capacity.pdf

Shelf Number: 147012

Keywords:
Prison Overcrowding
Prison Population
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Mumby, Lauren

Title: Prison voicemail: an initial evaluation

Summary: The UK prison population currently stands at just under 86,000 (Ministry of Justice, 2017) and the average cost per prisoner is approximately L35,000 per year (Ministry of Justice, 2013). The acknowledged reoffending rate for adults released from custody is 44.1% (Ministry of Justice, 2017b) with reoffending estimated to cost in excess of L80,000 per offender (De Las Casas et al, 2011). In times of austerity, the Ministry of Justice is under pressure to reduce number of prisoners and reduce offending and reoffending. Added to the financial costs, imprisonment is often a traumatic time for those imprisoned, and their families. In 2016, 119 self-inflicted deaths were recorded in prisons in England and Wales, a record high; there were 37,784 incidents of self-harm, an increase of 23% from the previous year (Ministry of Justice 2017c). A significant factor related to suicide and selfharm in custody is family ties. Prisoners who have attempted suicide have been found to miss their families more and to have reduced contact with them (Liebling, 1992). The pains of imprisonment thesis (Sykes, 1958) argues that prison often places significant strain on personal relationships resulting from the physical separation and emotional trauma resulting from, often sudden, separation. A failure to maintain family relationships can lead to increased emotional instability during imprisonment and limited social ties for release (Adams, 1992; Cochran, 2013). This may manifest in further negative behaviours inside prison such as violence and general misconduct (Burnett and Maruna, 2004). Conversely, familial attachments and contact during prison sentences have been reported as crucial for helping people in custody cope with the pressures of prison life, such as the feelings of isolation associated with imprisonment (Agnew, 1992); can contribute towards decreased misconduct whilst in prison (Maruna, 2001); and provide support and hope for release (e.g. Agnew, 1992; Rocque et al, 2013). Family ties provide a sense of belonging, security and happiness (De Las Casas et al, 2011). Desistance literature also reports that there is a vital role in family bonds for reducing reoffending (Sampson and Laub, 1993). More specifically, men who maintained contact with their children during imprisonment, demonstrated improved resettlement outcomes (Visher, 2013). Prisoners who improved their family relationships during their sentence resulted in lower levels of reoffending, higher levels of employment and lower levels of drug use on release than those who did not improve relationships (Brunton-Smith and McCarthy, 2016). Identifying opportunities to maintain and strengthen family relationships while a person is incarcerated may, therefore have a significant contribution to improving safety in prisons, limiting reoffending and aiding resettlement. Families themselves also suffer as a result of imprisonment. Families have to cope with practical, financial and emotional consequences which can subsequently have a further impact on relationships. Loss of income, isolation, relationship deterioration and extra childcare commitments can increase the sense of loss and hopelessness experienced by families (Loucks, 2004; Murray, 2005; Codd, 2007). Loss of income is exacerbated by increased expenditure on visits, telephone calls and sending money to imprisoned relatives (Braman and Wood, 2003). Furthermore, it is estimated that 160,000 children in the UK are affected by parental imprisonment (Social Exclusion Unit, 2007) and they can suffer a range of problems during the incarceration period including depression, aggression, eating problems, sleep problems and school related issues (Boswell et al, 2002). However, increasing family contact is thought to moderate these effects. For example, maintaining family ties has been found to increase the resilience of children (Garmezy and Rutter, 1983). It is clear that maintaining and improving family ties while a person is imprisoned can have a significant impact on both the prisoner and their family with regard to increasing safety, improving resettlement, reducing the effects on the family and ultimately decreasing recidivism. Despite this, prisoners have limited means to keep in contact with their families. They can receive visits but this process is often fraught with challenges for those visiting such as distance to travel to the prison, employment commitments, poor staff attitudes and difficulties in accessing information (Codd, 2007). They can send and receive letters by post or e-mail, if they are sufficiently literate. They can make phone calls, but these are limited to certain times of the day when prisoners are allowed outside their cells, often resulting in queues for the limited number of available phones. The majority of prisoners have no legitimate access to mobile telecommunications and information technology that dominates personal communication in the community (Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, PPO, 2014). While the PPO calls upon all prisons to support family ties while still ensuring security and public protection (PPO, 2014), family and friends are still unable to make a simple telephone call to the imprisoned person. Alongside this, it has been widely publicised that there is decreased staffing and resource levels within UK prisons (e.g. The Howard League, 2016) both of which impact negatively on phone access. Prison Voicemail It is against this backdrop of complex prison challenges that the social start-up, Prison Voicemail, has emerged as a potentially significant moderator for these issues.

Details: Lincoln, UK: University of Lincoln, 2017. 51p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 2, 2017 at: http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/28301/1/28301%20Prison%20Voicemail%20report%20Final%2031%20July%202017%20for%20PDF.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://eprints.lincoln.ac.uk/28301/1/28301%20Prison%20Voicemail%20report%20Final%2031%20July%202017%20for%20PDF.pdf

Shelf Number: 147013

Keywords:
Children of Prisoners
Families of Inmates
Prisoner Communications
Prisoners

Author: Bronson, Jennifer

Title: Drug Use, Dependence, and Abuse Among State Prisoners and Jail Inmates, 2007-2009

Summary: Presents prevalence estimates of drug use, drug use disorders, and participation in drug treatment programs among state prisoners and sentenced jail inmates, including trends in drug use over time by demographics and most serious offense, drug use at the time of offense and whether an inmate committed the offense to obtain drugs, and comparisons to the general population. Data are from BJS's National Inmate Survey, conducted in 2007 and 2008-09. Comparisons to the general population are based on the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administrations National Survey on Drug Use and Health, conducted in 2007, 2008, and 2009. Highlights: During 2007-09, an estimated 58% of state prisoners and 63% of sentenced jail inmates met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria for drug dependence or abuse. Among prisoners and jail inmates, prevalence estimates for those who met the criteria for dependence were two to three times higher than for abuse. The percentage of inmates who met the DSM-IV criteria was higher for those held for property offenses than those held for violent or other public order offenses. Lifetime drug use among the incarcerated populations was unchanged from 2002 to 2009. During 2007-09, prisoners (77%) and jail inmates (78%) reported having ever used marijuana/hashish, more than any other drug.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2017. 27p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 11, 2017 at: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/dudaspji0709.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/dudaspji0709.pdf

Shelf Number: 147212

Keywords:
Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drug Abuse and Crime
Drug Offenders
Jail Inmates
Prisoners

Author: Braman, Donald

Title: Families and Incarceration

Summary: This dissertation describes findings from a three-year ethnographic study of male incarceration's effect on family life in the District of Columbia. The central finding of the study is that the dramatic increase in the use of incarceration over the last two decades has in many ways missed its mark, often injuring the families of offenders as much as, and sometimes more than, offenders themselves. The effects of incarceration on families include practical hardships related to incarceration such as lost income and childcare, legal costs, and telephone expenses. Because prisoners are prevented from reciprocating, their families are not only materially impoverished, but the relationships within the extended kinship networks are eroded. Incarceration also forcibly restructures household composition, reshaping family life in ways that are entirely absent from policy debates. In addition to the direct effect of incarceration on gender ratios and father absence, incarceration also has more subtle effects on gender norms, encouraging behavior that is consistent with many of the common stereotypes of poor, black, inner-city families. What the stereotypes obscure, however, are the ways in which incarceration is intricately involved in the dissolution of the very families they describe. The stigma associated with incarceration has also had broad effects on inner-city family and community life. Because stigma is associated with families of prisoners, and because families are in communities that are disproportionately victimized by crime, they often face far more difficulties managing the stigma of criminality during incarceration than do offenders. The result is that, at the individual and community level, relationships are often diminished and distorted to guard information about incarceration and, at a broader political level, familial covering and silence effectively hides the effects of incarceration from public view.

Details: New Haven, CT: Yale University, 2002. 279p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed September 13, 2017 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/202981.pdf

Year: 2003

Country: United States

URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/202981.pdf

Shelf Number: 91594

Keywords:
Children of Prisoners
Families of Inmates
Prisoners

Author: California. Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Office of Research

Title: 2015 Outcome Evaluation Report. An Examination of Offenders Released in Fiscal Year 2010-11

Summary: Between July 1, 2010 and June 30, 2011 (Fiscal Year 2010‐11), 95,690 offenders were released from a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) adult institution and tracked for three years following the date of their release. The three‐year return‐to‐prison rate for the 95,690 offenders who comprise the Fiscal Year 2010‐11 release cohort is 44.6 percent, which is a 9.7 percentage point decrease from the Fiscal Year 2009‐10 rate of 54.3 percent. Fiscal Year 2010‐11 marks the fifth consecutive year the three‐year return‐to‐prison rate has declined and is the most substantial decrease to‐date. As shown in Figure A, Fiscal Year 2010‐11 also marks the first cohort of offenders where more offenders did not return to prison during the three‐year follow‐up period (55.4 percent or 53,029 offenders) than returned to State prison (44.6 percent or 42,661 offenders).

Details: Sacramento: The Department, 2016. 87p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 15, 2017 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/2015_Outcome_Evaluation_Report_8-25-2016.pdf

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Adult_Research_Branch/Research_Documents/2015_Outcome_Evaluation_Report_8-25-2016.pdf

Shelf Number: 147343

Keywords:
Prisoners
Recidivism
Rehabilitation

Author: Roodman, David

Title: The impacts of incarceration on crime

Summary: When it comes to locking people up, the United States is a world champion. In 1970, 196,000 people resided in American prisons, and another 161,000 in jails, which worked out to 174 inmates per 100,000 people. In 2015, 1.53 million people languished in US prisons and 728,000 in jails, or 673 per 100,000. Only North Korea, among major nations, may surpass the US in this regard. Such statistics are almost always invoked and graphed when initiating discussions of criminal justice reform. Figure 1 and Figure 2 depict them afresh with photographs taken at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia. That fortress-like complex is now a museum, a window onto a criminal justice reform movement of some two centuries ago that sought to replace corporal punishment with solitary confinement, which was seen as humane and rehabilitative. The Open Philanthropy Project has joined a latter-day criminal justice reform movement. It too is motivated by the belief that something is wrong with the state's use of punishment to combat crime. Something is wrong, in other words, with those pictures. Higher incarceration rates and longer sentences, along with the "war on drugs," have imposed great costs on taxpayers, as well as on inmates, their families, and their communities. Yet even though the 59% per-capita rise in incarceration between 1990 and 2010 accompanied a 42% drop in FBI-tracked "index crimes," researchers agree that putting more people behind bars added modestly, at most, to the fall in crime. Yet even if rising incarceration has not been a major factor behind falling crime, it might still have been a factor - and enough so that it ought to give pause to those pushing to reverse the rise. This report works to check that possibility, by reviewing empirical research on the impacts of incarceration on crime. It asks whether decarceration should be expected to increase or decrease crime. With the Open Philanthropy Project making grants for criminal justice reform, this review of the research is an act of due diligence. Any discussion of the impacts of incarceration should specify the alternative: incarceration as opposed to what? This review focuses mainly on studies that compare incarceration to ordinary freedom or traditional supervised released (probation and parole), as distinct from alternatives such as in-patient drug treatment and restorative justice conferences. Those options may offer promise, and deserve more research and evidence reviews. Nevertheless, as a practical matter, if incarceration falls substantially in this country, ordinary and traditional supervised release will probably emerge as the main alternatives. That appears to have been the case in trend-setting California after decarceration reforms in 2011 and 2014. Thus this review remains highly relevant to likely policy choices. For manageability, this review restricts it to "high-credibility" studies: ones that exploit randomized experiments, or else "quasi-experiments" that arise incidentally from the machinations of the criminal justice system and ideally produce evidence nearly as compelling as experiments do. Further, in distilling generalizations and performing cost-benefit analysis, the review relies more heavily on the eight studies that I could replicate by accessing the underlying data and computer code. Replication and subsequent reanalysis of these eight revealed significant econometric concerns in seven and led to major reinterpretations of four. That experience led to an unexpected conclusion about the conduct of social science generally. For it raised doubts about the rest of the high-credibility studies included in this review, the ones that could not be so closely examined. It forced me to conclude that even the best studies on incarceration and crime are less reliable than they appear. And, like a car whose brakes fail once, this raises questions about the reliability of published social science generally. To put that more constructively, the scrutiny that research undergoes to appear in social science journals falls short of the optimum for policymaking. Perhaps the gap needs to be filled outside the normal academic research process, such as through reviews like this one.

Details: San Francisco: Open Philanthropy Project, 2017. 142p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 27, 2017 at: http://blog.givewell.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/The-impacts-of-incarceration-on-crime-10.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: http://blog.givewell.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/The-impacts-of-incarceration-on-crime-10.pdf

Shelf Number: 147466

Keywords:
Alternatives to Incarceration
Costs of Criminal Justice
Criminal Justice Reform
Inmates
Mass Incarceration
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: Shepherd, Stephane M.

Title: Aboriginal prisoners with cognitive impairment - Is this the highest risk group?

Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of cognitive impairment and its associations with mental health, cultural needs and offending for a representative cohort (N = 122) of adult Indigenous offenders in custody. Results revealed an over-representation of cognitively impaired prisoners in the sample (22%). The prevalence of mental illness was exceptionally high, and so there was a large minority with concomitant illness/disability. Given the widely publicised custodial overrepresentation and social disadvantages endured by Indigenous Australians, there was an expectation that Indigenous status and its associated risk factors would potentially preclude differentiation by level of cognitive impairment. This was true for several social and emotional wellbeing and custodial needs. However, possessing a cognitive disability was connected to poorer outcomes for participants in a number of areas. Indigenous offenders with cognitive impairment were more susceptible to harmful coping mechanisms in the face of stressors such as drug and alcohol abuse. They were also more likely to perceive discrimination, have family members in custody and have trouble managing acute emotions compared to non cognitively impaired offenders. The cognitively impaired subgroup were more likely to re-offend, were younger at first offence, and had greater numbers of prior offences. Findings signal the need for culturally themed disability assistance and diversionary options at all levels of the criminal justice system.

Details: Sydney: Criminology Research Advisory Council, 2017. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 2, 2017 at: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/09-1415-FinalReport.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Australia

URL: http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/1718/09-1415-FinalReport.pdf

Shelf Number: 147967

Keywords:
Cognitive Impairment
Disabilities
Indigenous Peoples
Mental Health
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Shepherd, Stephane M.

Title: Aboriginal prisoners with cognitive impairment: Is this the highest risk group?

Summary: Early estimates point to higher rates of cognitive impairment among Indigenous Australians in custody compared to non-Indigenous Australians. This study sought to examine the prevalence of cognitive impairment in a representative sample of Indigenous offenders from Victorian prisons. Differences in mental illness prevalence, offending history and post-release recidivism were explored by presence of cognitive impairment. Results revealed an over-representation of cognitively impaired prisoners in the sample and a large minority with concomitant mental illness or disability. Cognitively impaired prisoners were more likely to re-offend, were younger at first offence, and had greater numbers of prior offences. Findings signal the need for culturally themed disability assistance and diversionary options at all levels of the criminal justice system.

Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2017. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 536: Accessed November 2, 2017 at: http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi536.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Australia

URL: http://www.aic.gov.au/media_library/publications/tandi_pdf/tandi536.pdf

Shelf Number: 147970

Keywords:
Cognitive Impairment
Disabilities
Indigenous Peoples
Mental Health
Mentally Ill Offenders
Prisoners

Author: Darke, Sacha

Title: Managing without Guards in a Brazilian Police Lockup

Summary: Brazilian prisons are typically crowded and poorly resourced, yet at the same time may be active places. Of particular interest to the sociology of prisons is institutional reliance on inmate collaboration and self-ordering, not only to maintain prison routines, but in the most lowly-staffed prisons security and prisoner conduct as well. This article explores the roles played by inmates in running one such penal institution, a men's police lockup in Rio de Janeiro. At the time of research the lockup had over 450 prisoners, but just five officers. Both on and off the wings inmates performed janitorial, clerical and guard-like duties, mostly under the supervision not of officers but other prisoners. The lockup appeared to be operating under a relatively stable, if de facto and provisional order, premised in common needs and shared beliefs, and maintained by a hierarchy of prisoner as well as officer authority.

Details: London: University of Westminster, School of Law, 2014. 15p.

Source: Internet Resource: U. of Westminster School of Law Research Paper No. 13-10: Accessed November 17, 2017 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2368781

Year: 2014

Country: Brazil

URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2368781

Shelf Number: 148216

Keywords:
Prison Guards
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Correctional Association of New York

Title: Solitary at Southport: A 2017 Report based upon the Correctional Association's Visits, Data Analysis, & First-Hand Accounts of the Torture of Solitary Confinement from One of New York's Supermax Prisons

Summary: Solitary confinement is torture. New York State (NYS) subjects people to solitary confinement and other forms of isolation at rates above the national average and in a racially disparate manner. On any given day, in NYS prisons alone roughly 2,900 people are held in Special Housing Units (SHU) and an additional estimated 1,000 or more people are held in keeplock (KL). In 2015 after limited SHU reforms, the number of people in SHU rose to over 4,100, the highest rate of solitary in the history of NYS prisons, more than a third higher than in the early 2000s and higher than its previous 2012 peak. Even with some reductions in 2016 and 2017, NYS's rate of isolation - nearly 8% including KL and 5.8% if only SHU - is much higher than the national average of 4.4% and four or more times higher than some states - like Colorado, Washington, and Connecticut - that have less than 1% or 2% of incarcerated people in solitary. In the SHU or KL, people are held alone in their cells 23-24 hours a day, without any meaningful human contact or out-of-cell programming, with limited or no access to phone calls, and often with limited, restricted, or no visits. The sensory deprivation, lack of normal human interaction, and extreme idleness have long been proven to cause intense suffering, devastating physical, mental, and emotional effects, and the increased likelihood of self-harm. Solitary - "the Box" - can cause deterioration in people's behavior, while limits on solitary have had neutral or even positive effects on institutional safety. The Mandela Rules - recently adopted by the entire United Nations General Assembly, supported by a US delegation consisting of corrections administrators, and voted for by the US government - prohibit solitary beyond 15 consecutive days. Yet, in New York people are regularly held in solitary for months, years, and even for decades. Southport Correctional Facility is one of the two super-maximum security prisons in NYS with the primary purpose of holding people in solitary or isolated confinement. Southport was originally a regular maximum security prison, but became New York's first prison dedicated entirely to solitary confinement in 1991. The budget to operate this supermax is almost $39 million per year. Southport currently incarcerates about 400 people in solitary in the SHU. Beyond the already racially disproportionate infliction of solitary across prisons statewide, nearly 90% of people in the SHU at Southport are Black (62%) or Latino (27%), while only 2% of Correctional Officers (COs) at Southport are Black (1.4%) or Latino (0.7%). Even more extreme, and reflective of the deeply engrained racism of the prison system, of all people who were held at Southport for the entirety of 2015, 76% of all the people who were held at Southport in 2015 were Black. The Correctional Association of New York (CA) conducted a full monitoring visit of Southport in February 2015 and further investigations of Southport in 2015 and 2016. During the 2015 visit, the CA spoke one-on-one with nearly every person in the SHU while we were there. The CA subsequently received over 190 written surveys from people in Southport's SHU, had repeated correspondence with numerous people incarcerated at Southport, conducted extensive interviews in 2015 and 2016 with nearly 50 people held in the SHU at Southport, and analyzed prison-specific and system-wide data. To even begin to have some understanding of the real experience of solitary at Southport requires learning directly from the people who are living in solitary the details of what they are enduring. The narratives in this publication provide representative examples of the experiences of the hundreds of people the CA communicated with at Southport.

Details: New York: The Correctional Association of New York, 2017. 92p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 17, 2018 at: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Solitary-at-Southport-Final-Web-12-10-17.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/Solitary-at-Southport-Final-Web-12-10-17.pdf

Shelf Number: 148783

Keywords:
Administrative Segregation
Isolation
Prisoners
Restrictive Housing
Solitary Confinement
Supermax Prisons

Author: Schlanger, Margo

Title: The Constitutional Law of Incarceration, Reconfigured

Summary: As American incarcerated populations grew starting in the 1970s, so too did court oversight of prisons. In the late 1980s, however, as incarceration continued to boom, federal court oversight shrank. This Article addresses the most central doctrinal limit on oversight of jails and prisons, the Supreme Court's restrictive reading of the constitutional provisions governing treatment of prisoners - the Cruel and Unusual Punishments Clause and the Due Process Clause, which regulate, respectively, post-conviction imprisonment and pretrial detention. The Court's interpretation of the Eighth Amendment's ban of cruel and unusual punishment, in particular, radically undermined prison officials' accountability for tragedies behind bars - allowing, even encouraging, them to avoid constitutional accountability. And lower courts compounded the error by importing that reading into Due Process doctrine as well. In 2015, in Kingsley v. Hendrickson, a jail use of force case, the Court relied on 1970s precedent, not subsequent case-law that had placed undue emphasis on the subjective culpability of prison and jail officials as the crucial source of constitutional concern. The Kingsley Court returned to a more appropriate objective analysis. In finding for the plaintiff, the Supreme Court unsettled the law far past Kingsley's direct factual setting of pretrial detention, expressly inviting post-conviction challenges to restrictive - and incoherent - Eighth Amendment caselaw. The Court rejected not only the defendants' position, but the logic that underlies 25 years of pro-government outcomes in prisoners' rights cases. But commentary and developing caselaw since Kingsley has not fully recognized its implications. I argue that both doctrinal logic and justice dictate that constitutional litigation should center on the experience of incarcerated prisoners, rather than the culpability of their keepers. The takeaway of my analysis is that the Constitution is best read to impose governmental liability for harm caused to prisoners - whether pretrial or post-conviction - by unreasonably dangerous conditions of confinement and unjustified uses of force. In this era of mass incarceration, our jails and prisons should not be shielded from accountability by legal standards that lack both doctrinal and normative warrant.

Details: Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Law School, 2017. 56p.

Source: Internet Resource: U of Michigan Public Law Research Paper No. 535: Accessed February 8, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Papers.cfm?abstract_id=2920283

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: University of Michigan Law School

Shelf Number: 149037

Keywords:
Incarceration
Prisoners
Prisons
Rights

Author: Prison Reform Trust

Title: Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile: Autumn 2017

Summary: This year's Bromley Briefings open with a brand new section which we have called "The long view". The Prison Reform Trust has built its reputation over more than three decades on presenting accurate evidence about prisons and the people in them. In a world where ministers feel compelled to respond to issues with ever greater immediacy, "The long view" offers an antidote to the latest Twitter storm or early morning grilling in the media. We have chosen to concentrate in this briefing on the issue of overcrowding. What the evidence shows is that the core of the current government's approach-to spend more building more prison spaces-is identical to the actions of all its predecessors since the early 1990s. There is every possible indication that it will meet the same fate. So PRT has commissioned two pieces of expert independent analysis relevant to any serious strategic policy to solve the problem of overcrowding. First, we asked a former Director of Finance for the prison service, Julian Le Vay, to analyse the published data on the Ministry of Justice's spending review settlement with the Treasury and its plans for future investment in new prisons. He concluded that the capital cost of a policy based on building more prisons since 1980 has been L3.7bn, and generated an additional annual running cost of L1.5bn-enough to have built 25,000 new homes, and to be employing 50,000 more nurses or teachers. But he also concludes that the ministry's current ambitions are inadequately funded to the tune of L162m in 2018/19, rising to $463m in 2022/23. On current population projections, there is no prospect of any impact on overcrowding before 2022, and a further new programme of building will be needed from 2026. Secondly, we asked Dr Savas Hadjipavlou, of Justice Episteme, to run a scenario on the sophisticated model he has created. This uses what we know about the typical life histories of people who end up in the criminal justice system, together with what we know about how that system operates, to assess the impact of demographic or other changes on key criminal justice outcomes-including the likely size of the prison population. The scenario removed the statutory changes that have inflated sentencing since 2003, and suggests that we would now have a prison population of 70,000 had those changes not been made- in other words, a population several thousand below the system's current uncrowded capacity

Details: London: PRT, 2017. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 9, 2018 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Autumn%202017%20factfile.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Autumn%202017%20factfile.pdf

Shelf Number: 149078

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Howard League for Penal Reform

Title: Out of Control: Punishment in Prison

Summary: Research by the Howard League for Penal Reform reveals that prisons are routinely and increasingly resorting to draconian punishments in a counter-productive attempt to regain control. It shows that almost 290,000 additional days of imprisonment were handed down to prisoners during 2016 - a 75 per cent rise in only two years - as jails have been brought to breaking point by overcrowding and staff shortages. The Howard League has calculated that the additional days imposed in 2016 alone will cost the taxpayer about $27million. This report reveals how disciplinary hearings, known as adjudications, are used overly and inappropriately, with even minor infractions such as disobedience and disrespect being punished with additional days of imprisonment. The report calls on England and Wales to follow the example set by Scotland, where the use of additional days of imprisonment was scrapped about 10 years ago. Officials and governors in Scotland could find no evidence that abolishing the use of additional days had a negative impact on behaviour, and Scottish prisons have become safer since the change was made. Scrapping the imposition of additional days of imprisonment in England and Wales would stop a vicious cycle. Punishments pile more pressure on the prison population and worsen overcrowding, which in turn creates conditions for drug abuse, violence and other types of misbehaviour.

Details: London: The Howard League, 2017. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2018 at: https://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Out-of-control.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://howardleague.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Out-of-control.pdf

Shelf Number: 149129

Keywords:
Inmate Discipline
Inmates
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoners

Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office

Title: Federal Prisons: Information on Inmates with Serious Mental Illness and Strategies to Reduce Recidivism

Summary: About two-thirds of inmates with a serious mental illness in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) were incarcerated for four types of offenses-drug (23 percent), sex offenses (18 percent), weapons and explosives (17 percent), and robbery (8 percent)-as of May 27, 2017. GAO's analysis found that BOP inmates with serious mental illness were incarcerated for sex offenses, robbery, and homicide/aggravated assault at about twice the rate of inmates without serious mental illness, and were incarcerated for drug and immigration offenses at about half or less the rate of inmates without serious mental illness. GAO also analyzed available data on three selected states' inmate populations and the most common crimes committed by inmates with serious mental illness varied from state to state due to different law enforcement priorities, definitions of serious mental illness and methods of tracking categories of crime in their respective data systems. BOP does not track costs related to incarcerating or providing mental health care services to inmates with serious mental illness, but BOP and selected states generally track these costs for all inmates. BOP does not track costs for inmates with serious mental illness in part because it does not track costs for individual inmates due to resource restrictions and the administrative burden such tracking would require. BOP does track costs associated with mental health care services system-wide and by institution. System-wide, for fiscal year 2016, BOP spent about $72 million on psychology services, $5.6 million on psychotropic drugs and $4.1 million on mental health care in residential reentry centers. The six state departments of corrections each used different methods and provided GAO with estimates for different types of mental health care costs. For example, two states provided average per-inmate costs of incarceration for mental health treatment units where some inmates with serious mental illness are treated; however, these included costs for inmates without serious mental illness housed in those units. DOJ, Department of Health and Human Service's Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and criminal justice and mental health experts have developed a framework to reduce recidivism among adults with mental illness. The framework calls for correctional agencies to assess individuals' recidivism risk and substance abuse and mental health needs and target treatment to those with the highest risk of reoffending. To help implement this framework, SAMHSA, in collaboration with DOJ and other experts, developed guidance for mental health, correctional, and community stakeholders on (1) assessing risk and clinical needs, (2) planning treatment in custody and upon reentry based on risks and needs, (3) identifying post-release services, and (4) coordinating with community-based providers to avoid gaps in care. BOP and the six states also identified strategies for reducing recidivism consistent with this guidance, such as memoranda of understanding between correctional and mental health agencies to coordinate care. Further, GAO's literature review found that programs that reduced recidivism among offenders with mental illness generally offered multiple support services, such as mental health and substance abuse treatment, case management, and housing assistance.

Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2018. 75p.

Source: Internet Resource: GAO-18-182: Accessed February 27, 2018 at: https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/690279.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.gao.gov/assets/700/690279.pdf

Shelf Number: 149264

Keywords:
Federal Prisons
Mental Health Services
Mentally Ill Inmates
Prisoners
Prisons
Recidivism

Author: Martynowicz, Agnieszke

Title: 'Behind the Door': Solitary Confinement in the Irish Penal System

Summary: This report contains 25 key recommendations centring on the use of solitary confinement and restricted regimes in Ireland. Our goal is ambitious but achievable - the abolition of solitary confinement in Ireland in the short term and the gradual elimination of the use of restricted regimes with the ultimate target of 12 hours out-of-cell time daily for all prisoners across the prison estate. Some of the key recommendations arising from the report include: The placement in solitary confinement of adults with mental health difficulties or mental or physical disabilities should be prohibited. Where a prisoner requests to be kept on protection for an extended period, this should be kept under constant review. The Irish Prison Service should research and develop a range of initiatives to address violence in prisons. These may include, but should not be limited to, restorative justice approaches and weapons amnesties. Prisoners on protection or other restricted regimes should be provided with meaningful access to work, training and education, as well as other activities and services. As far as possible this should be in association with other prisoners. The Irish Prison Service should regularly collect and publish data relating to the length of time prisoners spend on restricted regimes in all prisons.

Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform trust, 2018. 31p.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed March 8, 2018 at: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Solitary_Confinement_web.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Ireland

URL: http://www.iprt.ie/files/Solitary_Confinement_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 149324

Keywords:
Inmate Discipline
Prisoner Discipline
Prisoners
Restrictive Housing
Solitary Confinement

Author: Ali, Farihah

Title: Synthetic Cannabinoid Use in Correctional Populations - An Emerging Challenge for Offender Health and Safety? A Brief Review

Summary: Synthetic cannabinoids (SCs) have become increasingly popular among various user populations, and have arisen as common alternatives to organic cannabis products. SCs are an emerging category of drugs under the umbrella of New Psychoactive Substances (NPS). They belong to a continually evolving series of synthetic psychoactive product groups, based on successive structural modifications, commonly marketed as herbal mixtures which mimic cannabis' psychoactive effects, and are classified as 'legal highs'. SCs, however, have been associated with a variety of distinct adverse health outcomes (especially acute), some of which are considered more severe than those which result from the use of natural cannabis products. Compared to natural cannabis products, SCs pose threats to users' health, including: elevated levels of cardio-vascular problems, kidney problems, seizures, acute hallucinations, psychosis and anxiety, among others. Various jurisdictions have reported high numbers of presentations to emergency departments, as well as cases of mortality, directly related to the use of SCs. While all forms of SCs are banned in correctional institutions, existing evidence suggests that they have become increasingly popular among offenders, and as such, pose distinct novel challenges for correctional administrations charged with the responsibility for offender health and safety. SC use results in potentially powerful stimulant effects which may make them attractive for use by offenders, but may also result in adverse outcomes which come with potentially undesirable or hazardous consequences for offender behaviour and safety. Moreover, SCs evade major routine drug interdiction and drug testing systems in operation in correctional systems, and hence are attractive for illicit use, trade, and import in correctional settings. To better understand SC use, and the possible health and safety consequences for offenders, this report reviewed pertinent national and international literature on SC use, availability, and related health outcomes among general and correctional populations. Research data on SCs in the context of Canadian correctional systems are currently limited, and are thus urgently required. Educating offenders and correctional staff on the risks of SC use is imperative, and correctional systems should prepare for the potential health and safety consequences of increased SC use while awaiting the results and guidance offered by future research.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2017. 24p.

Source: Internet Resource: 2017 No.R-397: Accessed March 13, 2018 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-397-eng.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Canada

URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-397-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 149456

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drug Offenders
Health Care
Prisoners
Psychoactive Substances

Author: Sentencing Project

Title: Can We Wait 75 Years to Cut the Prison Population in Half?

Summary: While most states have downsized their prison populations in recent years, the pace of decarceration is insufficient to undo nearly four decades of unrelenting growth. The U.S. prison population grew by more than 600% between 1973 and 2009-from 200,000 people to 1.6 million. Tough-on-crime policies expanded the number of imprisoned people even while crime rates plunged to 40% below their levels in the 1990s. In recent years, policymakers and criminal justice professionals have implemented reforms to correct the punitive excesses of the past. By yearend 2016 the number of people held in U.S. prisons had declined by 6% since a 2009 peak, and crime rates have continued to decline. But the overall impact of reforms has been quite modest. With 1.5 million people in prison in 2016, the prison population remains larger than the total population of 11 states. If states and the federal government maintain their recent pace of decarceration, it will take 75 years-until 2093-to cut the U.S. prison population by 50%. Expediting the end of mass incarceration will require accelerating the end of the Drug War and scaling back sentences for serious crimes.

Details: Washington, DC: Sentencing Project, 2018. 6p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 16, 2018 at: https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/can-wait-75-years-cut-prison-population-half/

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/can-wait-75-years-cut-prison-population-half/

Shelf Number: 149495

Keywords:
Mass Incarceration
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: Steinberg, Jonny

Title: Nongoloza's Children: Western Cape prison gangs during and after apartheid

Summary: Over the past two decades, news of the strange world behind the bars of South Africa's prisons has been spilling out in dribs and drabs. Among the things we have learned is that the so-called "Number gangs"-the 26s, 27s and 28s-are about 100 years old, that they originated in the jails, mine compounds and informal settlements of turn-of-thecentury Johannesburg, and that today they constitute a formidable force in every prison across the country. We know that the Number gangs take their inspiration from the real historical figure who founded them, Nongoloza Mathebula, an early Johannesburg bandit who built a quasi-military band of outlaws, welding his small army together with a simple but potent ideology of banditry-as-anti-colonial-resistance. We know, too, that the Number gangs have been the vehicle of an extraordinarily durable oral tradition; the imaginary uniforms, weapons and paraphernalia that Number gangsters carry today are all faithful representations of the uniforms, weapons and paraphernalia of the Boer and British armies of the late 19th-century Transvaal. The arcane and finely observed military and judicial hierarchies of the 28s and the 27s are precisely those invented by Nongoloza and described in the life testimony he dictated to a prison warder in 1912.1 We know, too, that the world of the Number gangs is one of staggering brutality. Its self-styled judiciaries sentence inmates to death, to gang rape, to beatings with prison mugs, padlocks and bars of soap; among the prerequisites of joining the "soldier lines" of the gangs is the taking of a warder's or a non-gangster's blood; leaving a prison gang, sharing a gang's secrets with a warder, or talking casually about the gang's workings to the non-initiated are all punishable crimes. Finally, we know that sexual relations between prison gangsters and their lovers are highly stylised, caricaturing the most pungently misogynist relationship imaginable between a man and a woman. The passive partner in an archetypal prison relationship is stripped of the jail equivalent of his juridical personhood: he is not allowed to conduct commerce or to leave the cell without his partner's permission; he cooks for his partner, makes his bed, washes his back and cuts his toenails. 2 Yet, despite the growing body of information available to us, our knowledge of South African prison gangs remains inadequate. What we have are slivers of narrative, ritual and myth, disconnected from the context that gives them meaning. What we do not have is an analysis of the relationship between prison gangs and the institution that animates them in the first place: the prison itself. This lacuna has been unavoidable. Until the early 1990s, South African prisons were entirely closed institutions. Reportage on the conditions in jails was effectively illegal until the mid-1980s. Until 1990, the courts kept prison administration at arm's length, giving the Commissioner of Prisons almost unlimited power, including the power to regulate information.3 And the gangs themselves were, of course, sworn to a vow of silence. Two research projects conducted in the 1980s did, however, make concerted and valuable attempts to understand prisons gangs in their institutional context. Fink Haysom's thesis-that the gangs' quasi-military structure is an extreme parody of the apartheid prison system itself-is, as we shall see, a powerful and lasting insight. 4 Lotter and Schurink's thesis-that gangs militate against the psychological and material pains of imprisonment-is also of lasting value. 5 However, given the closed conditions of the 1980s, these studies, which should have become a foundation for further research, were left standing as two islands in a sea of incomprehension. It is only in recent years, with the opening of the jails to researchers and observers, and the intrusion of the rule of law in the running of prisons, that it has become possible to study the substance of prison life with any seriousness. And it is only in understanding the substance of prison life that the strange narratives and rituals of South Africa's prison gangs can possibly make sense.

Details: Johannesburg: Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation, 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 4, 2018 at: http://www.csvr.org.za/docs/correctional/nongolozaschildren.pdf

Year: 2004

Country: South Africa

URL: http://www.csvr.org.za/docs/correctional/nongolozaschildren.pdf

Shelf Number: 115815

Keywords:
Gangs
Prison Gangs
Prison Violence
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Stewart, Lynn A.

Title: Intellectual Deficits Among Incoming Federally-sentenced Men and Women Offenders: Prevalence, Profiles, Outcomes

Summary: Intellectual deficits are impairments of mental abilities that affect adaptive functioning.This study estimated the prevalence of deficits as defined by IQ score among 4,396 men and 292 women offenders entering federal custody and examined the association between IQ and key offender characteristics and correctional outcomes. Results indicated that 2.8% of men scored below 70 IQ (the intellectually disabled range) on a standardized measure of intellectual functioning, rates that are roughly similar those in the Canadian population. A further 7.3% scored in the borderline range (70-79). Federally-sentenced women, however, were more likely to suffer low cognitive function than federal men. Almost 6% of incoming women have an IQ below 70 and 12.7 % score in the borderline range. Combined, these results indicate that twice as many women in CSC are within the intellectually impaired ranges than is found in the Canadian population. The results link lower IQ to lower educational achievement, unstable employment, substance abuse, and symptoms of ADHD. Offenders with lower IQ had higher overall criminal risk and criminogenic need ratings than those in the unimpaired groups. The ratings on the employment and education domain and community function domains showed the greatest difference between the higher and lower IQ groups for the men; the women, however, demonstrated higher need for lower functioning women on all domains. Lower IQ was associated with higher rates of admission to segregation and institutional charges. Analyses of the security incidents showed that while men with lower IQs were not more likely to be victims than those with higher IQ, for women, those with lower IQ were both more likely to be victims and instigators. The rate of program completions for lower IQ offenders is quite good at around 80%. Reflecting their higher risk and need ratings and more problematic institutional behaviour, men and women offenders with lower IQ spent more of their sentences incarcerated prior to release and were less likely be granted discretionary release. IQ was related to men's revocations even when age, risk and need levels, and substance abuse rating were considered. Revocation rates were low for all women, but the same pattern linking low IQ to revocations was found. Higher IQ was a protective factor for women; none of the women in the above average range returned to custody during the follow-up period. Men with lower IQs require assistance with educational and employment training and accessing community services to improve their reintegration potential while the lower functioning women require assistance with all aspects of their functioning. This is especially true for Aboriginal women whose rates of impairment were significantly higher than non-Aboriginal women. Content of CSC's correctional programs, and the pedagogical techniques applied, are consistent with what has been shown to be effective in special education programs. The targets of these programs, with their focus on self regulation skills, are appropriate to the needs of the offenders with lower IQ identified in this research.

Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2015. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: 2015 No. R-367: Accessed April 5, 2018 at: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-367-eng.pdf

Year: 2015

Country: Canada

URL: http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/scc-csc/PS83-3-367-eng.pdf

Shelf Number: 149700

Keywords:
Cognitive Abilities
Correctional Programs
Disabilities
Female Offenders
Intellectual Disabilities
Prisoners

Author: Aebi, Marcelo

Title: Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics. SPACE 1 - Prison Populations Survey 2016

Summary: European prisons are on average close to full capacity, with inmates occupying over 9 out of ten available places, according to the Council of Europe Annual Penal Statistics (SPACE) for 2016, published today. The survey shows that the incarceration rate grew from 115.7 to 117.1 inmates per 100,000 inhabitants from 2015 to 2016. This rate had previously fallen every year since 2012, when it reached 125.6 prisoners per 100,000 inhabitants. The incarceration rate is mainly influenced by the length of the sanctions and measures imposed. In that perspective, the average length of detention, which can be seen as an indicator of the way criminal law is applied, increasing slightly to 8.5 months. The countries where the incarceration rate grew the most were Bulgaria (+10.8%), Turkey (+9.5%), the Czech Republic (+7.6%), Serbia (+6.6%) and Denmark (+5.5%). The prison administrations where it fell the most were Iceland (-15.9%), Northern Ireland (-11.8), Lithuania (-11.1%), Belgium (-10.1%) and Georgia (-6.7%). On the other hand, overcrowding remained a serious problem in many countries. Thirteen out of 47 prison administrations reported having more inmates than places to host them. The highest levels of overcrowding were observed in "The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" (132 prisoners per 100 places available), Hungary (132), Cyprus (127), Belgium (120), France (117), Portugal (109), Italy (109), Serbia (109), Albania (108), the Czech Republic (108), Romania (106) and Turkey (103). The SPACE survey is conducted for the Council of Europe by the University of Lausanne. The SPACE I 2016 survey contains information from 47 out of 52 prison administrations in the 47 Council of Europe member states (see the executive summary). The SPACE II contains information from 47 out of 52 probation agencies.

Details: Strasbourg: Council of Europe, 2018. 148p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 10, 2018 at: http://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2018/03/SPACE-I-2016-Final-Report-180315.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Europe

URL: http://wp.unil.ch/space/files/2018/03/SPACE-I-2016-Final-Report-180315.pdf

Shelf Number: 149751

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Inmates
Prison Overcrowding
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Armstrong, Andrea

Title: The Impact of 300 Years of Jail Conditions. The New Orleans Prosperity Index: Tricentennial Edition, March 2018

Summary: New Orleans has jailed people for almost as long as the city has existed. Beginning from the first incarnation of Orleans Parish Prison in 1721 by Jean-Baptiste de Bienville at Jackson Square to its current iteration under federal court supervision near the criminal courthouse at Tulane Avenue and Broad Street, the jail has imposed inhumane conditions on the people detained there. But the conditions in the jail not only affect those detained, but our community as well. Modern accounts of Orleans Parish Prison (OPP), recently renamed the Orleans Justice Center, have focused on the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and its aftermath, with little attention to centuries of detention that came before. This article links the current conditions in the jail to the jail's historical role in New Orleans to explore the extent to which detention in the New Orleans jail has contributed to racial inequality in New Orleans today. A historical account of the jail is important to understand the centuries of inhumane conditions imposed overwhelmingly on African American members of our community. Written accounts from the 1800s to present describe dangerous, unsanitary, and torturous conditions for Orleans parish detainees. As recently as 2013, Federal District Court Judge Lance Africk described the conditions in the jail as "an indelible stain on the community." These dehumanizing conditions are disproportionately imposed on African Americans. Local, state, and federal legislative reforms of criminal justice policies have focused on the drivers and outputs of incarceration, but have largely ignored the conditions of confinement themselves. In so doing, these reform efforts ignore the devastating and lifelong effects on detained individuals and our community. This essay concludes by highlighting the importance of community engagement in improving conditions at the jail.

Details: New Orleans: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 2018. 12p.

Source: Internet Resource: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Legal Studies Research Paper Series 2018-05: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3152415

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3152415

Shelf Number: 149875

Keywords:
Civil Rights
Jail Administration
Jails
Prison Conditions
Prison Law
Prisoners

Author: Kaeble, Danielle

Title: Correctional Populations In The United States, 2016

Summary: Presents statistics on persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems at year-end 2016, including persons supervised in the community on probation or parole and those incarcerated in state or federal prison or local jail. The report describes the size and change in the total correctional population during 2016. Appendix tables provide statistics on other correctional populations and jurisdiction-level estimates of the total correctional population by correctional status for selected years. Highlights: In 2016, the number of persons supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems dropped for the ninth consecutive year. From 2007 to 2016, the portion of the adult population under supervision of U.S. correctional systems decreased by 18%, from 3,210 to 2,640 per 100,000 adult residents. The percentage of adults supervised by the U.S. correctional system was lower in 2016 than at any time since 1993. The incarceration rate has declined since 2009 and is currently at its lowest rate since 1996. On December 31, 2016, an estimated 6,613,500 persons were supervised by U.S. adult correctional systems, about 62,700 fewer persons than on January 1, 2016

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2018. 14p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 27, 2018 at: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpus16.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cpus16.pdf

Shelf Number: 119923

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Jail Inmates
Jails
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Novisky, Meghan A.

Title: Aging in Prison as a Collateral Consequence of Mass Incarceration

Summary: The United States has been characterized by an era of mass incarceration since the 1970's. With decades of research now in place, it is clear that in addition to the financial costs of housing so many men and women behind bars, incarceration carries with it a multitude of collateral consequences. These consequences are extensive and include the reproduction of racial and social class inequalities, weakened neighborhoods and families, and diminished social standing and health. One area that is particularly important yet underdeveloped in the literature involves understanding how incarceration is impacting a new and growing population of prisoners: the elderly. Older prisoners are now the fastest growing age group within our prison system and they are at risk for a variety of negative health outcomes, accelerated aging, and premature mortality. Given the dearth of empirical attention in the literature regarding this class of prisoners, the focus of my dissertation was to address what it means to age within environments (prisons) that are inherently depriving, status stripping, and coercive. To answer this question, I collected original quantitative and qualitative data from interviews with 279 older, incarcerated men who were housed across three varying security level state correctional institutions. These data allowed me to concentrate on three different but related components of aging for prisoners: overall health, chronic disease management, and end-of-life planning. Results show that deprivation was an important predictor of health outcomes and end-of-life planning preferences among this sample of older prisoners. Additionally, cultural health capital was central to prisoners' abilities to manage their chronic health conditions, providing further evidence of the stratifying nature of the incarceration experience. This dissertation contributes to a growing body of research by highlighting the barriers of aging in prison are yet another collateral consequence of mass incarceration.

Details: Kent, OH: Kent State University, 2016. 212p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: accessed May 9, 2018 at: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=kent1470057807&disposition=inline

Year: 2016

Country: United States

URL: https://etd.ohiolink.edu/!etd.send_file?accession=kent1470057807&disposition=inline

Shelf Number: 150134

Keywords:
Collateral Consequences
Elderly Inmates
Mass Incarceration
Prisoners

Author: Ticehurst, Andrew

Title: National Deaths in Custody Program: Deaths in custody in Australia 2013-14 and 2014-15

Summary: The National Deaths in Custody Program (NDICP) collects information on deaths that occurred in prison, in police custody and in custody-related operations throughout Australia. This report presents data on the number of deaths in custody that occurred during 2013-14 and 2014-15 and trend data on deaths in prison custody (from 1979-80) and police custody and custody-related operations (from 1989-90). As no deaths occurred in youth detention during the reporting period, these data are not presented.

Details: Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, 2018. 72p.

Source: Internet Resource: Statistical Report 05: Accessed May 10, 2018 at: https://aic.gov.au/publications/special/special5

Year: 2018

Country: Australia

URL: https://aic.gov.au/publications/special/special5

Shelf Number: 150143

Keywords:
Aboriginals
Deaths in Custody
Indigenous Peoples
Inmate Deaths
Prisoners

Author: Rope, Olivia

Title: Global Prison Trends 2018: a global view on the state of prisons

Summary: Every year, Global Prison Trends by Penal Reform International (in collaboration with the Thailand Institute of Justice) provides us with a global view on the state of prisons. And, every year, this report is, unfortunately, hardly a surprise - we read about the degrading conditions in which people are imprisoned, and about their growing number. Yet the level of crime in most societies is constantly decreasing. The question that remains unanswered, therefore, is why our societies focus their response to unlawful behaviours so often on prison? Where is the proportionality in sentencing when we punish nonviolent offences with lengthy prison sentences? Is this the only response we can offer? The chapter on drugs and imprisonment in this report highlights that a high number of prisons in the world are overcrowded due to the incarceration of people for drug-related offences, in particular non-violent offences involving use and possession for personal use. This directly reflects our contemporary addiction to punishment and showcases the disproportionality of punishment in relation to the offence. The use of harsh prison sentences for people who use drugs or for those who play a minor role in the drug trade also shows the inefficiency, limitations and perverse effects of current drug control policies. Not only are punishment and incarceration becoming the sole instruments used to enforce the law, but also they are serving to implement moral norms which have no link with the reality of the offence that they are supposed to punish. This trend of over-incarceration and punishment of people who use drugs is seen on every continent. The deep impact it has on prison systems and on people in prison and their communities has sparked the current global debate on drug policy reform. In recent years, more and more countries have been introducing amendments to their drug laws; for example, by decriminalising the use of drugs in Norway and Colombia, and by replacing prison terms with monetary fines in Ghana and Tunisia or with community service, as envisaged in Senegal. Other countries have gone even further. Ecuador gave an amnesty to drug couriers and released thousands of prisoners. Countries that have traditionally adopted harsh stances on drugs, such as Malaysia and Iran, are reviewing their death penalty policies for drug offences, and removing people from death row. These changes and reforms are being discussed and implemented in a global environment that remains highly stigmatising, where drugs are still considered 'evil' and prohibition approaches prevail. They are therefore born out of a real need - the need for societies to stop exposing their citizens to greater risks from arrests related to drug use than come from the act of using drugs

Details: London: Penal Reform International; Bangkok: Thailand Institute of Justice, 2018. 60p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 23, 2018 at: https://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PRI_Global-Prison-Trends-2018_EN_WEB.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: https://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PRI_Global-Prison-Trends-2018_EN_WEB.pdf

Shelf Number: 150332

Keywords:
Drug Offenders
Drugs and Crime
Offender Reentry
Offender Rehabilitation
Prison
Prison Population
Prisoners

Author: Penal Reform International

Title: Life Imprisonment: A Policy Briefing

Summary: Between the years 2000 and 2014, there was an increase of almost 84 per cent in the number of those serving formal life sentences worldwide. However, since the United Nations report on life imprisonment 20 years ago, there has been no international assessment of the use of and issues surrounding life imprisonment, despite substantial developments in penal policy and practice. This briefing assesses the use of life imprisonment as a global phenomenon, drawing on key findings from international research, and examines its use within the context of Goal 16 of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Nelson Mandela Rules and other international standards. This briefing was written by PRI and Professor Dirk van Zyl Smit and Dr Catherine Appleton of the University of Nottingham. Much of the research that underpins the publication was carried out as part of the Life Imprisonment Worldwide project at the University of Nottingham, the full findings of which will be published in Life Imprisonment: A Global Human Rights Analysis.

Details: Nottingham, UK: University of Nottingham; London: Penal Reform International, 2018. 16p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 25, 2018 at: https://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PRI_Life-Imprisonment-Briefing.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: https://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/PRI_Life-Imprisonment-Briefing.pdf

Shelf Number: 150647

Keywords:
Life Imprisonment
Life Sentence
Lifers
Prisoners

Author: International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC)

Title: Dispositif d'intervention sur la radicalisation violente en milieu ouvert : identification des difficultes et des besoins des professionnels des SPIP, aide a l'adaptation des pratiques

Summary: The International Centre for the Prevention of Crime (ICPC) carried out a research-action over 18 months in collaboration with the French Penitentiary Administration (DAP) in order to develop an intervention response for individuals who have been radicalized or are in the process of radicalization within the Penitentiary Services for Integration and Probation (SPIP) within the probation system. This project was developed in three pilot sites: Grenoble, Lyon and Nice. This "intervention response" is understood as a set of actions and initiatives implemented at the institutional level to counter violent radicalization, namely: - A decision-making support system in the process of identifying and reporting individuals who have been or are being radicalized. For this purpose, the following products were developed by the research-action: - An Identification and Reporting Protocol for individuals who have initiated a process of radicalization leading to violence, and - A Semi-Structured Interview Guide for the Identification of individuals who have initiated a process of radicalization leading to violence. - A support system for individuals who are at risk or are already radicalized. For this component, three different actions were developed: - Two collective actions, one of which is primary-secondary prevention (Vivre Ensemble) and the other is secondary-tertiary prevention (CODE), as well as - An individual program for the prevention of recidivism (Accordeon). This research-action is a world first. Never has a project of such magnitude been implemented within the probation system. Violent radicalization although very popular remains very difficult to apprehend. This is the reason why this research-action is quite unique considering its very great ambition that is to think of and create identification and support procedures and methods. This Report is aiming to present the work achieved from July 4, 2016 to December 31, 2017, by pilot research units (mainly professionals of the Ministry of Justice and the ICPC) in the framework of the project: "Intervention response to violent radicalization within the probation system: identifying the challenges and the needs of the SPIPs professionals, and support to adapt practices". This report describes the methodology used, developed products, the results of the process evaluation and the impact of this approach as well as the actions implemented.

Details: Montreal: The Centre, 2018. 146p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 3, 2018 at: http://www.crime-prevention-intl.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/2018/Rapport_final_RAMO__Copie_securisee_.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: France

URL: http://www.crime-prevention-intl.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Publications/2018/Rapport_final_RAMO__Copie_securisee_.pdf

Shelf Number: 150761

Keywords:
Extremism
Extremist Groups
Extremist Violence
Prisoners
Probationers
Radical Groups
Radicalization
Terrorists
Violent Extremists

Author: Rose, Felicity

Title: An Examination of Florida's Prison Population Trends

Summary: In 2016, the Florida Legislature appropriated funding for "a comprehensive review of Florida's criminal justice system, including but not limited to criminal law and procedure, law enforcement, prosecution and defense of criminal offenses, the judicial and courts system, sentencing, and corrections." This report aims to provide a comprehensive overview of trends in Floridas criminal justice system over the last decade, and illuminate those trends with data from across the system. After 30 years of growth, the last decade has seen Florida's prison population plateau and its community supervision population decline. Two competing trends have led to the stabilized prison population: a decline in prison admissions, driven by major reductions in crime rates, arrests, and criminal prosecutions, balanced out by longer sentences for those who are sent to prison. This report explores how Florida sentencing and release policies have shaped these competing trends, and looks beneath the statewide numbers at cases that defy these trends. Key findings include: - Florida's imprisonment rate is 23 percent higher than the national average, and 10th overall in the nation. - In the last decade, Florida's violent and property crime rates and drug arrests have all dropped approximately 30 percent, although the total crime rate remains 15 percent higher than the national average. - Prison admissions declined 28 percent in the last decade, driven by the declines in crime as well as declining revocations from supervision after Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) policy shifts in how violations are addressed. - In the same period, average sentence length increased 22 percent, balancing out the admissions decline and leading to a mostly stable prison population. - Trends in admissions and prison population vary widely across the state. In general, southern and eastern Florida counties send people to prison at a lower rate than northern, central, and western counties. - Due to mandatory minimum sentences, sentence enhancements, and statutory time served requirements, prisoners in Florida serve significantly longer periods in prison than in other states, including for nonviolent crimes. - Long sentences and few release options are the main driving force of the growth of the elderly population in Florida's prisons. - Most offenders leave prison with little or no post-prison release supervision. Due to the time constraints of this project, as well as unavailability of data, there is still a great deal about the Florida criminal justice system that is unknown. Development of or access to further information on court processes and sentences, violations and revocations, problemsolving courts, and community supervision are needed to better understand the system.

Details: Boston: Crime and Justice Institute, 2017. 71p.

Source: Internet Resource: accessed August 13, 2018 at: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/17-CRJ.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United States

URL: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/17-CRJ.pdf

Shelf Number: 151119

Keywords:
Correctional Institutions
Prison Population
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Armstrong, Andrea

Title: No Prisoner Left Behind: Enhancing Public Transparency of Penal Institutions

Summary: Prisoners suffer life-long debilitating effects of their incarceration, making them a subordinated class of people for life. This article examines how prison conditions facilitate subordination and concludes that enhancing transparency is the first step towards equality. Anti-subordination efforts led to enhanced transparency in schools, a similar but not identical institution. This article argues that federal school transparency measures provide a rudimentary and balanced framework for enhancing prison transparency.

Details: New Orleans: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 2014. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Research Paper No. 2014-11: Accessed August 22, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2324387

Year: 2014

Country: United States

URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2324387

Shelf Number: 151238

Keywords:
Prison Conditions
Prison Law
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Armstrong, Andrea

Title: Slavery Revisited in Penal Plantation Labor

Summary: The Thirteenth Amendment prohibits slavery and involuntary servitude, but contains an exception for convicted prisoners. Scholars who have interrogated the prisoner-labor exception have wrongly concluded that prisoners may constitutionally be subjected to slavery (not just involuntary servitude). Courts have simply construed prisoners' labor complaints as involuntary servitude, failing to distinguish between the two concepts. Similarly, the public has failed to discuss the types of labor we expect from the incarcerated. The lack of attention to prison-created slavery is particularly problematic in the current economy. States, facing increasing budget deficits, are turning to inmate labor to produce additional revenue, or at a minimum, offset the cost of imprisonment. Based both upon the text and history of the Thirteenth Amendment, this article argues that prisoners may only be subjected to conditions approximating involuntary servitude. When a prisoner experiences "social death," i.e. the chattelizing of a person through the ritual or symbolic social degradation and exclusion, the prisoner is subjected to constitutionally prohibited conditions approximating slavery. In addition, the imposition of slavery on prisoners constitutes "cruel and unusual punishment" under the Eighth Amendment. The article applies these concepts to the history and operation of a modern-day penal plantation, Louisiana State Penitentiary. Last, the article concludes that a broader public discussion of the re-creation of slavery behind prison walls can lead to other positive outcomes, including enhanced legitimacy of the criminal justice system.

Details: New Orleans: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, 2012. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource: Loyola University New Orleans College of Law Research Paper No. 2012-06: Accessed August 22, 2018 at: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2034915

Year: 2012

Country: United States

URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2034915

Shelf Number: 151239

Keywords:
Inmate Labor
Prison Labor
Prisoners
Prisons
Slavery

Author: Day, Andrew

Title: The forgotten victims: Prisoner experience of victimisation and engagement with the criminal justice system

Summary: Many women in prison have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). As this form of violence is often intergenerational and entrenched, women in prison are widely considered to be at particular risk of ongoing victimisation following release from custody. And yet, their support needs often go unrecognised, and it is likely that a range of barriers exists that prevent ex-prisoners from accessing services. This project, jointly funded by ANROWS and Sparke Helmore Lawyers was conducted in partnership between James Cook University and the South Australian Department for Correctional Services. Led by Professor Andrew Day, this research develops an understanding of the factors that influence help-seeking by women in prison who may have concerns about their personal safety post-release and how this might inform service responses. From this research, a three stage model of help-seeking and change for women in prison was developed. The model suggests that any individual who experiences IPV must: recognise and define the situation as abusive and intolerable (Stage 1); decide to disclose the abuse and seek help (Stage 2); and identify a source of support and where to seek help (Stage 3). At the same time, the ability to seek help is influenced by a broad range of individual, interpersonal and socio-cultural factors including: the woman's own history; the personal networks in which she interacts, and the history of these networks; connections between networks or systems; formal and informal social structures that influence the woman indirectly; and overarching institutional systems at the cultural or subcultural level (social/cultural norms and prejudices). For policy-makers, practitioners and service providers, the research identifies: women in prison are a particularly vulnerable group who are likely to be at a high risk of ongoing victimisation; significant barriers exist that prevent women in prison from accessing IPV support services while in prison and post-release; current service models are unresponsive to the specific needs of women in prison and post-release; a specialised approach for women in prison is needed based on their particular social and individual circumstances; the development of culturally specific support services are required for women in prison who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; and women with lived experience of incarceration should be part of the service framework in the community sector at all levels of program governance, design and delivery.

Details: Sydney: Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWs), 2018. 112p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2018 at: http://apo.org.au/system/files/188151/apo-nid188151-993026.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Australia

URL: http://apo.org.au/system/files/188151/apo-nid188151-993026.pdf

Shelf Number: 151240

Keywords:
Domestic Violence
Intimate Partner Violence
Prisoners
Rehabilitation
Repeat Victimization
Victim Services
Victims of Crime
Violence Against Women

Author: International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH)

Title: Behind the Walls: A look at conditions in Thailand's prisons after the coup

Summary: Thailand's prison population has steadily increased over the years and the country has the dubious distinction of having the largest prison population and the highest incarceration rate among Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states. For more than a decade, United Nations (UN) human rights mechanisms have expressed concern over prison conditions in Thailand. Regrettably, successive Thai governments have failed to make any progress in the implementation of the UN's recommendations and to uphold their own commitments to improve prison conditions. In addition, since the 2014 military coup, Thailand's junta has enforced measures that have caused conditions in the prisons to deteriorate. The junta also increased the use of military facilities to detain civilians. As documented in this report, Thailand's ongoing failure to enact a comprehensive prison reform has created conditions for human rights violations to be rife in its prison system in breach of the country's obligations under international instruments to which it is a state party. The Thai Department of Corrections' motto, 'Caring Custody, Meaningful Rehabilitation, International Standard Achievement', could not be further from the reality of the Thai prison system. Research conducted by FIDH and UCL on two large prisons in Bangkok suggests that Thailand's prison conditions fail to meet international standards and to create an environment conducive to the rehabilitation of prisoners. Overcrowding remains the most pressing issue in Thai prisons. Thailands average yearly prison population has steadily increased over the years and, aside from the periodic royal amnesties, no other effective and sustainable measures have been adopted to significantly reduce the population. Based on a standard to provide a surface area per prisoner of 2.25m , available official statistics representing 74% of Thailand's prisons and 91% of its overall prison population show that these prisons are operating with a prison population of more than double the intended capacity - with an occupancy level of 224%. Inadequate access to medical treatment, insufficient food and potable water, and poor sanitation facilities continue to plague the prisons examined in this report. It is likely that similar conditions exist in other prisons across Thailand. Medical care and special arrangements for pregnant women are particularly lacking. Prisoners are often subjected to exploitative labor practices characterized by harsh working conditions and insufficient remuneration. Punishment in prisons contravenes international standards and, in some cases, may amount to torture and ill-treatment. Prisoners' statements indicate that restraining devices, such as shackles, have been excessively used. Finally, inmates have reported unreasonable restrictions placed on visits and correspondence with family and friends. While procedures for making complaints exist, prisoners are afraid to lodge complaints out of fear of retaliation at the hands of prison officials. The situation has not improved since the 22 May 2014 military coup. Under the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) access to prisons has become more difficult. In addition, based on interviews with former prisoners and families of current inmates, FIDH and UCL were able to document that prison authorities have enforced stricter prison regulations and further curtailed prisoners' rights. Of particular concern is the increased use of military bases to detain civilians, which do not afford detainees many of their basic rights. The use of the Nakhon Chaisri temporary detention facility inside the 11th Army Circle base in Bangkok illustrates this trend. Since the establishment of Nakhon Chaisri less than two years ago, there has been a lack of access for independent monitors, two custodial deaths, and allegations of torture have surfaced. This report recommends numerous measures to improve detention conditions, including providing independent inspection bodies unfettered access to all prisons and allowing non-governmental organizations with a relevant mandate to conduct visits to places of detention, interview inmates, and assess conditions without undue hindrance.

Details: Paris: FIDH, 2017. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 4, 2018 at: https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_thailand_688a_web.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Thailand

URL: https://www.fidh.org/IMG/pdf/rapport_thailand_688a_web.pdf

Shelf Number: 150332

Keywords:
Human Rights Abuses
Prison
Prison Administration
Prison Conditions
Prisoners

Author: Howard, Flora Fitzalan

Title: Understanding the Process and Experience of Recall to Prison

Summary: This research was conducted to develop an evidence-based and systematic approach for the management of determinate sentenced prisoners on standard recall. The number of recalled prisoners in custody has steadily increased over time, with the largest proportion at any one time being on 'standard' recall, and many remaining in custody until the end of their sentences. Thus, the focus was on standard recalled prisoners and the re-release process. The work had four strands: a Risk, Need and Responsivity profile of recalled prisoners; two qualitative investigations of the experience of recall for men and for women; and a survey of Offender Managers (OMs) and recalled prisoners. The aim was to identify the obstacles and opportunities in the current re-release process, and identify ways for recall to become more rehabilitative. Key findings - Recalled prisoners had high levels of risk and need, and complex responsivity issues. Many of them would be suitable for, and might benefit from, cognitive skills and violence interventions to enable them to address their needs and progress to re-release. - Prisoners and OMs had different perceptions of how much prisoners understood recall, how much they communicated with each other, and the impact of recall on their relationship. - In interviews and surveys, recalled prisoners described their recall as unjust, finding it hard to trust the process or those involved. They could feel stranded, confused about what was expected of them, or felt they were not supported, communicated with or included enough in decisions. - Interview and survey findings showed that prisoners found recall distressing and associated with loss. They found recall to be solely punitive, not rehabilitative. Prisoners' meaningful engagement and relationships with OMs could be negatively affected when recalled. - Recalled prisoners continued to show motivation to change, determination to have a different future, and some wanted more opportunities to achieve this. - For women, the period immediately before and after their initial release emerged as the time of particular vulnerability. - OMs appeared to generally have good understanding and confidence in using the recall and re-release processes. They worked to keep in touch with the prisoners they managed. - OMs experienced barriers to progressing cases. These included external factors (e.g. a lack of access to interventions and accommodation) and internal barriers (e.g. poor prisoner motivation to engage with their OM following recall). Delays in helping prisoners progress to re-release were reportedly due to difficulties establishing frequent contact, heavy workloads and insufficient time. - If recall is to become more rehabilitative, engage prisoners and help them achieve earlier re-release, the findings of this research emphasise the need to refine recall and re-release processes to include better communication and relationships between those involved. - Small sample sizes, particularly of OMs surveyed, may reduce the generalisability of the research findings.

Details: United Kingdom: HM Prison and Probation Service, 2018. 13p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 8, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723265/Understanding_the_process_and_experience_of_recall_to_prison.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/723265/Understanding_the_process_and_experience_of_recall_to_prison.pdf

Shelf Number: 151444

Keywords:
Determinate Sentencing
Incarceration
Prison
Prisoners
Recall
Rehabilitation

Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA)

Title: New Psychoactive Substance in Prison: Results from an EMCDDA trendspotter study

Summary: This publication provides an overview of the latest information available on the use of new psychoactive substances (NPS) and related problems in European prisons based on a rapid information assessment carried out by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). The study complements data from a range of established sources. The EMCDDA has been routinely collecting data on illicit drug use among prisoners for over 15 years through a combination of qualitative and quantitative monitoring tools, although the primary focus has been on controlled substances. The EMCDDA also collects information on NPS and, in 2017, was monitoring a total of over 670 NPS that have been notified to the EU Early Warning System (EWS). The use of NPS by high-risk drug users has recently been explored by the EMCDDA (2017a). The study found that while consumption levels of these drugs were low overall in Europe, the smoking of synthetic cannabinoids among some marginalised populations, including prisoners, appeared to be an emerging but poorly understood problem in many European countries. This study was prompted therefore by the conclusion that NPS use among prisoners appears to be a rapidly developing phenomenon and there is growing concern in some countries that NPS may be responsible for a large share of drug-related problems in prison, while appropriate responses are mostly lacking. However, empirical data are currently scarce and patchy, as monitoring drug use among prisoners in general, and NPS use in particular, at the European level is challenging due to the different study designs applied and limited systematic data collection. To investigate the extent, nature and impact of these developments the EMCDDA carried out a targeted rapid information assessment between August and December 2017. The aim of the study was to map and increase understanding of NPS use in prisons in Europe, including prevalence and patterns of use, the underlying contributing factors, associated harms and market and supply features of NPS use in prisons, as well as the responses implemented to address NPS-related problems in prison settings. The study used the EMCDDA trendspotter methodology, which draws on a range of different investigative approaches and utilises data from multiple sources (Mounteney et al., 2015). The work was divided into two phases (see Figure 1). The first phase, carried out by an EMCDDA team, involved data collection through an exploratory 'rapid information request' among national focal points in 30 countries (28 replied), a non-systematic review of the international literature, grey literature and available EMCDDA monitoring data ('Literature and data review'). This was complemented by internet surveys of three groups: an informal network of prison experts (8 respondents), experts invited to the trendspotter meeting (12 respondents) and a selection of national focal points (7 respondents) ('online expert surveys'). The second phase centred on an expert meeting, held in Lisbon on 13 to 14 December 2017. The event was attended by 11 invited experts from 9 countries, who presented information on the situation in their country, participated in two facilitated working groups and contributed to an in-depth analysis of the topic, providing insights from a range of perspectives including drug research and monitoring, user/prisoner representation, law enforcement, prison officers, prison administration and (prison) health services

Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2018. 20p.

Source: Internet Resource: Rapid Communication: Accessed September 24, 2018 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/8869/nps-in-prison.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: Europe

URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/system/files/publications/8869/nps-in-prison.pdf

Shelf Number: 151650

Keywords:
Drug Abuse and Addiction
Drug Offenders
Illicit Drugs
Prisoners
Psychoactive Substances
Synthetic Drugs

Author: Pope, Laura

Title: Self-Harm by Adult Men in Prison: A Rapid Evidence Assessment

Summary: A Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was undertaken to improve understanding of self-harm among adult men in prison, and to develop and inform thinking and action towards the management and treatment of self-harm in prisons. This is particularly important given the recent upward trend in self-harm incidents. This review explores the distinct characteristics and motivations of men who self-harm as a group of individuals that have previously received little attention in academic literature. For the purpose of this review, the HMPPS definition of self-harm has been used: 'any act where a prisoner deliberately harms themselves irrespective of the method, intent or severity of any injury' in which no underlying assumptions of intent or motivation are made. The primary research questions to be addressed in this REA are: 1. Why do adult men in prison self-harm? 2. What works to reduce and/or manage self-harm among adult men in prison? REA methodology was employed to search a range of databases for relevant literature. The review focused on male prisoners over the age of 18. To be selected for inclusion, studies had to clearly distinguish self-harm as a separate behaviour or outcome from suicide and only studies published in English in the last 15 years were included. International literature was considered and the comparability and generalisability of any non-UK studies have been carefully considered and presented within the findings of the review. From an initial sample of approximately 2,137 papers that were identified during the search process on why men self-harm, 14 studies met the inclusion criteria and were assessed in detail. The type and quality of research design of included studies varies considerably. Five studies used the highest quality methods using control and/or comparison group designs. The remainder of the studies use either pre-or post comparison only design, or were correlational or qualitative in nature. Findings from all 14 of these studies were drawn upon in developing the conclusions of this REA. The search process focusing on what works to reducce/manage self-harm identified an initial sample of approximately 2,303 papers, although only two studies met the inclusion criteria. The wide variation in definitions of self-harm and the wide range of self-harming behaviours under study is not always adequately defined in research. Sample sizes tend to be small and are limited in their design. As a result, the literature is contradictory in places and limits the generalisability of some findings.

Details: London: Her Majestys Prison and Probation Service, 2018. 52p.

Source: Internet Resource: Ministry of Justice Analytical Series 2018: Accessed October 3, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739521/self-harm-adult-men-prison-2018.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/739521/self-harm-adult-men-prison-2018.pdf

Shelf Number: 151641

Keywords:
Prisoners
Self Injury
Self-Harm
Suicide

Author: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Inspector General, Audit Division

Title: Audit of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Residential Reentry Center Contracts Awarded to Reynolds & Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.

Summary: Objective - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) awarded three contracts valued at nearly $18 million to Reynolds & Associates, Inc. (Reynolds), to provide residential reentry services from 2011 to 2021 for female offenders at its Fairview facility in Washington, D.C. The objective of this audit was to assess the BOP's contract administration, as well as Reynolds' performance and compliance with requirements applicable to these residential reentry center (RRC) contracts. Results in Brief - The audit found that the BOP needs to strengthen its process to ensure price analysis documents show that the contract prices were fair and reasonable, did not adequately plan for the most recent firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract, and could improve its monitoring of Reynolds' compliance with the RRC requirements. While Reynolds met a number of important RRC requirements, it did not keep records required to support all paid services, and its Fairview facility experienced staffing challenges that contributed to repeated BOP-identified deficiencies. Lastly, we identified that Reynolds did not consistently track or collect subsistence payments from RRC residents. We believe that the BOP needs to strengthen RRC contract award procedures and oversight and Reynolds must improve how it documents its performance of many core RRC functions. Recommendations Our report includes 16 recommendations to the BOP to improve its RRC contract awarding and monitoring procedures, particularly with regard to Reynolds' Fairview RRC. We requested a response to our draft audit report from the BOP and Reynolds, which can be found respectively in Appendices 2 and 3. Our analysis of those responses is included in Appendix 4.

Details: Washington, DC: OIG, 2018. 95p.

Source: Internet Resource: Audit Division 18-30: Accessed October 5, 2018 at: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2018/a1830.pdf#page=1

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://oig.justice.gov/reports/2018/a1830.pdf#page=1

Shelf Number: 152946

Keywords:
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Female Offenders
Prisoner Reentry
Prisoners

Author: Delaney, Ruth

Title: Reimagining Prison

Summary: This document-unlike anything we have ever produced at the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera)-is about the possibility of radical change. It asserts a dramatic reconsideration of the most severe criminal sanction we have: incarceration. It articulates a view that is sure to be alien to many. Yet we need not accept as a given the way we do things now, and we encourage you to envision a different path. Indeed, our vision has concrete reference points. It is in the hope, daring, and promise of a small unit for young adults in a Connecticut maximum security facility. It is inspired by what we learned studying and visiting prisons in Germany, where the very conditions and operations of that entire system are defined by a commitment to uphold human dignity-a commitment born of that country's coming to terms with the Holocaust. And it is rooted in our own obligation-now physically exhibited in a museum and memorial in Montgomery, Alabama-to acknowledge and atone for our brutal history of dehumanization and racial oppression and to understand how it has shaped what we do today in our justice system. Our mission is to link these things and suggest a path forward that is as much about reconciliation as it is about criminal justice reform. In October of last year, John, a young adult in Cheshire Correctional Institution- where most people spend 22 hours a day in their cells-was accepted into a new small housing unit. Though the unit is within the same facility, John was handcuffed and shackled and placed in a prison van, subjected to strip searches, and given a medical assessment. In transit, John spent time in a kind of purgatorial interstitial space, waiting in what he described as "a full cage from top to bottom, something like on the show Lockup or Hard Time." But once inside the new unit, John entered a different world. The corrections officers greeted him and shook his hand. They asked him and the other young men in the unit serious questions about their goals and expressed genuine interest in their thoughts, feelings, and plans. In a letter to his family, John described this place as "not a regular prison environment [but] an open, caring, hopeful environment." He began to develop relationships both with older men who act as mentors in the unit and corrections officers, with whom he played chess, talked, and reflected on visits with his family. Each day, John attends group discussions with other young men and older mentors, he participates in town hall meetings where everyone gathers to talk about and resolve issues, and he joins programs that teach him about conflict resolution and money management. He spends the majority of his days outside his cell-attending programs, moving freely around the unit, and playing basketball in the outside courtyard. John, like all the men in the unit, is learning about responsibility and actively working to become a better person for himself and society. John's prison experience spans two possible futures for America's prison systems: the continuation of the punitive, retributive, and dehumanizing routines of the past; and the possibility of a reimagined future built on a wholly different set of foundational principles, designed to promote safety and success. The new unit John found himself in-called T.R.U.E., an acronym that stands for Truthfulness (to oneself and others), Respectfulness (toward the community), Understanding (ourselves and what brought us here), and Elevating (into success)-is a groundbreaking model in which we and our partners in Connecticut reimagine incarceration for young men aged 18 to 25. It was inspired by a visit to a young adult facility in Germany, where corrections officials from Connecticut were first exposed to what could be, not just what had always been. It represents a hopeful possibility for change in the way America handles incarceration. According to one of its participants, "the T.R.U.E. program is dedicated to the reclamation of moral integrity," inherent in which "is the recognition of the dignity of all prisoners in general." Unfortunately, while T.R.U.E. has inspired several other similar efforts, at the moment its goals and practices are shared by only a tiny fraction of prisons in America. At the vast majority of the facilities in the massive network of prisons across the country, people spend endless days in cells; they are marched to and from their limited activities; and their names and identities are lost, replaced with numbers, uniforms, and a stultifying idleness and isolation that impede cognition and fundamentally alters social-psychological processes. And for those who work behind the walls, the daily existence can hardly be described as enviable. It is telling that in American prisons, staff count down the years to retirement using the same language as those they are paid to keep locked up. In prison, everyone is serving a sentence.

Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2018. 136p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 24, 2018 at: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/reimagining-prison-print-report/legacy_downloads/Reimagining-Prison_FINAL3_digital.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/reimagining-prison-print-report/legacy_downloads/Reimagining-Prison_FINAL3_digital.pdf

Shelf Number: 153068

Keywords:
Criminal Justice Reform
Mass Incarceration
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: Tapia Tapia, Silvana Cristina

Title: Criminalising violence against women : feminism, penality, and rights in post neoliberal Ecuador

Summary: This thesis asks how penality, understood as the whole of the penal complex, with its laws, procedures, and sanctions, has become central to feminist strategies to counteract violence against women (VAW) in Ecuador. A new penal code came into force in 2014, criminalising some forms of domestic VAW, which had thus far been treated as misdemeanours, and introducing the new crime of "femicide". The thesis argues that human rights discourses have played a crucial role in bolstering penality by presenting criminalisation as an essential component of human rights protection. Feminist networks resort to a "rights-based penality" to legitimise criminalisation processes and to frame VAW as a human rights issue to which penalisation is the self-evident response. While Western literature has associated penal expansion with neoliberal globalisation, and the emergence of a "carceral feminism" with the side-lining of social redistribution in feminist agendas, Ecuador's 2008 Constitution explicitly challenges neoliberal approaches to wellbeing and development, and incorporates indigenous relational conceptions of justice. In view of this, considering that socio-legal research is limited in the country, this thesis employs a multi-method qualitative approach, including analyses of discourses within historical and current legal documents, and interviews of Ecuadorian feminists who participated in penal reform processes. The findings show that rights-based penality has become a universalised field of intelligibility to interpret and express the wrongness of VAW. Human rights mask the colonial continuities that travel through penal discourses, displacing indigenous understandings of justice and subjectivity, which have a potential to disrupt hegemonic approaches to gender. Rights-based penality also reframes feminist politicised conceptualisations of VAW and narrows our possibilities to imagine gender justice outside penality. In addition, by complicating legal procedures, the penal system is hindering access to justice for violence survivors on the ground, particularly marginalised women. Feminist strategies are constrained by dynamics whereby legal achievements come at the cost of tolerating exclusionary representations of gender, race, and the family, while the legal protection obtained in return is limited. More broadly, this thesis shows that challenging neoliberalism and implementing a redistributive programme has not sufficed to displace penality and coloniality, exposing how representations of human rights can remain reliant on penal expansion beyond neoliberal policies. Interrogating the universality of human rights, acknowledging the colonial legacy of penal institutions, and recognising the effects of penality on women's access to justice could enable an exploration of indigenous cosmovisions to propose non-hegemonic strategies to counteract gendered violence.

Details: Canterbury, UK: University of Kent, 2017. 402p.

Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed November 13. 2018 at : https://kar.kent.ac.uk/62463/1/205Final-Thesis-SilvanaTapia-library.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: Ecuador

URL: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/62463/1/205Final-Thesis-SilvanaTapia-library.pdf

Shelf Number: 153404

Keywords:
Female Inmates
Femicide
Feminist Theory
Gender-Based Violence
Prisoners
Violence Against Women, Girls

Author: Cornell Law School’s Avon Global Center for Women and Justice and International Human Rights Clinic

Title: Judged for More Than Her Crime: A Global Overview of Women Facing the Death Penalty

Summary: We estimate that at least 500 women are currently on death rows around the world. While exact figures are impossible to obtain, we further estimate that over 100 women have been executed in the last ten years - and potentially hundreds more. The number of women facing execution is not dramatically different from the number of juveniles currently on death row, but the latter have received a great deal more attention from international human rights bodies, national courts, scholars, and advocates. This report aims to shed light on this much-neglected population. Few researchers have sought to obtain information about the crimes for which women have been sentenced to death, the circumstances of their lives before their convictions, and the conditions under which they are detained on death row. As a result, there is little empirical data about women on death row, which impedes advocates from understanding patterns in capital sentencing and the operation of gender bias in the criminal legal system. To the extent that scholars have focused on women on death row, they have concluded that they are beneficiaries of gender bias that operates in their favor. While it is undeniable that women are protected from execution under certain circumstances (particularly mothers of infants and young children) and that women sometimes benefit from more lenient sentencing, those that are sentenced to death are subjected to multiple forms of gender bias. Most women have been sentenced to death for the crime of murder, often in relation to the killing of family members in a context of gender-based violence. Others have been sentenced to death for drug offenses, terrorism, adultery, witchcraft, and blasphemy, among other offenses. Although they represent a tiny minority of all prisoners sentenced to death, their cases are emblematic of systemic failings in the application of capital punishment. Women in conflict with the law are particularly vulnerable to abuse and other rights violations, either at the police station, during trial, or while incarcerated. Women are more likely than men to be illiterate, which affects their ability to understand and participate in their own defense. For example, of the 12 women on India's death row in 2015, six have never attended school. Illiteracy also increases their vulnerability to coercion, heightening the risk of false confessions. In certain countries, particularly in the Gulf states, most death-sentenced women are foreign migrant workers who are subject to discriminatory treatment. Mental illness and intellectual disability are common among women facing the death penalty. In Pakistan, Kanizan Bibi has been on death row since 1989, when she was only 16-years-old. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, she cannot care for herself in the most basic ways and has lost all awareness of her surroundings. Although she is now confined in a psychiatric hospital, she remains under sentence of death. Many women enter prison as long-term survivors of gender-based violence and harsh socioeconomic deprivation. We have documented several cases of women convicted of crimes committed while they were minors, often in the context of child marriage. These factors receive little attention from lawyers and courts. In many death penalty jurisdictions, gender-based violence is not considered at sentencing. Few lawyers present such evidence, and even where they do, the courts often discount it. In mandatory death penalty jurisdictions, a woman's prior history as a survivor of physical or sexual abuse is simply irrelevant, since the death penalty is automatically imposed for death-eligible offenses without consideration of the offender's background or the circumstances of the crime. Our research also indicates that women who are seen as violating entrenched norms of gender behavior are more likely to receive the death penalty. In several cases documented in this report, women facing the death penalty have been cast as the "femme fatale," the "child murderer," or the "witch." The case of Brenda Andrew in the United States is illustrative. In her capital trial, the prosecution aired details of her sexual history under the guise of establishing her motive to kill her husband. The jury was allowed to hear about Brenda's alleged extramarital affairs from years before the murder, as well as details about outfits she wore. The trial court also permitted the prosecutor to show the underwear found in the suitcase in her possession after she fled to Mexico, because it showed that she was not behaving as "a grieving widow, but as a free fugitive living large on a Mexico beach." As one Justice of the Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma noted, Brenda was put on trial not only for the murder of her husband but for being "a bad wife, a bad mother, and a bad woman." Death row conditions around the world are harsh and at times life-threatening for both men and women. In China, for example, all death row inmates, including women, are shackled at all times by their hands and feet. Women face certain deprivations, however, that do not affect the male population to the same extent. Some death sentenced women must also care for infants or young children who are incarcerated alongside them. Meriam Ibrahim, sentenced to death in Sudan for apostasy in 2014, was shackled to heavy chains in prison while eight months pregnant and caring for a young child. In Thailand and Myanmar, inmates have reportedly given birth alone in prison. In many countries, it is challenging or impossible for women to access sanitary pads or other menstruation products. In Zambia, for example, women must make do with rags that they struggle to clean without soap. The social stigma associated with women who are convicted and imprisoned, paired in some cases with restrictive family and child visitation rules, means that many female death row inmates around the world suffer an enduring lack of family contact, contributing to the high levels of depression suffered by women prisoners. Women on death row may also be denied access to occupational training and educational programs. For instance, the general female prison population in Thailand has access to work programs, but death row inmates do not. One woman in Ghana explained, after being denied educational opportunities while on death row: "I don't do anything. I sweep and I wait." Our country profiles aim to provide a snapshot of women facing the death penalty in several major regions of the world. The stories of women on death row provide anecdotal evidence of the particular forms of oppression and inhumane treatment documented in this report. It is our hope that this initial publication, the first of its kind, will inspire the international community to pay greater attention to the troubling plight of women on death row worldwide.

Details: Ithaca, NY: Cornell Law School, 2018. 62p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 23, 2018 at: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/node/7202

Year: 2018

Country: International

URL: http://www.deathpenaltyworldwide.org/pdf/judged-for-more-than-her-crime.pdf

Shelf Number: 153113

Keywords:
Capital Punishment
Death Penalty
Death Row
Executions
Females
Gender Based Punishment
Gender Based Violence
Gender Bias
Gender Issues
Imprisonment
Intellectual Disability
Mental Health Issues
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Rabuy, Bernadette

Title: Prisons of Poverty: Uncovering the Pre-Incarceration Incomes of the Imprisoned

Summary: Correctional experts of all political persuasions have long understood that releasing incarcerated people to the streets without job training, an education, or money is the perfect formula for recidivism and re-incarceration. While the fact that people released from prison have difficulties finding employment is well-documented, there is much less information on the role that poverty and opportunity play in who ends up behind bars in the first place. Using an underutilized data set from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, this report provides hard numbers on the low incomes of incarcerated men and women from before they were locked up.

Details: Northampton, MA: Prison Policy Initiative, 2015. 11p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/income.html

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://csgjusticecenter.org/corrections/publications/uncovering-the-pre-incarceration-incomes-of-individuals-in-the-justice-system/

Shelf Number: 154223

Keywords:
Incarceration
Inmates
Poverty
Prisoners
Prisons
Recidivism
Socioeconomic Status and Crime

Author: Hewson, Alex

Title: Bromley Briefings Prison Factfile: Autumn 2018

Summary: Over the past few years the Bromley Briefings have charted a depressing decline in standards of safety and decency in our prisons. This year's edition draws heavily on the shocking evidence of both the government's own data on safety - or the lack of it - and on the Chief Inspector's increasingly strident denunciation of the conditions in which many prisoners are required to live. Everyone who cares about prisons - whether they live or work in them, or are close to someone who does - wants to believe that they are close to turning a corner. Anecdotally, both staff and prisoners welcome the introduction of key working in around half of prisons in England and Wales so far. Essentially, that means some protected time for staff to do what most of them joined for - helping prisoners cope with imprisonment and prepare for a better life when they leave. But it is too soon to make the call that the system as a whole is on the path to recovery - the damage done by the savage cuts of recent years is profound, and none of the key indicators are showing improvement as yet. In innovations this year, this edition of the Bromley Briefings includes a short section about what prisoners say. In line with PRT-s core aim to give prisoners greater influence in strategic policy making about prisons, we intend to develop this aspect in future, reflecting both the insight of prisoners and their ability to provide solutions. There is also a section setting out the current and historic performance of the "ten prisons" selected by the Prisons Minister for investment and a time limited drive to show tangible improvements, especially in safety. As last year, however, we begin with a slightly longer analysis of a particular issue, drawing on evidence from a longer period, and this year from a broad geographical perspective. Professors Dirk van Zyl Smit and Catherine Appleton from the University of Nottingham will shortly publish a seminal book on life imprisonment worldwide, and we are delighted that they have authored "The long view" for us, comparing the use of indeterminate sentences in this country with jurisdictions overseas. What their analysis demonstrates is that the UK's use of indeterminate sentences is out of kilter with the majority of international comparators. But it is also at odds with our own domestic historical approach to sentencing. Draconian legislation passed by Parliament in 2003 inflated the punishment tariffs for formal life sentences and created the catastrophic growth in informal life sentences - the IPP - which was only partially reversed by legislation in 2012. The inevitable consequence of decisions made on the sentencing and release framework for indeterminate sentences is a very long-term impact on the lives of the individuals affected and the make-up of the prison population as a whole. A substantial minority of that population is serving sentences characterised by an absence of hope and in many cases a sense that punishment, though deserved, has ceased to be proportionate or just in its administration. This has profound implications for the way of life prisons provide, if the treatment of those serving the longest sentences is to be both humane and purposeful. There is an urgent need for Parliament to revisit the framework it has created for our response as a society to the most serious crime, and our treatment of those who commit it. Decisions made in the aftermath of particularly shocking individual cases have created a system which, on the long view, looks more like a cause of national shame than pride.

Details: London, UK: Prison Reform Trust, 2018. 64p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2019 at: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/publications/factfile

Year: 2018

Country: United Kingdom

URL: http://www.prisonreformtrust.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Bromley%20Briefings/Autumn%202018%20Factfile.pdf

Shelf Number: 154266

Keywords:
Imprisonment
Incarceration
Indeterminate Sentencing
Long-Term Sentencing
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons
Safety
Sentencing

Author: Nevada Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice

Title: Nevada Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice - Justice Reinvestment Initiative. Final report

Summary: Over the past decade Nevada's prison population has grown significantly, resulting in higher spending on prisons and fewer resources available for recidivism reduction measures. Since 2009, Nevada's prison population has grown by seven percent, and the state's female prison population has grown at four times the pace of the overall prison population. The state currently has an imprisonment rate that is 15 percent higher than the national average. Over the same period Nevada's crime rate has fluctuated, with violent crime climbing from a 10-year low in 2011 to 2015 before experiencing a major drop in 2017. The state has the third highest murder rate and the third highest robbery rate in the nation. While many states across the nation have seen significant declines in both crime rates and prison populations, Nevada has not. Moreover, the growing population of people with behavioral health problems continues to challenge the system. Nearly 30 percent of the state's inmate population require treatment or medication for a mental health need. Growing prison costs have burdened taxpayers while gaps remain in treatment and interventions that reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and address critical behavioral health challenges. Nevada is spending over $347 million on corrections in fiscal year 2019, which has crowded out the state's ability to fund treatment and services. The prison population is projected to continue to grow, and by 2028, will increase by 1,197 beds. Fifteen percent of this overall growth will be driven by an increase in the female prison population, which is projected to grow by 14 percent over the next 10 years. The projected prison population growth is estimated to cost the state an additional $770 million in capital expenditures to build or lease new prisons and added operating costs over 10 years. In May 2018, state leaders from all three branches of government joined to request technical assistance through the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI). As part of the JRI effort, state leaders charged the Advisory Commission on the Administration of Justice (ACAJ) with conducting a review of the state's criminal justice system and "us[ing] criminological research and [Nevada's] own criminal justice data to inform and motivate the development of comprehensive crime- and recidivism-reduction strategies, while shifting resources toward more cost-effective public safety strategies." Beginning in July 2018 and extending through the end of the calendar year, the ACAJ analyzed the state's sentencing, corrections, and community supervision data, and reviewed the latest research on reducing recidivism and improving public safety. The ACAJ found that, in Nevada: - Sixty-six percent of people admitted to prison in 2017 were sentenced for nonviolent crimes and four out of 10 offenders had no prior felony convictions. - Thirty-nine percent of prison admissions were the result of revocations of individuals on probation and parole supervision. Analysis of violation reports revealed that 34 percent of these violators were returned to prison for technical violations of supervision, meaning they failed to comply with a condition of supervision such as failing a drug test or not going to treatment. - The amount of time individuals spend incarcerated has increased 20 percent since 2008, and recidivism rates have increased for nearly all offense types. - The number of women admitted to prison increased 39 percent between 2008 and 2017 and the female imprisonment rate per 100,000 is now 43 percent higher than the national average. - The number of people admitted to prison with an identified mental health need has increased 35 percent over the last decade and the number of women entering prison with a mental health need has grown by 47 percent. Based on this data analysis and the directive from state leadership, the ACAJ developed a comprehensive package of 25 policy recommendations supported by a majority of ACAJ members. The recommendations are specifically designed to improve public safety by holding offenders accountable, reducing recidivism, and increasing the resources available to combat the state's behavioral health crisis. These policies, if signed into law, would avert 89 percent of the projected prison population growth, and ultimately reduce the projected 2028 prison population by more than 1,000 beds, averting $640 million in additional prison costs over the next 10 years. The money that would have been spent on new prison beds can be redirected to effective policies and practices that reduce recidivism and increase public safety including interventions to address a growing population with behavioral health needs.

Details: Carson City: The Author, 2019. 41p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 14, 2019 at: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Document/13671

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/InterimCommittee/REL/Document/13671

Shelf Number: 154594

Keywords:
Costs of Corrections
Inmate Population
Justice Reinvestment
Prison Reform
Prisoners
Prisons

Author: New Mexico. Legislative Finance Committee

Title: Review of the New Mexico Corrections Department: Status of Programs to Reduce Recidivism and Oversight of Medical Services

Summary: A nationwide movement for criminal justice reform has seen significant declines in prison populations across the U.S. in recent years, though at the same time, New Mexico prisons have continued to grow. From 2009 to 2016, the total U.S. prison population decreased by 7 percent while the total New Mexico prison population increased by 14 percent. In FY18, the state allocated $297.3 million in general fund dollars to the New Mexico Corrections Department (NMCD) to house 7,325 inmates and supervise 19,552 probationers and parolees. Ninety-five percent of these inmates eventually return to the community, and so it is essential to prepare offenders for reentry in order to improve public safety and reduce costly recidivism (the return to prison) of offenders. Since a 2012 LFC program evaluation of corrections, NMCD has implemented best practices in several areas including using validated risk-needs assessments for all inmates, developing an inventory of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs with the Pew-MacArthur Results First Initiative, and reducing the number of costly release eligible inmates by half. However, the recidivism rate in New Mexico is increasing, rising to 50 percent in FY18, an 11 percent increase since FY10. Every extra percentage point of recidivism costs the state $1.5 million per year for incarceration alone. Parole revocations for technical violations related to drug use contribute half of the recidivism rate. Approximately one-third of prisoners admitted to NMCD are due to failed drug tests and missed appointments. It costs the state over $40 million per year to house these revoked parolees in prison versus community supervision, and there is little evidence that this improves public safety or addresses root causes of crime. LFC analysis found that 67 percent of parolees violate conditions at least once, 75 percent of which are for failed drug tests and missed appointments. In total, 43 percent of parolees are revoked and sent back to prison after an average of 2.7 violations over 372 days. The average time revoked parolees spend in prison is 333 days, at a cost of $30 thousand per offender compared to remaining on supervision. NMCD changed medical providers from Corizon to Centurion for healthcare, Boswell for pharmacy, and MHM for women's behavioral healthcare in early 2016, though still faces difficulties recruiting and retaining qualified staff to provide and oversee health services. Performance measures in the contracts comprehensively cover treatment rates but do not show whether conditions are being adequately managed or cured. The state has strong medical and geriatric parole statutes and policies that go underutilized, causing inmates who would be better served outside prison walls to remain incarcerated. Moving forward, NMCD could improve on their success at implementing best practices by beginning to track how the needs of offenders are connected with services, and evaluating the implementation and outcomes of recidivism reduction programs to ensure they are working as intended.

Details: Sante Fe, NM: The Department, 2018. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Report #18-09: Accessed February 22, 2019 at: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/Program_Evaluation_Reports/Corrections%20Department%20-%20Status%20of%20Programs%20to%20Reduce%20Recidivism%20and%20Oversight%20of%20Medical%20Services.pdf

Year: 2018

Country: United States

URL: https://www.nmlegis.gov/Entity/LFC/Documents/Program_Evaluation_Reports/Corrections%20Department%20-%20Status%20of%20Programs%20to%20Reduce%20Recidivism%20and%20Oversight%20of%20Medical%20Services.pdf

Shelf Number: 154726

Keywords:
Correctional Administration
Corrections
Evidence-Based Programs
Inmate Health Care
Prisoners
Prisons
Recidivism

Author: Prisoners' Education Trust

Title: Greenhouses not Warehouses: Commissioning Education to Plant Seeds of Hope and Opportunity

Summary: Prisons are being given increasing flexibility and control over education budgets and the ability to commission a wide range of provision. Governor-led commissioning is an exciting opportunity to increase engagement of prisoners in education to achieve a whole-prison learning culture. The PLA has produced this workbook aimed at helping governors and managers plan and commission education. It includes a self-assessment tool and provides advice, case studies and additional resources around ten key aspects of commissioning. This timely resource sets out the crucial questions to be thinking about and suggestions for how to bring together the right people to answer them for your prison and population.

Details: London, United Kingdom: Prisoner Learning Alliance and Prisoners' Education Trust, 2017. 43p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2019 at: https://www.prisonerseducation.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/PLA-Greenhouses-not-warehouses-Workbook-web-version-1.pdf

Year: 2017

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://ec.europa.eu/epale/mt/node/72547

Shelf Number: 156115

Keywords:
Correctional Programs
Desistance
Education Program
Incarceration
Offender Rehabilitation
Prison Programming
Prisoners
Reoffending

Author: Kouyoumdjian, Fiona G.

Title: Do People who Experience Incarceration Age More Quickly? Exploratory Analysis Using Retrospective Cohort Data on Mortality from Ontario, Canada

Summary: Objectives: We aimed to explore whether mortality data are consistent with the view that aging is accelerated for people with a history of incarceration compared to the general population, using data on mortality rates and life expectancy for persons in Ontario, Canada. Methods: We obtained data from the Ontario Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services on all adults admitted to provincial correctional facilities in Ontario in 2000, and linked these data with death records from provincial vital statistics between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2012. We used life table methods to calculate mortality rates and life expectancies for this cohort by sex and 5-year age group. We similarly generated population comparison rates using publicly available data for the general population of Ontario in 2006 as the midpoint of the follow up period. We compared these mortality indices between the 2000 Ontario prison cohort and the general population by age group and sex. Results: The difference in all-cause mortality rates between the 2000 Ontario prison cohort and the general population was greatest for younger adults, with the prison cohort experiencing rates of death that would be expected for persons at least 15 years older at ages 20 to 44 for men and ages 20 to 59 for women. Life expectancy in the 2000 Ontario prison cohort was most similar to life expectancy of persons five years older in the general population at age intervals 20 to 45 in men and 20 to 30 in women. Conclusions: For most of adulthood, life expectancy and mortality rates are worse for adults with a history of incarceration than for the general population in Ontario, Canada. However, the association between mortality and incarceration status is modified by age, with the greatest relative burden of mortality experienced by younger persons with a history of incarceration and modified by sex, with worse relative mortality in women. Future research should explore the association between incarceration status and markers of aging including mortality, morbidity and physical appearance.

Details: Ontario, Canada: Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, 2017. 11p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 18, 2019 at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0175837&type=printable

Year: 2017

Country: Canada

URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5391969/

Shelf Number: 156497

Keywords:
Corrections
Incarceration
Mortality Rates
Prisoners

Author: Office of the Inspector General, State of California

Title: Special Report: CDCR's Revised Inmate Appeal Process Leaves Key Problems Unaddressed

Summary: The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) began developing its current inmate appeal process in the 1970s in response to several high-profile riots and prison takeovers by inmates who believed their grievances were not being properly addressed. Reviews of those incidents determined that establishing a meaningful inmate appeal process that promptly resolves inmate grievances at the earliest possible stage is a cost-effective strategy that reduces tensions in the prison system and is essential to the security of California's penal system. The revised inmate appeal process prescribed under Title 15, Section 3084.1 (a) of the California Code of Regulations, which became effective on January 28, 2011, enables an inmate or parolee (inmate) to appeal any policy, decision, action, condition, or omission by CDCR or its employees that the inmate can demonstrate had a materially adverse effect upon the inmate's health, safety, or welfare. The objective of this process is to resolve inmate grievances at the lowest possible administrative level. In reviewing both CDCR's former and revised inmate appeal processes, the Office of the Inspector General identified the concerns that led CDCR to change its inmate appeal process and assessed whether the revised inmate appeal process addressed those concerns. This report summarizes our findings and identifies three areas of concern that may require further action by CDCR. One of the primary deficiencies CDCR identified in its former appeal process was that inmates were unable to prove they had attempted to informally resolve an issue. This lack of verification led to allegations that a number of appeals were destroyed or lost, either intentionally or negligently. The revised process attempts to increase CDCR's accountability by providing the inmate with a copy, or receipt, of his or her attempt to informally resolve an issue (Form 22 request-for-interview process) before filing a formal appeal. The revised inmate appeal process does not, however, provide the inmate with a receipt of any kind if the inmate elevates the issue to the formal appeal level at the prison's appeals office (Form 602 appeal process). As a consequence, CDCR's revised appeal process does not provide enough accountability to address inmate allegations that more significant appeals are subject to intentional destruction or negligence. We further found that a number of inmates do not trust that correctional employees will appropriately safeguard either the Form 602 appeal itself or the information contained in the Form 602 appeal. Our second area of concern pertains to the responsibilities of appeals coordinators who screen Form 602 appeals at the appeals office. When an appeals coordinator rejects a Form 602 appeal, new regulations direct the coordinator to provide clear and sufficient instruction necessary for an inmate to qualify an appeal for processing. In general, however, appeals coordinators do not adequately explain the reasons for rejecting the appeal. The inadequate or absent explanation for the appeal's rejection makes it difficult for the inmate to have a resubmitted appeal accepted. Additionally, we found that although the primary reason appeals are rejected is that the inmate has not attached all necessary appropriate documents to the appeal, inmates are not necessarily afforded an opportunity to photocopy the relevant documents for inclusion with their appeal. Finally, it appears that CDCR implemented the revised appeal process before adequately training employees and inmates concerning the new process. This lack of training caused confusion for both inmates and employees. Information we received indicates that a number of correctional employees refused to sign the receipt for the Form 22 appeal because they believed that signing the form could create liability for them. This refusal made it difficult for inmates to submit their appeals. Moreover, because employees were not adequately trained in a timely manner, a number of employees and inmates confused the instructions for using the new Form 22 ("Inmate/Parolee Request for Interview, Item or Service") with the instructions for using the standing Form GA-22 ("Inmate Request for Interview"). The above concerns notwithstanding, the Office of the Inspector General acknowledges CDCR's efforts to make its inmate appeals process more accountable and we note that all of the concerns we have identified in the revised appeal process appear to be readily correctable.

Details: Sacramento, California: Office of the Inspector General, 2011. 29p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 19, 2019 at: http://www.oig.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Special-Report-on-CDCRs-Revised-Inmate-Appeal-Process-Leaves-Key-Problems-Unaddressed.pdf

Year: 2011

Country: United States

URL: http://www.oig.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Special-Report-on-CDCRs-Revised-Inmate-Appeal-Process-Leaves-Key-Problems-Unaddressed.pdf

Shelf Number: 156506

Keywords:
Appeal Process
Correctional Officers
Corrections
Inmate Rights
Inmates
Inspector General
Prison Riots
Prisoners

Author: Roehm, Scott

Title: Deprivation and Despair: The Crisis of Medical Care at Guantanamo

Summary: From the inception more than 17 years ago of the Guantanamo Bay detention center located on the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, senior detention facility personnel have consistently lauded the quality of medical care provided to detainees there. For example, in 2005, Joint Task Force (JTF) Guantanamo's then-commander said the care was "as good as or better than anything we would offer our own soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines." In 2011, a Navy nurse and then deputy command surgeon for JTF Guantanamo made a similar claim: "The standard of care here is the best possible standard of care (the detainees) could get." In late 2017, Guantanamo's senior medical officer again echoed those sentiments: "Detainees receive timely, compassionate, quality healthcare...(which is)...comparable to that afforded our active duty service members on island." There have been many more such assertions in the intervening years and since. Following an in-depth review of publicly available information related to medical care at Guantanamo - both past and present - as well as consultations with independent civilian medical experts and detainees' lawyers, the Center for Victims of Torture and Physicians for Human Rights have determined that none of those assertions is accurate. To the contrary, notwithstanding Guantanamo's general inaccessibility to independent civilian medical professionals, over the years a handful of them have managed to access detainees, review medical records, and interface with Guantanamo's medical care system to a degree sufficient to document a host of systemic and longstanding deficiencies in care. These include: - Medical needs are subordinated to security functions. For example, prosecutors in a military commission case told the judge explicitly that the commander of Guantanamo's detention operations is free to disregard recommendations of Guantanamo's senior medical officer. - Detainees' medical records are devoid of physical and psychological trauma histories. This is largely a function of medical professionals' inability or unwillingness to ask detainees about torture or other traumatic experiences during their time in the CIA's rendition, detention, and interrogation program, or otherwise with respect to interrogations by U.S. forces - which has led to misdiagnoses and improper treatment. -In large part due to a history of medical complicity in torture, many detainees distrust military medical professionals which has led repeatedly to detainees reasonably refusing care that they need. Guantanamo officials withhold from detainees their own medical records, including through improper classification. -Both expertise and equipment are increasingly insufficient to address detainees' health needs. For example, a military cardiologist concluded that an obese detainee required testing for coronary artery disease, but that Guantanamo did not have the "means to test" him, and so the testing was not performed. With regard to mental health, effective torture rehabilitation services are not, and cannot be made, available at Guantanamo. - Detainees have been subjected to neglect. One detainee urgently required surgery for a condition he disclosed to Guantanamo medical personnel in 2007 - and they diagnosed independently in 2010 - but he did not receive surgery until 2018 and appears permanently damaged as a result. - Military medical professionals rotate rapidly in and out of Guantanamo, which has caused discontinuity of care. For example, one detainee recently had three primary care physicians in the course of three months. - Detainees' access to medical care and, in some cases, their exposure to medical harm, turn substantially on their involvement in litigation. For example, it appears extremely difficult, if not impossible, for detainees who are not in active litigation to access independent civilian medical professionals, and for those who are to address a medical need that is not related to the litigation. For detainees charged before the military commissions, prosecution interests have superseded medical interests, as with a detainee who was forced to attend court proceedings on a gurney writhing in pain while recovering from surgery. These deficiencies are exacerbated by - and in some cases a direct result of - the damage that the men have endured, and continue to endure, from torture and prolonged indefinite detention. It is long past time that the medical care deficiencies this report describes were acknowledged and addressed. Systemic change is necessary; these are not problems that well- intentioned military medical professionals - of which no doubt there are many, working now in an untenable environment - can resolve absent structural, operational, and cultural reform. Nor, in many respects, are they problems that can be fully resolved as long as the detention facility remains open. Guantanamo should be closed. Unless and until that happens, the Center for Victims of Torture and Physicians for Human Rights call upon Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Judiciary to adopt a series of recommendations aimed at meaningfully improving the status quo. These include, but are not limited to: lifting the legal ban on transferring detainees to the United States and mandating such transfers when detainees present with medical conditions that cannot be adequately evaluated and treated at Guantanamo; ensuring detainees have timely access to all of their medical records upon request while otherwise maintaining confidentiality of those records (especially with regard to access by prosecutors); and allowing meaningful and regular access to Guantanamo by civilian medical experts, including permitting such experts to evaluate detainees in an appropriate setting. If the United States declines to take the steps this report recommends, complex medical conditions that cannot be managed at Guantanamo should be expected to accelerate in frequency and escalate in severity.

Details: New York: Physicians for Human Rights and The Center for Victims of Torture, 2019. 58p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2019 at: https://phr.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/PHR_CVT-Guantanamo-medical-crisis-report-June-2019-1.pdf

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://phr.org/our-work/resources/deprivation-and-despair/

Shelf Number: 156815

Keywords:
Detainee
Detention
Guantanamo
Human Rights Abuses
Medical Care
Prison Condition
Prisoners
Torture

Author: Brandt, Patrick T.

Title: Messing up Texas?: A Re-Analysis of the Effects of the Executions on Homicides

Summary: Abstract: Executions in Texas from 1994-2005 do not deter homicides, contrary to the results of Land et al. (2009). We find that using different models -based on pre-tests for unit roots that correct for earlier model misspecifications - one cannot reject the null hypothesis that executions do not lead to a change in homicides in Texas over this period. Using additional control variables, we show that variables such as the number of prisoners in Texas may drive the main drop in homicides over this period. Such conclusions however are highly sensitive to model specification decisions, calling into question the assumptions about fixed parameters and constant structural relationships. This means that using dynamic regressions to account for policy changes that may affect homicides need to be done with significant care and attention.

Details: S.L.: Plos One, 2015. 19p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 11, 2019 at: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0138143&type=printable

Year: 2015

Country: United States

URL: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0138143

Shelf Number: 156939

Keywords:
Capital Punishment
Death Penalty
Executions
Homicides
Murder
Prisoners

Author: Sawyer, Wendy

Title: Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2019

Summary: Can it really be true that most people in jail are being held before trial? And how much of mass incarceration is a result of the war on drugs? These questions are harder to answer than you might think, because our country's systems of confinement are so fragmented. The various government agencies involved in the justice system collect a lot of critical data, but it is not designed to help policymakers or the public understand what's going on. As public support for criminal justice reform continues to build, however, its more important than ever that we get the facts straight and understand the big picture. This report offers some much needed clarity by piecing together this country's disparate systems of confinement. The American criminal justice system holds almost 2.3 million people in 1,719 state prisons, 109 federal prisons, 1,772 juvenile correctional facilities, 3,163 local jails, and 80 Indian Country jails as well as in military prisons, immigration detention facilities, civil commitment centers, state psychiatric hospitals, and prisons in the U.S. territories. This report provides a detailed look at where and why people are locked up in the U.S., and dispels some modern myths to focus attention on the real drivers of mass incarceration.

Details: Northampton, Massachusetts: Prison Policy Initiative, 2019. 23p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 18, 2019 at: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2019.html

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2019.html

Shelf Number: 157030

Keywords:
Corrections
Jail
Mass Incarceration
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Clinks

Title: RR3 Special Interest Group on Employment Support for People in Contact with the Criminal Justice System

Summary: There is a growing recognition in government policy of the importance of employment for the successful resettlement of people leaving custody and those serving community sentences. People with convictions face significant barriers to finding and sustaining secure employment. Only 26% of men and 8% of women have a job to go to when leaving prison. In May 2018, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) published its Education and Employment Strategy for adult prisoners which sets out the department's approach for developing prisoners' learning and skills and improving employment outcomes after release. The Strategy announced the launch of the New Futures Network (NFN), a national infrastructure with the purpose of engaging and persuading employers to take on ex-prisoners, with experts placed in every geographical prison group in a phased roll-out across England and Wales. Voluntary organisations play a vital role in supporting people with convictions into employment. The services they provide range from training and education to improve employability, support through job application and recruitment processes, helping individuals to access their rights as employees, and support meeting peoples wider needs to enable them to sustain employment. Many voluntary sector organisations that specialise in employment support have also formed valuable networks with employers to increase the opportunities available to people in contact with the criminal justice system (CJS). It is essential for the success of the education and employment strategy that MoJ, Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), and NFN engage the voluntary sector and recognise them as valuable strategic partners as they develop their employment policies and implement the Strategy.

Details: London: Clinks, 2019. 40p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 25, 2019 at: https://www.clinks.org/publication/rr3-special-interest-group-employment-support-people-contact-criminal-justice-system

Year: 2019

Country: United Kingdom

URL: https://www.clinks.org/sites/default/files/2019-07/clinks_briefing_rr3_employment-support_V1.pdf

Shelf Number: 157056

Keywords:
Employment
Incarceration
Prison
Prisoners

Author: Bronson, Jennifer

Title: Prisoners in 2017

Summary: Presents final counts of prisoners under the jurisdiction of state and federal correctional authorities at year-end 2017 and includes findings on admissions, releases, and imprisonment rates. Selected findings on prisoner demographic and offense characteristics, non-U.S. citizen inmates, prisoners age 17 or younger, prison capacity, and prisoners held in private prisons, local jails, the U.S. military, and U.S. territories are also included. Findings are based on data from BJS's National Prisoner Statistics program, which collects data from state departments of corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Highlights: - The imprisonment rate for sentenced prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction decreased 2.1% from 2016 to 2017 (from 450 to 440 sentenced prisoners per 100,000 U.S. residents) and 13% from 2007 to 2017 (from 506 to 440 per 100,000). - The number of prisoners under state or federal jurisdiction decreased by 18,700 (down 1.2%), from 1,508,100 at year-end 2016 to 1,489,400 at year-end 2017. - The federal prison population decreased by 6,100 prisoners from year-end 2016 to year-end 2017 (down 3%), accounting for one-third of the overall change in the U.S. prison population. - More than half (55%) of state prisoners were serving sentences for violent offenses at year-end 2016, the most recent year for which data are available. - The number of state or federal prisoners held in private facilities decreased 5% from 2016 to 2017.

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2019. 44p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2019 at: https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=6546

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/p17.pdf

Shelf Number: 157070

Keywords:
Corrections
Federal Prison
Imprisonment
Inmates
Jails
Prisoners
State Prison

Author: Snell, Tracy L.

Title: Capital Punishment, 2017: Selected Findings

Summary: Provides statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' annual data collection on capital punishment. It includes statistics on the number of prisoners executed each year from 1977 through 2017, the number and race of prisoners under sentence of death at year-end 2017 by state, and the average elapsed time from sentence to execution by year from 1977 through 2017. Highlights: - At year-end 2017, a total of 32 states and the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) held 2,703 prisoners under sentence of death, which was 94 (3%) less than at year-end 2016. - In 2017, the number of prisoners held under sentence of death declined for the 17th consecutive year. - Eighteen states held fewer prisoners under sentence of death at year-end 2017 than at year-end 2016, 3 states and the BOP held more prisoners, and 11 states held the same number. - Three states accounted for 59% of the national decline in prisoners under sentence of death in 2017: Florida (down 33 prisoners), Delaware (down 12), and Texas (down 10).

Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2019. 5p.

Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2019 at: https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=pbdetail&iid=6586

Year: 2019

Country: United States

URL: https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cp17sf.pdf

Shelf Number: 157077

Keywords:
Capital Punishment
Death Penalty
Prison
Prisoners