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Date: August 17, 2024 Sat
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Results for prisons
222 results foundAuthor: 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: ImprisonmentPrison OvercrowdingPrison SentencesPrisonersPrisons |
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 OffendersPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Gilroy, Leonard C. Title: Public-Private Partnerships for Corrections in California: Bridging the Gap Between Crisis and Reform Summary: With a correctional system strained by severe overcrowding, a state fiscal crisis and a recent federal order to reduce the prison population by over 40,000 inmates, there are no silver bullet solutions to California's prison crisis. This report asserts that public-private partnerships offer a powerful policy option as part of a comprehensive strategy address California's corrections crisis. Details: Los Angeles: Reason Foundation and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Foundation, 2010. 72p. Source: Policy Study 381 Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118091 Keywords: Correctional Institutions (California)Prison Overcrowding (California)PrisonsPrivatization |
Author: Aitken, Jonathan, Chair Title: Locked Up Potential: A STrategy for Reforming Prisons and Rehabilitating Prisoners. A Policy Report by the Prison Reform Working Group Summary: This report provides a comprehensive analysis of and 70 policy recmmendations for the U.K. failing prison system, including: prison management and governnance; overcrowding; mental health and substance abuse; prisoners' families; personal development through education, training, work and the arts; prisoners and their victims; resettlement, and three proposed new Acts of Parliament. Details: London: Centre for Social Justice, 2009. 273p. Source: Breakthrough Britain Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 118165 Keywords: Prison AdministrationPrisonsRehabilitation |
Author: Mulheirn, Ian Title: Prison Break: Tackling Recidivism, Reducing Costs Summary: Crime costs the UK 72 British pounds each year. The failure to crack re-offending among prisoners serving short-term sentences is a key driver of these costs. This report calls for a new approach to tackle re-offending with much less public money. Its recommendations include the following: splitting the short- and long-term prison populations to enable more accountabile rehabilitation of persistent offenders on short-term sentences, and contracting out end--to-end offender management for all sub-12-month offenders to regional providers paid by results to reduce recidivism. Details: London: Social Market Foundation, 2010. 74p. Source: Accessed March 23, 2016 at: http://www.smf.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Publication-Prison-Break-Tackling-recidivism-reducing-costs.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 117864 Keywords: Costs of CrimesPrisonsPrivatizationRecidivismRepeat Offenders |
Author: Debidin, Mia, editor Title: A Compendium of Research and Analysis on the Offender Assessment System (OASys) 2006-2009 Summary: The Offender Assessment System (OASys) is a U.K. national risk/need assessment tool used by the prison and probation services in England and Wales. Th tool combines actuarial methods of prediction with structured professional judgment to provide standardized assessments of offenders' risks and needs, as well as linking these risks and needs to individualized sentence plans and risk management plans. OASys data is collated centrally within the OASys Data Eveluation and Analysis Team (O-DEAT) database, and this report presents OASys research and analysis conducted by O-DEAT from 2006 to 2009. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2009. 314p. Source: Ministry of Justice Research Series 16/09; Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 118222 Keywords: PrisonsProbationRisk Assessment |
Author: Petteruti, Amanda Title: Moving Target: A Decade of Resistance to the Prison Industrial Complex Summary: This report, written to commemorate the 10th aniversary of Critical Resistance, examines the progress of reform 10 years after Critical Resistance first launched its efforts to dismantle the Prison Industrial Complex(PIC). PIC refers to the relationship between government and private interests that use imprisonment, policing, and surveillance as a solution to social political, and economic problems. According to the report, the U.S. prison industrial complex continues to find ways to expand and adapt, despite the fact that a decade-long battle against imprisonment, surveillance, and policing has educated the public about the dangers of imprisonment and helped to slow prison growth. Details: Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, 2008. 40p. Source: Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 113071 Keywords: ImprisonmentPrisons |
Author: Hartwig, Christina Title: Report on Tobacco Smoking in Prison Summary: Ths use of tobacco displays a great burden of disease, with 4.9 million tobacco-attributed deaths worldwide each year. To tackle the tobacco epidemic and the associated health problems, the European Cmomission, the Member States and the World Health Organization have been running campaigns against tobacco for many years. This report presents the results of an inquiry on smoking bans in European prisons and reveals that 22 (79%) out of 28 respondents (EU-Member States plus Switzerland and Monaco) have introduced smoking bans in all of their prisons. The report ends with recommendations on tobacco control policies in prisons, on implementation of smoke-free environments, on smoking prevention and quitting support, as well as priority research. Details: Brussels, Belgium: European Commission, Directorate General for Health and Consumers, 2008. 36p. Source: Final Report Work Package 7 Year: 2008 Country: Europe URL: Shelf Number: 113900 Keywords: HealthPrisonsSmokingTobacco |
Author: Harrendorf, Stefan Title: International Statistics on Crime and Justice Summary: This objective of this report is to show users of international crime data what they could learn from these, and provide guidance as to restrictions, pitfalls and strengths of the unique set of data that is now available. The report consists of the following eight chapters: homicide; trends in police-recorded crime; drug crime; complex crimes; responses of the criminal justice system; attributes of criminal justice systems - resources, performance and punitivity; trends in world prison population; and crime and criminal justice statistics challenges. Details: Helsinki: European Institute for Crime Prevention and Control (HEUNI); Vienna: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2010. 176p. Source: Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 118290 Keywords: Criminal Justice StatisticsDrug Abuse and CrimeHomicideInternational Crime StatisticsPrisons |
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, PrisonsDrugsInmates, Use of DrugsPrison ContrabandPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Muntingh, Lukas Title: Ex-Prisoners' Views on Imprisonment and Re-Entry Summary: "In the past 15 years much research has been conducted on the prison system in South Africa focusing on governance, law reform and human rights. It is, however, of particular concern that the voices of prisoners and ex-prisoners had not been heard in the current discourse, one that has been dominated by the Department of Correctional Services (DCS), Parliament, service delivery organisations, academics and human rights activists. In essence, there has been a lot of talk about prisoners and ex-prisoners but there has been little listening to prisoners and ex-prisoners taking place." Details: Bellville, South Africa: Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative, 2009. 27p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: South Africa URL: Shelf Number: 119385 Keywords: Ex-Prisoners (South Africa)ImprisonmentPrisoner ReentryPrisons |
Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Prisons Title: Women in Prison: A Short Thematic Review Summary: Much has been written about the specific needs and characteristics of the women’s prison population – most notably the Corston report, which strongly advocated the development of alternatives to custody and alternative forms of custody. Currently, over 4,300 women are in prison in England and Wales, almost the same number as there were at the same time last year. This report draws together the findings of the most recent inspection reports on all 14 current women’s prisons in England and Wales, and also compares the findings of women prisoners surveyed during 2006–08 with those surveyed in 2003–05. It therefore provides an overview of the conditions and treatment in women’s prisons, and an account of any significant changes in women’s perceptions of the prison experience. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2010. 81p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119400 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersPrisons |
Author: Mudhurima Title: Rights Behind Bars: Landmark Judicial Pronouncement and National Human Rights Commission Guidelines Summary: The Constitution of India guarantees fundamental human rights to every individual. It further pledges that the state will safeguard these human rights and protect citizens from any arbitrary infringement upon their liberty, security and privacy. The Supreme Court of India has reiterated this principle many a times in the past 30 years. Over the years, the Supreme Court has on many occasions emphasised the role of the judiciary as a “guardian of their sentences.” To support this, the court has laid down a number of guidelines and directives for the state to follow. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also issued guidelines and written letters to various agencies including the judiciary, the prison department and the state government to ensure that the rights of the prisoners are respected. There is, however, a huge gap between the constitutional promises as enunciated by the judiciary, and the reality of the lives of prison inmates. About 65 per cent of the prisoners are not convicted of any offence but are just awaiting trial. They may continue to be held in prisons for years. A huge majority of these under-trial prisoners are poor. The system fails them at every turn. They are denied bail for want of monetary security. Trials take years. Often, they have no lawyers, live in pathetic conditions, do not have access to adequate medical care, and are likely to be tortured or exploited. They are not aware of their rights. Often, legal aid lawyers and prison officials are also unaware. This compilation seeks to bring together important judicial pronouncements and NHRC guidelines on prisons and prisoners’ rights in a simplified form so that this information is easily accessible to those who are interested. Details: New Delhi: Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, 2009. 89p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2009 Country: India URL: Shelf Number: 119415 Keywords: Criminal Justice System (India)Human RightsInmatesPrisoners (India)Prisoners' RightsPrisons |
Author: Boylan, Richard T. Title: Intended and Unintended Consequences of Prison Reform Summary: Since the 1970s, U.S. federal courts have issued court orders condemning state prison crowding. However, the impact of these court orders on prison spending and prison conditions is theoretically ambiguous because it is unclear if these court orders are enforceable. We examine states' responses to court interventions and show that these interventions generate higher per inmate incarceration costs, lower inmate mortality rates, and a reduction in prisoners per capita. If states seek to minimize the cost of crime through deterrence, an increase in prison costs should lead states to shift resources from corrections to other means of deterring crime such as welfare and education spending. However, we find that court interventions, that are associated with higher corrections expenditures, lead to lower welfare expenditures. This suggests that the burden of increased correctional spending is borne by the poor. Furthermore, states do not increase welfare spending after their release from court order; making the reduction in welfare spending permanent. Thus, our results suggest that states do not respond to prison reform in the manner prescribed by the deterrence model. States' responses to prison reform are most consistent with the predictions in the empirical public finance literature that indicate stickiness in expenditure categories and that increases in spending in programs that affect the poor generate declines in expenditures in other program that are also targeted to the poor. Details: Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009. 34p. Source: Internet Resource; NBER Working Paper Series; Working Paper 15535 Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 117359 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticePrison OvercrowdingPrison ReformPrisons |
Author: Neumann, Peter R. Title: Prisons and Terrorism: Radicalisation and De-radicalisation in 15 Countries Summary: The report identifies trade-offs and dilemmas but also principles and best practices that will help governments and policymakers spot new ideas and avoid costly and counterproductive mistakes. Among the key findings and recommendations are: 1) The current emphasis on security and containment leads to missed opportunities to promote reform. Prison services should be more ambitious in promoting positive influences inside prison, and develop more innovative approaches to facilitate extremists’ transition back into mainstream society; 2) Over-crowding and under-staffing amplify the conditions that lend themselves to radicalisation. Badly run prisons make the detection of radicalisation difficult, and they also create the physical and ideological space in which extremist recruiters can operate at free will; 3) Religious conversion is not the same as radicalisation. Good counter-radicalisation policies – whether in or outside prison – never fail to distinguish between legitimate expression of faith and extremist ideologies. Prison services should invest more in staff training, and consider sharing specialised resources; 4) Individual de-radicalisation and disengagement programmes – such as the ones in Saudi-Arabia, Singapore, Indonesia, and other countries – can make a difference. Their positive and outward-looking approach should serve as an inspiration for governments and policymakers everywhere; 5) Even in the best circumstances, however, such programmes complement rather than replace other instruments in the fight against terrorism. They work best when the political momentum is no longer with the terrorists or insurgents. Details: London: International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence; National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism, 2010. 64p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 119428 Keywords: Prison GangsPrisonsTerrorismTerrorists |
Author: Meek, Rosie Title: The Role of the Third Sector in Work With Offenders: The Perceptions of Criminal Justice and Third Sector Stakeholders Summary: This paper examines the views of national criminal justice and third sector stakeholders on the strategic position of the sector, and its role in the resettlement of offenders. The interview data suggests that although the involvement of the third sector in the criminal justice system is promoted in national policy, considerable gaps have been identified. These include the quality and availability of regional commissioning, implementation strategies and the long-term plans for the re-specification of the criminal justice system. The findings also indicate that increasing emphasis on competitive policy may put a strain on future inter-sector partnerships. The implications of the findings are discussed and areas of further research are highlighted in relation to both the prison and probation services. Details: Birmingham, UK: Third Sector Research Centre, 2010. 18p. Source: Internet Resource; Working Paper 34 Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: Shelf Number: 119536 Keywords: Criminal Justice, Administration of (U.K.)OffendersPartnershipsPrisonsProbation |
Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: Prison Populations and Correctional Outlays: The Effect of Reducing Re-Imprisonment Summary: "Between 1998 and 2008, the Australian imprisonment rate (per capita) rose 20 per cent. In 2008, net recurrent and capital expenditure on prisons in Australia exceeded $2.6 billion per annum. Efforts to reduce the prison population through the creation of alternatives to custody have not been very successful. This bulletin explores the potential savings in prison costs and prison numbers of reducing the rate at which prisoners return to custody. The results of our analysis suggest that modest reductions in the rate at which offenders are re-imprisoned would result in substantial savings in prisoner numbers and correctional outlays. A ten per cent reduction in the overall re-imprisonment rates would reduce the prison population by more than 800 inmates, saving $28 million per year. Comparable reductions in the number of new sentenced prisoners also produce benefits but they are smaller. The potential benefits of reducing the rate of re-imprisonment among subgroups of offenders with a high re-imprisonment rate are particularly noteworthy. A 10 per cent reduction in the Indigenous re-imprisonment rate, for example, would reduce the Indigenous sentenced prisoner population by 365 inmates, resulting in savings of more than $10 million per annum." Details: Sydney: New South Wales Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2009. 11p. Source: Internet Resource; Contemporary Issues in Crime and Justice, No. 138; Accessed August 8, 2010 at http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb138.pdf/$file/cjb138.pdf Year: 2009 Country: Australia URL: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/bocsar/ll_bocsar.nsf/vwFiles/cjb138.pdf/$file/cjb138.pdf Shelf Number: 119575 Keywords: Costs of CorrectionsInmatesPrison OvercrowdingPrison Population (Australia)PrisonsRecidivism |
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.)PrisonersPrisonsProbationVoluntary and Community Organizations |
Author: Beck, Allen J. Title: Sexual Victimization in Prisons and Jails Reported by Inmates, 2008-2009 Summary: This report resents data from the National Inmate Survey (NIS), 2008-09, conducted in 167 state and federal prisons, 286 local jails, and 10 special correctional facilities (operated by U.S. Armed Forces, Indian tribes, or the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)) between October 2008 and December 2009, with a sample of 81,566 inmates ages 18 or older. The report provides a listing of facilities ranked according to the prevalence of sexual victimization, as required under the Prison Rape Elimination Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-79). The prevalence of victimization as reported by inmates during a personal interview is based on sexual activity in the 12 months prior to the interview or since admission to the facility, if less than 12 months. Included are estimates of nonconsensual sexual acts, abusive sexual contacts, inmate-on-inmate and staff sexual misconduct, and level of coercion. The report also presents findings on reported sexual victimization by selected characteristics of inmates, including demographic characteristics, sexual history and orientation, and criminal justice status. It includes details on victims’ experiences and the circumstances surrounding incidents of sexual victimization. Highlights include the following: 1) An estimated 4.4% of prison inmates and 3.1% of jail inmates reported experiencing one or more incidents of sexual victimization by another inmate or facility staff in the past 12 months or since admission to the facility, if less than 12 months; 2) Female inmates in prison (4.7%) or jail (3.1%) were more than twice as likely as male inmates in prison (1.9%) or jail (1.3%) to report experiencing inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization; and 3) Among inmates who reported inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization, 13% of male prison inmates and 19% of male jail inmates said they were victimized within the first 24 hours after admission, compared to 4% of female inmates in prison and jail. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2010. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 24, 2010 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svpjri0809.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svpjri0809.pdf Shelf Number: 119678 Keywords: InmatesJailsPrison RapePrisonsSex OffensesSexual AssaultsSexual Victimization |
Author: International Crisis Group Title: Haiti: Prison Reform and the Rule of Law Summary: Haiti's overcrowded, understaffed and insecure prisons are powder kegs awaiting a spark. Any explosion of violence or mass prisoner escape could undermine recent steps by the government and UN peacekeepers (MINUSTAH) to combat urban gangs and organised crime. The immediate needs are to ensure that the most dangerous prisoners, including newly arrested kidnap suspects, are held in maximum security cells; there are more guards to protect and ensure minimum care for prisoners; and a fast-track government/donor-financed plan to build more secure prisons begins. As President Rene Preval's government nears the end of its first year, failure to respond with greater urgency and resources to the prison crisis not only would complicate police and justice reform but could add to national insecurity. Details: Port-au-Prince/Brussels: International Crisis Group, 2007. 11p. Source: Internet Resource: Latin America/Caribbean Briefing No. 15: Accessed September 2, 2010 at: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/latin-america/haiti/b15_haiti_prison_reform_and_the_rule_of_law.ashx Year: 2007 Country: Haiti URL: http://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/latin-america/haiti/b15_haiti_prison_reform_and_the_rule_of_law.ashx Shelf Number: 119729 Keywords: Prison OvercrowdingPrisons |
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 InstitutionsInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
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 RatesIndigenous PeoplesInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Appleby, Louis Title: Prison Mental Health: Vision and Reality Summary: The need for better mental health care in prisons has been evident for some time. Reports throughout the last two decades have shown that prisoners have dramatically higher rates of the whole range of mental health problems compared to the general population. This publication aims to examine what has been achieved in prison mental health over recent years from a number of different personal perspectives and individual observations of working in England. It looks at the specific achievements of inreach teams and of efforts to divert offenders from custody. It also looks more broadly at the rapid growth of the prison population during the same period and the treatment of offenders with mental health problems outside as well as inside prison. Details: London: Royal College of Nursing, 2010. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 12, 2010 at: http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/339379/003832.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/339379/003832.pdf Shelf Number: 119932 Keywords: InmatesMental Health ServicesMentally Ill OffendersPrisons |
Author: Kuhnrich, Bernd Title: Attitudes Towards Punishment in the European Union: Results from the 2005 European Crime Survey (ECSS) with Focus on Germany Summary: This report examines the attitudes of Europeans regarding punishment for certain crimes. The aim of the report is to present an analysis of the significant mean differences between Germany and all other European countries. Details: Freiburg, Germany: Max Planck Institute for Foreign and International Criminal Law, 2005. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: ECSS Project: Research Report MPI (30/12/2005): Accessed October 29, 2010 at: http://www.europeansafetyobservatory.eu/doc/Punitiveness.pdf Year: 2005 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europeansafetyobservatory.eu/doc/Punitiveness.pdf Shelf Number: 120125 Keywords: PrisonsPublic OpinionPunishmentSentencing |
Author: Neumann, Peter R. Title: Prisons and Terrorism: Radicalisation and De-radicalisation in 15 Countries Summary: This report offers a wide-ranging analysis of the role prisons can play in radicalising people – and in reforming them. In doing so, it examines the policies and approaches of 15 countries, identifying trade-offs and dilemmas but also principles and best practices that can help governments and policymakers spot new ideas and avoid costly and counterproductive mistakes. Prisons matter. They have played an enormous role in the narratives of every radical and militant movement in the modern period. They are ‘places of vulnerability’ in which radicalisation takes place. Yet they have also served as incubators for peaceful change and transformation. Much of the current discourse about prisons and radicalisation is negative. But prisons are not just a threat – they can play a positive role in tackling problems of radicalisation and terrorism in society as a whole. Many of the examples in this report demonstrate how prisons can become net contributors to the fight against terrorism. Details: London: International Centre for the Study of Radicalisation and Political Violence, 2010. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 1, 2010 at: http://www.icsr.info/publications/papers/1277699166PrisonsandTerrorismRadicalisationandDeradicalisationin15Countries.pdf Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.icsr.info/publications/papers/1277699166PrisonsandTerrorismRadicalisationandDeradicalisationin15Countries.pdf Shelf Number: 120329 Keywords: Extremist GroupsPrisonsTerrorismTerrorists |
Author: Anex Title: With Conviction: The Case for Controlled Needle and Syringe Programs in Australian Prisons Summary: The financial efficiency and health effectiveness of Australian needle and syringe programs (NSPs) are well established. The effectiveness of NSPs in prisons has also been proven in numerous settings, particularly in Europe. Yet in Australian prisons, where the incidence of blood borne viruses is far higher than in the community, there has never been a needle and syringe exchange trial. The Australian Government recently issued HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevention strategies as well the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Blood Borne Viruses and Sexually Transmissible Infections Strategy. All three strategies recommend that State and Territory governments identify prisons for controlled NSP trials. This paper by the Harm Minimisation in Prisons Committee outlines the main reasons why community health is threatened by the high rates of drug injecting and sharing of unsterile needles in prisons. It argues that Australians concerned with community health should support clinical trials of this important intervention. The purpose of the trial would be to examine how best to implement prison-based NSPs. Details: Melbourne: Anex, 2010. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 1, 2010 at: http://www.anex.org.au/downloads/HMPC%20Paper%20on%20NSP%20in%20Prison%20-%20October%202010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Australia URL: http://www.anex.org.au/downloads/HMPC%20Paper%20on%20NSP%20in%20Prison%20-%20October%202010.pdf Shelf Number: 120334 Keywords: Drug OffendersHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Inmates (Australia)Needle Exchange ProgramsPrisons |
Author: Guerino, Paul Title: Sexual Victimization Reported by Adult Correctional Authorities, 2007-2008 Summary: This report examines 2007 and 2008 data from the Survey of Sexual Violence (SSV). Conducted since 2004, the SSV is an annual collection of official records on incidents of inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate sexual victimization. This report presents counts of nonconsensual sexual acts, abusive sexual contacts, staff sexual misconduct, and staff sexual harassment reported to correctional authorities in adult prisons, jails, and other adult correctional facilities. Appendix tables include counts of sexual victimization, by type, for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, all state systems, and surveyed jail jurisdictions. An in-depth examination of substantiated incidents is also presented, covering the number and characteristics of victims and perpetrators, location, time of day, nature of the injuries, impact on the victims, and sanctions imposed on the perpetrators. Highlights include the following: Correctional administrators reported 7,444 allegations of sexual victimization in 2008 and 7,374 allegations in 2007. About 54% of substantiated incidents of sexual victimization involved only inmates, while 46% of substantiated incidents involved staff with inmates. Female inmates were disproportionately victimized by both other inmates and staff in federal and state prisons, as well as local jails. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2011. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: BJS Special Report: Accessed February 2, 2011 at: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svraca0708.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/content/pub/pdf/svraca0708.pdf Shelf Number: 120662 Keywords: InmatesJailsPrison RapePrisoners, Sexual VictimizationPrisonsSexual AssaultSexual Violence |
Author: Shelden, Randall G. Title: The Prison Industry Summary: This report summarizes numerous prison topics to include information about: ◦incarceration in the United States versus worldwide incarceration rates ◦prisons as a market for profits ◦the prison-building frenzy ◦cashing in on crime ◦and matters revolving around privatization of prisons. Details: San Francisco, CA: Center on Juvenile & Criminal Justice, 2010. 25p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 2, 2011 at: http://www.cjcj.org/files/The_Prison_Industry.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.cjcj.org/files/The_Prison_Industry.pdf Shelf Number: 120665 Keywords: Prison AdministrationPrison PrivatizationPrisons |
Author: Canada. Parliament. House of Commons. Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security Title: Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Addiction in the Federal Correctional System Summary: Correctional institutions in Canada, like those in many countries, including Norway and England, accommodate large numbers of inmates suffering from mental disorders and drug and alcohol addiction. In Canada, some 80% of offenders serving prison sentences of two years or more have problems with drugs and/or alcohol. Approximately one in ten male inmates (12%), and one in five female inmates (21%), suffer from serious mental disorders upon admission to a federal correctional institution. This is not a recent development. Research has clearly shown that the correctional community, here as in elsewhere, is in poorer health overall than the population at large. The House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (hereafter the Committee) is concerned however about the scope of this phenomenon within Canada’s federal correctional system, and the lack of resources to enable Correctional Service Canada (CSC), which is responsible for the custody of offenders sentenced to two years or more, to meet the growing mental health and addiction needs of federal offenders. This report contains the Committee’s observations and recommendations based on its review of the policies, practices and programs adopted by CSC to provide treatment and support for federal offenders affected by mental disorders or addiction. The review highlighted the urgent need for an expansion of CSC’s capacity to meet the growing needs of these offenders. The situation demands decisive federal government action; the Committee believes this should include the immediate allocation of additional financial resources to CSC for this purpose. The CSC should in turn give priority to improving how it deals with mental health disorders and addiction issues. This is a public safety issue because offenders who fail to receive appropriate treatment while in custody are more likely to reoffend after release, thus threatening the security of all Canadians. That said, the Committee agrees with those who have testified before it that as far as possible, people suffering from mental disorders and addictions should not end up in detention because of these problems or the lack of community ressources. Correctional institutions should not be serving as hospitals by default. In general, prison is not suited to caring for people affected by such problems. Indeed, mental health experts agree that the prison environment is harmful to mental health. Moreover, because of the constraints inherent in the prison setting, therapeutic interventions are complicated and expensive. Like its witnesses, the Committee has concluded that CSC alone cannot cope with mental health and addiction problems in prisons. The criminalization and incarceration of those suffering from mental disorders or addictions is part of a broader context in which various players—government and non-government agencies—are active: the healthcare, social services and justice sectors. To avoid imprisoning people inappropriately because of their mental health disorders or addictions, all participants in the system have to work more closely together. Governments will have to establish a comprehensive, integrated and efficient mental health system based on promoting mental health and preventive care, early detection of mental disorders and addictions, access in the community to effective care and treatment and, as appropriate, the reintegration of those affected. The Committee’s study has also shed light on the need for rapid intervention, well before those concerned come into conflict with the law. When a crime is committed, there must be a capacity to assess the mental health of the accused in order to refer him or her to appropriate healthcare and support services and acquaint court officials with the accused’s requirements. The Committee shares the view of most of its witnesses that such an approach is more consistent with the rights of those suffering from mental disorders and addictions and could generate substantial cost savings in the long run. Imprisonment is expensive and generally unsuited to caring for those rendered vulnerable by mental disorders and addiction issues. Details: Ottawa: The Committee, 2010. 97p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2011 at: http://www.hsjcc.on.ca/Uploads/commons%20report%20on%20offender%20mh%20dec%202010.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Canada URL: http://www.hsjcc.on.ca/Uploads/commons%20report%20on%20offender%20mh%20dec%202010.pdf Shelf Number: 120683 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsInmates (Canada)Mental Health ServicesMentally Ill OffendersPrisonsRehabilitationSubstance Abuse |
Author: Bartlett, Tess Title: The Power of Penal Populism: Public Influences on Penal and Sentencing Policy from 1999 to 2008 Summary: This thesis explains the rise and power of penal populism in contemporary New Zealand society. It argues that the rise of penal populism can be attributed to social, economic and political changes that have taken place in New Zealand since the postwar years. These changes undermined the prevailing penal-welfare logic that had dominated policymaking in this area since 1945. It examines the way in which ‘the public’ became more involved in the administration of penal policy from 1999 to 2008. The credibility given to a law and order referendum in 1999, which drew attention to crime victims and ‘tough on crime’ discourse, exemplified their new role. In its aftermath, greater influence was given to the public and groups speaking on its behalf. The referendum also influenced political discourse in New Zealand, with politicians increasingly using ‘tough on crime’ policies in election campaigns as it was believed that this was what ‘the public’ wanted when it came to criminal justice issues. As part of these developments, the thesis examines the rise of the Sensible Sentencing Trust, a unique law and order pressure group that advocates for victims’ rights and the harsh treatment of offenders. The Trust became an increasingly authoritative voice in both the public and political arena, as public sentiments came to overrule expert knowledge in the administration of penal policy. Ultimately, it argues that the power of penal populism is so strong in New Zealand that attempts to resist it are likely to come to little, unless these forces that brought it to prominence can be addressed and negated. To date, this has not happened. Details: Wellington, NZ: School of Social and Cultural Studies, Victoria University of Wellington, 2009. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 5, 2011 at: http://www.rethinking.org.nz/assets/Newsletter_PDF/Issue_84/T%20Bartlett%20Thesis%202009.pdf Year: 2009 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.rethinking.org.nz/assets/Newsletter_PDF/Issue_84/T%20Bartlett%20Thesis%202009.pdf Shelf Number: 121249 Keywords: Criminal Justice PolicyImprisonmentPrisonsPublic AttitudesPunishmentSentencing (New Zealand) |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Bureau of Prisons: Evaluating the Impact of Protective Equipment Could Help Enhance Officer Safety Summary: The Department of Justice's (DOJ) Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages more than 209,000 inmates, up 45 percent between fiscal years 2000 and 2010. As the prison population grows, so do concerns about correctional officer safety. As requested, GAO examined the (1) equipment that BOP and selected state departments of corrections (DOC) provide to protect officers, and the officers' and other correctional practitioners' opinions of this equipment; (2) extent to which BOP has evaluated the effectiveness of this equipment, and factors correctional equipment experts consider important to the acquisition of new equipment; and (3) institutional factors correctional accrediting experts reported as impacting officer safety, and the extent to which BOP has evaluated the effectiveness of the steps it has taken in response. GAO reviewed BOP policies and procedures; interviewed BOP officials and officers within BOP's six regions, selected based on such factors as the level of facility overcrowding; interviewed officials at 14 of the 15 largest state DOCs; and surveyed 21 individuals selected for their expertise in corrections. The results of the interviews cannot be generalized, but provide insight into issues affecting officer safety. BOP and 14 state DOCs included in GAO's review provide a variety of protective equipment to officers, but BOP officers and management have different views on equipment. BOP generally provides officers with radios, body alarms, keys, flashlights, handcuffs, gloves, and stab-resistant vests while on duty, but prohibits them from storing personal firearms on BOP property, with limited exceptions. DOC officials in 14 states GAO interviewed provided examples of equipment they allow officers to carry while on duty that BOP does not--such as pepper spray--and officials in 9 of the 14 states reported allowing officers to store personal firearms on state DOC property. BOP and states provide similar equipment to protect officers in an emergency, such as an inmate riot or attack. Most BOP officers with whom GAO spoke reported that carrying additional equipment while on duty and commuting would better protect officers, while BOP management largely reported that officers did not need to carry additional equipment to better protect them. BOP has not evaluated the effectiveness of equipment it provides in ensuring officer safety, and correctional equipment experts report that BOP needs to consider a variety of factors in acquisition decisions. Neither the officials nor the experts with whom GAO spoke reported that they were aware of or had conducted evaluations of the effectiveness of equipment in ensuring officer safety, although BOP tracks information necessary to do so in its data systems. By using information in these existing systems, BOP could analyze the effectiveness of the equipment it distributes in ensuring officer safety, thus helping it determine additional actions, if any, to further officer safety and better target limited resources. All of the correctional equipment experts GAO spoke with reported that BOP would need to consider factors such as training, replacement, maintenance, and liability, as well as whether the equipment met performance standards, if it acquired new equipment. These experts suggested that any decision must first be based upon a close examination of the benefits and risk of using certain types of equipment. For example, while state officials reported that pepper spray is inexpensive and effective, a majority of the BOP management officials we spoke with stated that it could be taken by inmates and used against officers. Correctional accrediting experts most frequently cited control over the inmate population, officer training, inmate gangs, correctional staffing and inmate overcrowding as the institutional factors--beyond equipment--most impacting officer safety. These experts suggested various strategies to address these factors, and BOP reported taking steps to do so, such as conducting annual training on BOP policies, identifying and separating gang members, and converting community space into inmate cells. BOP has assessed the effectiveness of steps it has taken in improving officer safety. For instance, a 2001 BOP study found that inmates who participated in BOP's substance abuse treatment program were less likely than a comparison group to engage in misconduct for the remainder of their sentence following program completion. BOP utilizes such studies to inform its decisions, such as eliminating programs found to be ineffective. GAO recommends that BOP's Director assess whether the equipment intended to improve officer safety has been effective. BOP concurred with this recommendation Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2011. 70p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-11-410: Accessed April 12, 2011 at: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11410.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11410.pdf Shelf Number: 121313 Keywords: Correctional FacilitiesCorrectional PersonnelCorrections OfficersPrisonsRisk AssessmentRisk ManagementWeapons |
Author: Atabay, Tomris Title: Afghanistan: Implementing Alternatives to Imprisonment, in Line with International Standards and National Legislation Summary: The current assessment forms part of UNODC’s programme to extend penitentiary reform to the provinces of Afghanistan (AFG/R87), building on the UNODC penitentiary reform project ongoing in Afghanistan since 2003 (AFG/R41). The project includes the introduction of initiatives to increase the use of alternatives to prison, in line with the recommendations of international standards, to complement a range of other activities focusing on the infrastructural, normative and operational priorities in the penitentiary system. The assessment provides a review of existing legislation, in terms of their provisions for non-custodial measures and sanctions, with particular focus on the provisions for offenders with mental healthcare needs, drug users, women, juveniles and first time non-violent offenders. It analyses information gathered in Kabul, as regards offences committed by some of these groups and sentences received, with a view to assessing the application of existing provisions for alternatives and potential for expanding the use of non-custodial sanctions and measures. It reviews the capacity of criminal justice institutions and services in the community, provided by the State and NGOs, to implement and support non-custodial measures and sanctions. It comments on the current discussion on forming links with the informal justice structures for diversion from the criminal justice system. Finally, it puts forward a series of recommendations to increase the implementation in practice of existing alternatives to prison, to expand non-custodial measures and sanctions in legislation, and to initiate practical steps to ensure that legislation is applied, and applied to enhance the social reintegration prospects of offenders. The assessment and recommendations are guided by international instruments, including: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; United Nations Standards Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners; United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for Non-custodial Measures (Tokyo Rules); United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Administration of Juvenile Justice (Beijing Rules); United Nations Principles for the protection of persons with mental illness and the improvement of mental healthcare (Mental Illness Principles) and United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances. The assessment has been prepared in the context of priorities and goals set by the Afghanistan Compact, within the overall framework of the Afghanistan National Development Strategy (ANDS), and decisions taken at the Justice and Rule of Law Conference held in Rome in July 2007. Details: New York, United Nations, 2008. 120p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 20, 2011 at: http://ar.unrol.org/files/Afghanistan_Implementing_Alternatives_Imprisonment[1].pdf Year: 2008 Country: Afghanistan URL: http://ar.unrol.org/files/Afghanistan_Implementing_Alternatives_Imprisonment[1].pdf Shelf Number: 121453 Keywords: Alternatives to Incarceration (Afghanistan)CorrectionsCriminal Justice SystemsPrisons |
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 ProgramsPrisonersPrisonsRehabilitation |
Author: Alexander, Elizabeth Title: Michigan Breaks the Political Logjam: A New Model for Reducing Prison Populations Summary: The United States has adopted a set of criminal justice policies that has produced a tidal wave of imprisonment in this country. Between 1970 and 2005, the number of men, women, and children locked up in this country has grown by an historically unprecedented 700%. As a result, the United States locks up almost a quarter of the prisoners in the entire world. In fact, if all our prisoners were confined in one city, that city would be the fourth largest in the country. This tidal wave of mass incarceration has a devastating effect on those communities, mostly poor and minority, whose residents so disproportionately end up in our prisons. Of course, it is critical to prevent crime, but we need to ask if mass incarceration is really necessary to protect our public safety. Michigan’s experience offers a persuasive answer to that question. Between March 2007 and November 2009, Michigan did something remarkable. It reduced its prison population by roughly 8% during an era in which our incarcerated population continues its unprecedented growth nationally. Perhaps equally remarkable, Michigan accomplished this feat of “breaking the political logjam,” as the Deputy Director of the Department of Corrections phrased it, without provoking a backlash that public officials have been insufficiently “tough on crime.” Because these changed policies will also result in increased public safety, Michigan for the first time provides a possible model for other states seeking a smarter and more affordable criminal justice policy. This report examines the measures that Michigan took to bring about that turn-around. Most significantly, these changes did not require the legislature to change the statutory penalties for criminal offenses. Michigan’s successful reforms primarily involve the parole process, based on research that has identified practices and techniques that increase the accuracy of predicting which offenders can be safely released. The changes involve, however, far more than simply encouraging the parole board to increase its rate of approval of discretionary parole. The new policies are designed to provide offenders with individualized programing in prison, and re-entry services upon release, that are most likely to assure success on parole, based on evidence of what works to reduce crime and save money. Because Michigan’s reforms are designed to fit into the specific structure of its system, they cannot simply be replicated in states lacking discretionary parole. The Michigan reforms are nonetheless important, because the nation’s current level of incarceration is morally wrong and bad public policy, and because we can no longer afford to incarcerate 2.3 million people. Our nation’s criminal justice policy requires fundamental change, and Michigan provides one example of how that change can work. Details: New York: American Civil Liberties Union, 2009. 19p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 28, 2011 at: http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/2009-12-18-MichiganReport.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United States URL: http://www.aclu.org/files/assets/2009-12-18-MichiganReport.pdf Shelf Number: 121567 Keywords: Alternatives to IncarcerationCosts of Criminal JusticeIncarceration (Michigan)ParolePrisoner ReentryPrisonsRisk Assessment |
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 dierent 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 RightsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Justice Policy Institute Title: Gaming the System: How the Political Strategies of Private Prison Companies Promote Ineffective Incarceration Policies Summary: At a time when many policymakers are looking at criminal and juvenile justice reforms that would safely shrink the size of our prison population, the existence of private prison companies creates a countervailing interest in preserving the current approach to criminal justice and increasing the use of incarceration. While private prison companies may try to present themselves as just meeting existing demand for prison beds and responding to current market conditions, in fact they have worked hard over the past decade to create markets for their product. As revenues of private prison companies have grown over the past decade, the companies have had more resources with which to build political power, and they have used this power to promote policies that lead to higher rates of incarceration. For-profit private prison companies primarily use three strategies to influence policy: lobbying, direct campaign contributions, and building relationships, networks, and associations. As policymakers and the public are increasingly coming to understand that incarceration is not only breaking the bank, but it’s also not making us safer, will this shrink the influence of private prison companies? Or will they use their growing financial muscle to consolidate and expand into even more areas of the justice system? Much will depend on the extent that people understand the role for-profit private prison companies have already played in raising incarceration rates and harming people and communities, and take steps to ensure that in the future, community safety and well-being, and not profits, drive our justice policies. One thing is certain: in this political game, the private prison industry will look out for their own interests. Details: Washington, DC: Justice Policy Institute, 2011. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 21, 2011 at: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/gaming_the_system.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.justicepolicy.org/uploads/justicepolicy/documents/gaming_the_system.pdf Shelf Number: 121967 Keywords: PrisonsPrivate PrisonsPrivatization |
Author: Harcourt, Bernard Title: Reducing Mass Incarceration: Lessons from the Deinstitutionalization of Mental Hospitals in the 1960s Summary: In 1963, President Kennedy outlined a federal program designed to reduce by half the number of persons in custody in mental hospitals. What followed was the biggest deinstitutionalization this country has ever seen. The historical record is complex and the contributing factors are several, but one simple fact remains: This country has deinstitutionalized before. As we think about reducing mass incarceration today, it may be useful to recall some lessons from the past. After tracing the historical background, this essay explores three potential avenues to reduce mass incarceration: First, improving mental health treatment to inmates and exploring the increased use of medication, on a voluntary basis, as an alternative to incarceration; in a similar vein, increasing the use of GPS monitoring and other biometric monitoring, and moving toward the legalization of lesser controlled substances. Second, encouraging federal leadership to create funding incentives for diversionary programs that would give states a financial motive to move prisoners out of the penitentiary and into community-based programs. Third, encouraging impact litigation of prison overcrowding, as well as documentaries of prison life, as a way to influence the public perception of prisoners. With regard to each of these strategies, however, it is crucial to avoid the further racialization of the prison population and merely transferring prisoners to equally problematic institutions. Details: Chicago: University of Chicago Law School, 2011. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: University of Chicago Law & Economics, Olin Working Paper No. 542 University of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 335: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1748796 Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1748796 Shelf Number: 122414 Keywords: DeinstitutionalizationImprisonment (U.S.)JailsMass IncarcerationMental HealthMentally IllPrisons |
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 SurveillancePrisonersPrisonsRational Choice Theory |
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 DetentionPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Bastick, Megan Title: The Role of Penal Reform in Security Sector Reform Summary: Penal reform activities have been carried on in Europe and the United States since at least the late eighteenth century. Security sector reform (SSR), a much newer concept, is a governance-driven approach that looks to strengthen the roles of both state and non-state actors to deliver security to individuals and communities. As such, attention to the penal system is important in any comprehensive SSR process. However, much SSR programming overlooks penal elements, and lessons learnt through long experience in penal reform have not been applied to other SSR activities. There is limited discourse between the penal reform community ofpractice and the wider SSR community. This paper seeks to initiate a dialogue concerning the relationship between penal reform and wider security sector reform and governance. It is based on desk research and a number of interviews with penal reform practitioners. Details: Geneva: Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF), 2010. 78p. Source: Internet Resource: CDAF Occasional Papers No. 18: Accessed November 15, 2011 at: http://www.dcaf.ch/DCAF-Migration/KMS/Publications/The-Role-of-Penal-Reform-in-Security-Sector-Reform Year: 2010 Country: International URL: http://www.dcaf.ch/DCAF-Migration/KMS/Publications/The-Role-of-Penal-Reform-in-Security-Sector-Reform Shelf Number: 123352 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationPrison AdministrationPrison ReformPrisons |
Author: Davies, Elizabeth Title: Impact & Influence: The Role of Local Jurisdictions in Managing Prison Population Size Summary: Budgetary pressures, court mandates on crowding, and social justice concerns have prompted many states throughout the country to develop laws and administrative policies intended to control the size of the prison population. While long-term strategies often look to offender rehabilitation and reductions in new criminal activity to achieve this goal, the most common short-term strategies focus on requiring, encouraging, and permitting decision makers to use local options in lieu of prison at the time of sentencing, inmate release and transfer, and supervision violation response. By modifying decision making at the system points that influence prison population size, legislatures and other state-level policy makers hope to avert projected growth in prison populations, control corrections spending, and potentially reinvest in strategies that have been shown to improve public safety. Although many strategies to control the size of the prison population are developed in consultation with local stakeholders, a number of states create policy that relies on local jurisdictions to assume responsibility for the offender population without fully considering how this shift might impact the resources and capacity of jails, supervision offices, and community service and treatment providers. Further, they often do not account for how the policies and practices of those local agencies, which are largely responsible for the day-to-day operation of the criminal justice system, can influence the success of state prison population control efforts. Incarceration is not a problem limited to state government, nor can its solutions be conceived and executed solely by state governments. In designing strategies to manage the size of the prison population, states must consider the effect that these changes will have on local jurisdictions and the important role of local policy and support in the success of their efforts. The purpose of this white paper is to explore the role of local jurisdictions in state prison population management strategies by examining the three policy levers in the criminal justice system that can most directly and immediately influence the number of people in prison. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, Justice Policy Center, 2011. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: White Paper: Accessed January 26, 2012 at: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412437-Role-of-Local-Jurisdictions.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412437-Role-of-Local-Jurisdictions.pdf Shelf Number: 123760 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCosts of Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice PoliciesPrison AdministrationPrisons |
Author: Gilroy, Leonard Title: Annual Privatization Report 2010: Corrections Summary: This section of Reason Foundation's Annual Privatization Report 2010 provides an overview of the latest news and trends in corrections public-private partnerships (PPPs). Topics include: corrections PPPs in 2010; corrections PPPs Bring Savings in Texas, Florida; State Spotlight: Arizona; State Spotlight: California; State Spotlight: Florida; leveraging the Power of PPPs in Correctional Rehabilitation; corrections 2.0: A Proposal to Create a Continuum of Care in Corrections through Public-Private Partnerships. Details: Los Angeles, CA: The Reason Foundation, 2011. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed on February 3, 2012 at http://reason.org/files/corrections_annual_privatization_report_2010.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://reason.org/files/corrections_annual_privatization_report_2010.pdf Shelf Number: 123929 Keywords: Correctional Institutions (Texas, Florida, ArizonaPrisonsPrivatization |
Author: Hopper, Allen Title: Public Safety Realignment: California at a Crossroads Summary: California is at a criminal justice crossroads. After decades of “tough on crime” policies and draconian sentencing practices, the state correctional system—one of the largest incarcerators in the largest incarcerating country in the world—finally buckled under its own weight. Faced with a historic U.S. Supreme Court order requiring the state to reduce overcrowding, California made a momentous decision: it would no longer take into state facilities or under state custody most people convicted of low-level, non-violent offenses, instead tasking counties with dealing with these individuals at the local level. Legislatively codified as the Public Safety Realignment Act, or Assembly Bill 109 (AB 109), this major policy shift has put California’s 58 counties in the driver’s seat. Each county will choose its own path, but their futures are intertwined. Poor implementation in one county will inevitably affect others. All will affect California taxpayers. The ACLU has conducted an in-depth review of all 53 available county realignment implementation plans, and we have analyzed the statutory changes and related state laws and budget allocations. We have identified four major interrelated themes: • A troubling lack of state monitoring, data collection, outcome measurements and funding incentives to help counties successfully implement realignment. • A dramatic increase in spending on county jails—facilitated by billions of dollars in state funding—particularly in those counties that have historically sent more people to state prison for low-level, non-violent offenses. • A shockingly high number of people who present no real threat to public safety being held in county jails before having their day in court, incarcerated without trial simply because they cannot afford bail. • A promising commitment—though not yet realized—by many counties to adopt alternatives to incarceration and evidence-based practices to reduce recidivism. A few counties are adopting innovative programs and approaches that can serve as models for the rest of the state, but all too often our analysis revealed few, if any, resources allocated for such programs. Details: San Francisco: American Civil Liberties Union of California, 2012. 112p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2012 at: http://aclusandiego.org/article_downloads/001251/Public%20Safety%20Realignment%20FINAL%20.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://aclusandiego.org/article_downloads/001251/Public%20Safety%20Realignment%20FINAL%20.pdf Shelf Number: 124645 Keywords: Criminal Justice Systems (California)Prison OvercrowdingPrisons |
Author: Varrette, Steven Title: A Review of Use of Force in Three Types of Correctional Facilities Summary: The study provides a descriptive analysis of a sample of 185 randomly selected use of force incidents investigated by the Correctional Service of Canada’s Incident Investigations Branch (CSC) between 2003 and 2007. The reports were stratified to equally represent each of the four years in the study and categorised into three groups based on types of institutions where the event occurred: treatment centres, non-treatment centre institutions, and institutions for women. The study examined how use of force was carried out within CSC, the circumstances that triggered the use of force, the type of offenders involved in the incidents, and how well staff complied with policies related to use of force. Data collection was completed from two sources: (1) file reviews of the use of force incidents from records management at National Headquarters; and (2) background information on the offenders involved in the incidents from the Offender Management System. Of the 185 cases reviewed, 64% of incidents were from treatment centres, 26% were from men’s institutions, and 9% were from women’s institutions. Results from this research indicate that the most common reasons for CSC staff to use force were due to offenders refusing direct orders or becoming aggressive or threatening. It was more common in the women’s institutions that use of force occurred due to an offender initiating self-injurious behaviour. Overall, it appears that use of force is applied when offenders become non-compliant towards correctional staff orders or when they behave violently towards staff or themselves. The most frequent types of force applied were verbal orders, followed by physical handling/escort, and the use of restraint equipment (soft restraints, handcuffs, leg irons, or body belts). Other common types of force used were Institutional Emergency Response Team presence and chemical agents/inflammatory sprays. In the course of the use of force incidents reviewed, the majority of inmates and staff received no injuries. When injuries occurred, they were minor including scratches, bruises and eye irritation. Fourteen offenders from the sample made allegations of excessive use of force. Upon review, however, all these allegations were ruled unfounded. Once use of force has been administered, the incident must undergo an institutional, regional, and national review related to Health Care involvement in the incident and post incident. These reviews indicated that the majority of violations of health care guidelines were technical or administrative in nature. Although a significant proportion of the incidents involved procedural violations, most of these were related to issues of problematic documentation or video recording. The most common violation was related to documentation not being appropriately completed or signed. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2011. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 2011 Nº R-236; Accessed April 16, 2012 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r236/r236-eng.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/text/rsrch/reports/r236/r236-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 124979 Keywords: Correctional Institutions (Canada)Correctional OfficersCorrectional Treatment CentersPrison DisciplinePrison Guards, Use of ForcePrison Health CarePrisons |
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)PrisonersPrisons |
Author: Helyar-Cardwell, Vicki, ed. Title: Delivering Justice The Role of the Public, Private and Voluntary Sectors in Prisons and Probation Summary: The number of people in the criminal justice system has increased extraordinarily over the last two decades. The focus is often on rocketing prison numbers – quite rightly lambasted as one of the worst features of this extraordinary growth. But, so too have the numbers on community sentences increased over the last two decades; the probation service now manages some 230,000 offenders in the community. This huge increase in scope of the justice system come at a significant financial cost. For example, investment in prisons has increased by nearly 40% in real terms between 2003-04 and 2008-09, from £2.52bn to £3.98bn a year. Despite this, capacity has not been able to meet demand, and as a result the prison system is severely overcrowded. So too in the community, the challenge of high probation caseloads is well known. As well as questions about whether the size and scope of our criminal justice system, in particular the custodial estate, is necessary and appropriate, to which the answer is surely no, there is also debate about how the government intends to financially sustain the functions of the justice system whilst maintaining historic low crime rates, and what the respective roles of the private, public and voluntary sectors should be in delivering these functions. Private prisons were first introduced to the UK in the 1990s and represent part of the move from the 1980s onwards towards greater competition across a range of public services. The catalyst for prison privatisation was to address overcrowding, reduce costs and to some degree improve standards. The involvement of private companies in building, financing and operating custodial facilities has been endorsed and expanded by the former Conservative administration, New Labour and now the Coalition government. Despite being strongly against private prisons in their time in opposition in the 1990s, once elected, the Labour government, faced by a spiralling prison population, quickly announced that they would be allowing private companies to bid for the running of new prisons, and that existing private prisons would not be taken back into the public sector. A consensus had now been reached amongst the major parties in support of privately-run prisons. Despite this political consensus, there has been a consistent critique, including from academics (Teague, 2010), the penal reform lobby (Neilson, 2009) and sections of the media (Monbiot, 2009). Following this initial foray in the 1990s, the next major step towards privatization was the establishment of the National Offender Management Service (NOMS) in 2004, with the intention of introducing ‘contestability’ throughout the prison and probation services. The review by Patrick Carter (2003), on which the structure of NOMS was based, argued for ‘greater use of competition from private and voluntary providers’ (p.5), and called for this to be extended to existing prisons. It was clear that Carter, and subsequently the Government, envisaged a much greater role for the private and voluntary sector in the criminal justice system, and that the introduction of NOMS was seen as a way of facilitating this. The second important development was the announcement in 2008 that a number of charities were bidding in partnership with private sector companies for prison contracts. While the voluntary sector has long worked in both public sector and privately-run prisons, delivering services to prisoners, this was seen as a significant change in the landscape. There are now charities and private companies running prisons and delivering large-scale payment-by-results contracts within prisons. Perhaps the most significant ‘step change’ has occurred over the last year or so. Although the majority of the UK prison estate is managed by the public sector, there are now currently 14 private or ‘contracted out’ prisons. Last year Birmingham was the first public sector prison transferred to private sector management, and the government is currently tendering out a further nine prisons. At the same time probation services are being radically reshaped. The majority of probation functions are being competed out, with advice to courts and the management of high risk individuals retained in public sector. Probation Trusts will inevitably merge to form fewer, larger entities and become commissioners of services at local level, although it is questionable how ‘local’ this will be. Clearly, cuts in public spending are a significant cause of the current quickening in the pace of the privatisation of the prison estate, based on the (contested) belief that privately-run prisons are cheaper than their public sector equivalents. As NOMS Business Plan 2012-2013 makes clear, the stated aim of government is to drive down prison place costs (MoJ, 2012). The Probation Service has undergone a 19% real terms budget cut since 2008-09, and this pressure on cost is set to continue. While the ongoing debate about competition is sometimes presented as peripheral to the overall future of criminal justice policy, it is in fact highly significant. The issue of who delivers criminal justice services is important, and must be informed by full and accurate analysis of the benefits of different approaches. This collection of essays is intended to be a contribution to this debate. Details: London: Criminal Justice Alliance, 2012. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2012 at: http://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/delivering_justice.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.criminaljusticealliance.org/delivering_justice.pdf Shelf Number: 125314 Keywords: Criminal Justice Systems (U.K.)PrisonsPrivate PrisonsPrivatizationProbationVolunteers in Criminal Justice |
Author: Covey, Russell D. Title: Death in Prison: The Right Death Penalty Compromise Summary: The death penalty today provides virtually none of the benefits its advocates proffer as justifications for its existence. The tiny number of death sentences imposed, the even tinier number actually carried out, the enormous drain on public resources, and the decade-long delays that inevitably occur thoroughly undermine any deterrent or retributive benefits today’s death penalty might otherwise provide. In this paper, I argue for a compromise position that promises to better serve penal purposes and that will save states money at the same time: abandon the current dysfunctional death penalty in favor of a new ultimate sentence: death-in-prison. A sentence of death-in-prison would be exactly what it says: a prisoner sentenced to death-in-prison would remain in prison until he or she died. Death-in-prison would be a kind of hybrid sentence: like life in prison without possibility of parole (“LWOP”), death-in-prison would entail lifetime incarceration but no affirmative state action to terminate the prisoner’s life, but death-in-prison would also share several features of the conventional death penalty. As with the conventional death penalty, a special penalty trial would be needed to impose the ultimate death-in-prison sentence. In addition, persons sentenced to death-in-prison might continue to serve their sentences in special segregated “death rows.” Death-in-prison sentences would also be imposed with all the magisterial weightiness of conventional death sentences. Persons so sentenced would be told, like those in conventional death penalty states, that the punishment for their crime is the ultimate one — death. If adopted, death-in-prison would reduce criminal justice expenditures, facilitate community healing, discourage divisive and ineffective commutation campaigns, and diminish wrongful executions, without forgoing what is arguably the greatest benefit of the current death penalty: the expressive value of imposing a “death” rather than a “life” sentence on highly culpable offenders. Details: Atlanta, GA: George State University College of Law, 2012. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 20, 2012 at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2080076 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2080076 Shelf Number: 125388 Keywords: Capital PunishmentDeath PenaltyPrisonsPunishment |
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 FacilitiesHuman RightsPrisonersPrisonsTorture (Syria) |
Author: Ashamu, Elizabeth Title: “Prison Is Not For Me”: Arbitrary Detention in South Sudan Summary: While ensuring accountability for crimes is a critical aspect of establishing the rule of law, arbitrary detention is rife in South Sudan, with individuals who should not have been detained at all spending months or even years in one of the country’s approximately 79 prisons. There are people in prison detained simply to compel the appearance of a relative or friend; because they were said to show evidence of mental disability; or because they are unable to pay a debt, court fine, or compensation award. Many are serving prison terms for adultery or for customary law crimes such as “elopement” or “pregnancy,” which place undue restrictions on the rights to privacy and to marry a spouse of one’s choice. Legal aid is almost totally absent, leaving individuals charged with crimes—the vast majority of whom are illiterate—unable to follow the status of their case or to call and prepare witnesses in their defense. In “Prison Is Not For Me” Arbitrary Detention in South Sudan, Human Rights Watch documents how, because of weaknesses across the criminal justice system, many of the approximately 6,000 individuals in South Sudan’s prisons are deprived of their liberty arbitrarily and should not be living behind bars. It also describes the grim conditions in which they live—overcrowded and unsanitary, and without adequate health care or food. In the face of severe underdevelopment and myriad long-term challenges, South Sudan’s leaders have voiced their commitment to uphold human rights. The government should urgently work to reduce arbitrary detentions by enacting legal and policy reforms that limit remand detention and end imprisonment for adultery and for non-payment of debts. It should also find a way to guarantee the right to legal aid, to ensure rule of law actors are sufficiently trained, and to provide proper care for people with mental disabilities outside of prison. Details: New York: Human Rights Watch, 2012. 105p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 10, 2012 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/southsudan0612_forinsert4Upload.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Sudan URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/southsudan0612_forinsert4Upload.pdf Shelf Number: 125534 Keywords: Arbitary DetentionHuman RightsInmatesPrisoners (South Sudan)Prisons |
Author: Byng, Richard Title: COCOA: Care for Offenders, Continuity of Access. Summary: The project aims to inform policy on improving health and reducing recidivism for offenders by examining access to, and continuity of, healthcare for people in contact with criminal justice agencies. Focus: The project has investigated the impact of health and criminal justice agencies on access and continuity of care. We carried out a multi-method investigation into the continuity of healthcare for offenders; interviewed 200 offenders; carried out 8 organisational case studies; developed a peer offender research group; and developed theory related to offender continuity of care. Key findings: Access and continuity of care for mental health problems was very low in comparison with care for substance misuse. Bothe the organisation of services and also offenders' beliefs and priorities contribute to poor engagement with initial and on-going mental health care. However, models of good practice can be found in isolated pockets across the UK. It is recomended that services for mental health care are best positioned in probation and as individuals leave prison in order to maximise chances of sustained engagement. The study population (prisoners and probationers), were predominantly male, white, skewed to 18-25 age range. Many had partners and children. 23% were employed and 20% homeless. Twenty seven percent had been in prison more than five times. Within the previous six months 37% rated their current health as poor. Fifty three percent reported drug misuse, 36% alcohol misuse, 15% severe and 59% moderate mental health problems. Only 4% believed they had no physical problems. Co-morbidity was typical. The majority of offenders were happy for health services to know about their CJS contact (79%), were willing to share medical information between services (82%), and preferred one person to have an overview of all their healthcare needs (81%). There were significantly more healthcare contacts in probation than in other CJS settings; predominantly for heroin, dependence forming 40% of all health contacts. However for physical problems, healthcare contact rates were significantly higher for prison when compared to other CJS settings. Overall contact rates for mental health problems were low, particularly for those without heroin misuse. Treatment recommended by health services for current health issues across the whole sample was received for the majority of dependency related (74%) and physical health (71%) problems, but for only 50% of the mental health problems reported. Participants in prison rated the quality of their healthcare contacts as significantly lower than in other contexts. Quality was rated higher for drug and mental health services. Participant reports and healthcare records of healthcare contacts were similar. Generally, participants recall was better for substance misuse services than others. Details: London: NIHR (National Institute for Health Research), 2012. 265p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2012 at: https://wombat.pcmd.ac.uk/document_manager/documents/files/primary_care/cocoa/COCOA_FINAL_REPORT.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://wombat.pcmd.ac.uk/document_manager/documents/files/primary_care/cocoa/COCOA_FINAL_REPORT.pdf Shelf Number: 125682 Keywords: Health CareMental Health ServicesPrisoners (U.K.)PrisonsProbationersRecidivism |
Author: Liebling, Alison Title: An Exploration of Staff-Prisoner Relationships at HMP Whitemoor: 12 Years On Summary: This original research represents a significant milestone in our understanding of the role of an effective prison officer and the crucial ways in which prison staff contribute to positive relationships with offenders. While it represents a snapshot shot of one high security prison at one particular point in time, its findings present National Offender Management Service with an opportunity to reflect on the impact of changes within the high security estate, and beyond, of demographics, sentence management, power dynamics, faith issues and the particular challenges posed by extremism and concerns around radicalisation. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2012. 201p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 25, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/staff-prisoner-relations-whitemoor.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/research-and-analysis/moj-research/staff-prisoner-relations-whitemoor.pdf Shelf Number: 125763 Keywords: Corrections OfficersPrison AdministrationPrison ManagementPrison StaffPrisoners (U.K.)PrisonsRadicalization |
Author: Males, Mike Title: Can California County Jails Absorb Low-Level State Prisoners? Summary: California spends nearly $1.3 billion per year to imprison 26,300 offenders whose primary sentencing offense was a low-level property or drug crime. For nearly 11,000 of these, the low-level sentencing offenses were classed as second or third strikes. The advisability of imposing long, strike-enhanced sentences for low-level second or third offenses is the subject of other publications. This publication focuses on the remaining 15,400 low-level, non-strike prisoners who constituted 9% of the state prison population as of December 31, 2009, and cost taxpayers nearly $750 million annually to lock up (CDCR, 2011). California counties vary 13-fold in their rates of sentencing such low-level offenders to California state prison, from 227 per 100,000 population in Kings County to 17 per 100,000 in Contra Costa (see Appendix). More than one-fourth of the total prisoners from Calaveras county were sentenced for low-level, non-strike offenses, five times the percentage in Los Angeles. Counties are imposing radically varying burdens on state taxpayers to incarcerate their lowpriority offenders at $50,000 each per year. This publication addresses the question of whether sufficient jail capacity is available at the county level to which state prisoners can be transferred in order to help achieve Governor Jerry Brown’s goal of reducing state prison populations by moving low-level offenders to local jails (CCPOA, 2011). Under Governor Jerry Brown’s realignment policies, counties will no longer be allowed to commit certain categories of offenders to state prison, but instead will be required to develop county-based alternatives. A second question involves how low-level offenders should be handled in terms of incarceration versus alternative sentencing. Details: San Francisco: Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, 2011. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Legislative Policy Study: Accessed July 25, 2012 at: http://www.cjcj.org/files/Can_California_County_Jails_Absorb_Low-Level_State_Prisoners.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://www.cjcj.org/files/Can_California_County_Jails_Absorb_Low-Level_State_Prisoners.pdf Shelf Number: 125765 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeCosts of ImprisonmentJails (California)PrisonsSentencing |
Author: Feldbaum, Mindy Title: The Greening of Corrections: Creating a Sustainable System Summary: Although the primary goal of corrections is safety for the community and for those housed and working within the facilities, increasingly, sustainability goals and strategies are being integrated into policies and plans within the corrections community. Accordingly, more and more leaders within corrections are evaluating the long-term impacts of its buildings, operations, and programs on the environment, community, and economy, and are making decisions on management, resource allocation, and programming based on green principles and practices. The greening of corrections provides an extraordinary opportunity to create more efficient, resilient, and sustainable prisons and jails, with benefits that include reducing the financial and human capital costs of prisons through reduced energy and resource consumption and engaging inmates in hands-on work experiences and education and training to prepare them for jobs in the emerging green economy. The paper focuses on the greening of correctional facilities and their operations; the education and training of inmates to prepare for reentry, including environmental literacy; the current landscape of the greening of correctional industries through processes, products and partnerships; and the greening of reentry programs. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. National Institute of Corrections, 2012. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 27, 2012 at: http://static.nicic.gov/Library/024914.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://static.nicic.gov/Library/024914.pdf Shelf Number: 126122 Keywords: Correctional FacilitiesCorrectional ProgramsEmployment ProgramsPrisoner ReentryPrisons |
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.)PrisonersPrisons |
Author: Great Britain. HM Inspectorate of Prisons Title: Remand Prisoners: A Thematic Review Summary: At any one time, remand prisoners make up about 15% of the prison population – about 12,000–13,000 prisoners. Women and those from black and minority ethnic and foreign national backgrounds are over-represented within the remand group. In 2010, 17% of defendants proceeded against at magistrates’ courts or tried at the Crown Court were acquitted or not proceeded against, and 25% received a non-custodial sentence. In total, approximately 29,400 prisoners were released after trial. This review examines the experience of young adult and adult remand (unconvicted and convicted unsentenced) prisoners in local prisons against the Inspectorate’s four healthy prison tests: safety, respect, purposeful activity and resettlement. It incorporates findings from survey data and inspection reports for 33 local prisons. Fieldwork was also conducted at five prisons and included focus groups with remand prisoners. Interviews with residential and resettlement managers gave an establishment perspective. We found that remand prisoners enter custody with multiple and complex needs that are equally, if not more, pervasive than among sentenced prisoners. However, despite a longestablished principle that remand prisoners – who have not been convicted or sentenced by a court – have rights and entitlements not available to sentenced prisoners, we found that many had a poorer regime, less support and less preparation for release. Remand prisoners are at an increased risk of suicide and self-harm and nearly a quarter (23%) in our survey said they had felt depressed or suicidal when they arrived at prison. Over threequarters of remand prisoners reported a welfare problem on arrival, and a third or more said they had a drug or mental health problem. Some prisoners in our groups had experienced high levels of stress and anxiety while their trial was in progress and they were uncertain about the outcome. However, in both the survey and focus groups, remand prisoners showed little awareness of support services available at the prison. Although most said they had received an induction, many prisoners in our groups felt that they had been given too much information to absorb at such a turbulent time. The Prison Rules 1999 set out legally binding entitlements for remand prisoners which recognise they have not been convicted or sentenced. However, within Prison Service policy a considerable amount of discretion is permitted to governors on implementing these entitlements. There is also an unresolved disjuncture between the Prison Rules and Prison Service policy, with the latter permitting remand prisoners to share cells with sentenced prisoners if they have consented, and the former appearing to suggest that remand and sentenced prisoners should under no circumstances be required to share a cell. Although sharing residential accommodation and cells with sentenced prisoners was the norm, few in our groups recalled being asked for their consent. Those in our groups felt that staff were unable to distinguish between remand and sentenced prisoners on the wings, and prisoners in our groups and staff we spoke to had limited or no knowledge of their entitlements. The right of remand prisoners to vote had not been facilitated at two of the five prisons visited. Remand prisoners were allowed to wear their own clothes at most establishments, but this was often hindered by complicated and prohibitive processes. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2012. 124p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 10, 2012 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmipris/thematic-reports-and-research-publications/remand-thematic.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/publications/inspectorate-reports/hmipris/thematic-reports-and-research-publications/remand-thematic.pdf Shelf Number: 126290 Keywords: Pretrial DetentionPrisonsRemand Prisoners (U.K.) |
Author: Bumby, Kurt Title: A Report to the Montana Department of Corrections on the Establishment of a Minimum Security Sex Offender Treatment Facility Summary: In February 2007, the Montana Legislature passed Senate Bill 547. In addition to modifying criminal penalties for those convicted of sex offenses, expanding registration laws, defining conditions and requirements for sex offender assessments and treatment, and other measures designed to strengthen Montana’s management of sex offenders, this Bill allows “the Department of Corrections to contract for a residential sexual offender treatment program.” Senate Bill 547 provides the opportunity to expand the capacity and continuum of treatment services for sex offenders and augment ancillary services for this population. Perhaps most importantly, it creates an opportunity for a systemwide strengthening of sex offender management policies and practices. Indeed, for this facility to be successful – with success defined as delivering to sex offenders the level and type of interventions that are most likely to result in recidivism reduction – the broader system of sex offender management must be observed. Recognizing the unique opportunity Senate Bill 547 offers, the Montana Department of Corrections (DOC) contracted with the Center for Sex Offender Management (CSOM) to provide recommendations for the establishment of this new facility and enhancement of the broader system of sex offender management that are necessary for supporting the success of the facility. The resulting report is comprised of three sections that are designed to provide the DOC with a comprehensive analysis that can assist them in these efforts. Section I outlines the rationale and scope of work for the consultants, which was not limited by an exclusive focus on the establishment of a minimum security sex offender treatment facility; rather, the consultants also explored critical areas of policy and practice in Montana that will ultimately influence the establishment and successful operation of this facility. Section II addresses four fundamental areas of sex offender management (assessment, treatment, supervision, and reentry). Within each of these areas, a summary of relevant contemporary research and practice, the consultants’ understanding and observations regarding policy and practice in Montana, and issues for consideration are included. Section III of the report includes the consultants’ suggestions regarding the parameters for defining the minimum security sex offender treatment facility’s offender population and programmatic structure, as well as key facility-specific and broader system supports. The extent to which Montana has embraced promising practices in many areas of sex offender management is particularly noteworthy. Indeed, the overall sex offender management structure currently in place has the potential to contribute significantly to public safety. At the same time, the need to develop a policy-driven approach to sex offender management within the state is evident. The existing structure can be strengthened by the establishment of a multidisciplinary policy-level group whose mission is to oversee and advance sex offender management policy and practice throughout the criminal justice system. Details: Silver Spring, MD: Center for Effective Public Policy, Center for Sex Offender Management, 2008. 83p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2012 at: http://cor.mt.gov/content/Resources/Reports/mtreportsexofftreatment.pdf Year: 2008 Country: United States URL: http://cor.mt.gov/content/Resources/Reports/mtreportsexofftreatment.pdf Shelf Number: 126354 Keywords: PrisonsSex Offender ManagementSex Offenders (Montana)Treatment Programs |
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 RightsPrisonersPrisons |
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: InmatesPrisonersPrisonsPunishment (U.S.) |
Author: Connor, John M. Title: Problems with Prison in International Cartel Cases Summary: Around the year 2000, the Antitrust Division announced a new policy that would substitute more frequent and more severe prison sentences for heavier corporate fines in criminal cartel cases. This article documents that the Division has indeed imprisoned more cartel managers and obtained longer sentences, but has failed to achieve other goals. The elimination of no-jail plea deals has not been realized; the number of imprisoned executives per firm has not risen appreciably; adoption of criminalization by other jurisdictions is glacial; almost half of those executive who go to trial are acquitted; extradition is rare and problematic; and the number of fugitives is growing. Identifying the optimal mix of corporate and individual sanctions for deterrence remains elusive. Details: West Lafayette, IN: Purdue University, 2012. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 17, 2012 at http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2166414 Year: 2012 Country: International URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2166414 Shelf Number: 127233 Keywords: Business CartelsCorporate CrimePrisonsSentencing |
Author: Vera Institute of Justice, Center on Sentencing and Corrections Title: Performance Incentive Funding: Aligning Fiscal and Operational Responsibility to Produce More Safety at Less Cost Summary: America’s tough-on-crime sentencing policies are often cited as the primary reason the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Yet there is another contributing factor that is often overlooked: a structural flaw in the way most states fund their criminal justice systems that discourages local decision makers from supervising offenders in the community and makes it easier to send them to prison. It is the state corrections agency that bears the cost of incarcerating people in prison. However, both the decision to send an offender to prison and the cost of keeping an offender in the community almost always rest with a different state agency or a local jurisdiction. This is true for either a new conviction or a revocation from probation or parole. In the eyes of local decision makers and in cases involving low-level offenders, sending someone to prison is all too often the preferred option because it saves the actual expense of supervision and avoids the political cost should an offender commit a serious crime while in the community. Because of ongoing state budget deficits and decades of prison population growth, state policymakers have recently begun to focus attention on this misalignment of fiscal and operational responsibility by devising solutions that make system actors more accountable and collaborative. Since 2003, eight states have enacted legislation creating performance incentive funding (PIF) programs that aim to align the interests of the state corrections agency and local decision makers. PIF programs are premised on the idea that if the supervision agency or locality sends fewer low-level offenders to prison—thereby causing the state to incur fewer costs—some portion of the state savings should be shared with the agency or locality. With PIF, agencies or localities receive a financial reward for delivering fewer prison commitments through reduced recidivism and revocations that, in turn, must be reinvested into evidence-based programs in the community. In September 2011, the Vera Institute of Justice, the Pew Center on the States, and Metropolis Strategies brought together more than 50 practitioners from the states that have enacted or were considering PIF legislation. In addition to outlining how PIF programs can lead to better offender outcomes while reducing overall corrections costs, this report discusses seven key challenges and tasks, identified by summit participants, that a state must address when designing and implementing a PIF program: (1) choosing an administrative structure, (2) selecting a funding mechanism, (3) deciding whether to provide seed funding, (4) selecting outcome measures, (5) determining baseline measures, (6) estimating savings, and (7) engaging stakeholders. The report suggests that including multiple measures to evaluate performance and determine eligibility for incentive funding, rather than focusing on just the single outcome of reduced prison commitments, will ensure that public safety is protected while positive outcomes are still achieved. This report also highlights the importance of incorporating evidence-based practices into the incentive funding structure and providing agencies and localities with the resources and support they need to pursue the program’s goals. A successful PIF program can significantly curb prison population growth and costs while increasing public safety: in the first year of its PIF program, California experienced a 23-percent drop in prison commitments of felony probationers, and $88 million of the savings was distributed to county probation agencies. Most important, PIF can transform public safety by contributing to a reduction in recidivism, crime, and revocation rates. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2012. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 23, 2013 at: http://www.vera.org/files/performance-incentive-funding-report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.vera.org/files/performance-incentive-funding-report.pdf Shelf Number: 127369 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice ExpendituresPrisonsSentencing (U.S.) |
Author: Stathopoulos, Mary Title: Addressing Women's Victimisation Histories in Custodial Settings Summary: In the last 20 years the numbers of women entering Australian prisons have risen dramatically. Many of these women have a history of sexual assault traumatisation from child sexual abuse as well as physical and sexual abuse they have encountered as adults. The prison system can often exacerbate trauma for female criminal offenders with a trauma history. This paper explores the prison as a possible site of re-traumatisation. The reasoning behind this is that prisons are built on an ethos of power, surveillance and control, yet trauma sufferers require safety in order to begin healing. A trauma-informed approach may offer an alternative to delivering a less traumatic prison environment and experience for female criminal offenders with a history of sexual abuse and assault. Key messages - Women enter prison with less serious criminal careers than men. - Women in prison have high rates of sexual abuse victimisation histories. - Women enter prison extremely disadvantaged, particularly in relation to mental health, re-victimisation, socio-economic status, substance abuse, being primary carers for dependent children and educational attainment. Many of these outcomes are the consequences associated with past histories of abuse/assault. - Penal environments are designed and built with an ethos of power and control and are often re-traumatising for female offenders with a sexual abuse victimisation history. - The key principles of trauma and gender may be utilised to create frameworks that can be applied in penal environments to address women's complex needs arising from a history of sexual victimisation. - Further research is required to test how the implementation of the key frameworks of trauma-informed care and practice, and gender-responsive frameworks would occur. Details: Melbourne: Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: ACSSA Issues, No. 13: Accessed January 29, 2013 at: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/i13/i13.pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: http://www.aifs.gov.au/acssa/pubs/issue/i13/i13.pdf Shelf Number: 127414 Keywords: Female Inmates (Australia)Female OffendersFemale Victims of CrimePrisonsSexual Assault |
Author: Deloitte Access Economics Title: An Economic Analysis for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Offenders. Prison vs Residential Treatment Summary: Deloitte Access Economics was appointed by NIDAC to: • examine the patterns and prevalence of Indigenous people in the prison system • outline the impact and implications of incarceration of Indigenous people, and • analyse the costs and benefits of addressing Indigenous problematic alcohol and drug use with treatment, particularly residential rehabilitation, as compared to prison. Indigenous Australians are over-represented in Australian prisons. At 30 June 2011, there were 29 106 prisoners in Australian prisons, of which 7656 (26%) were Indigenous (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011a). By comparison, 2.5 per cent of the total population was Indigenous in 2011 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011b). In 2010–11, the imprisonment rate for Indigenous adults (aged 18 years or over) was 1746.51 per 100 000 compared with a corresponding rate of 125.4 for non-Indigenous people — a ratio of Indigenous to non- Indigenous imprisonment rates of 13.9 (Steering Committee for the Review of Government Service Provision 2012). In 2011, 70 per cent of Indigenous prisoners convicted of a violent offence had been previously convicted, and 81 per cent of Indigenous prisoners convicted of a non-violent offence (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011a). Indigenous prisoners were more likely to have been convicted of a prior offence than non-Indigenous prisoners. The majority of prisoners whose primary conviction was non-violent faced sentences (or expected to serve time) of less than five years, with more than three-quarters expected to serve less than two years. Overall, the proportion of Indigenous prisoners with an expected serving time of less than two years was 31 per cent. Around 68 per cent of Indigenous (and 65 per cent of non-Indigenous) prison entrants selfreported having used illicit drugs during the preceding 12 months (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2011a). Of all Indigenous prison entrants, those aged 18–24 years old were most likely to have used illicit drugs (76%). Based on data from a New South Wales survey, Indigenous prisoners are also significantly more likely to be dependent on alcohol than non-Indigenous prisoners, and Indigenous men were significantly more likely to report that they were intoxicated at the time of the offence for which they were incarcerated (Indiget al. 2010). Over the course of 2011, approximately 2476 Indigenous men and 400 Indigenous women entered2 prisons in Australia (based on analysis of data from Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011a). For the purposes of this study, Indigenous people who experience problematic drug or alcohol use and who are in prison for non-violent offences were seen as potentially benefiting from diversion from prison into a residential treatment program. Approximately half of Indigenous prisoners linked their offending to drug and alcohol use — suggesting approximately 3827 Indigenous prisoners in 2011 (see section 2.2). Excluding those who stated that their most serious offence was a violent offence leaves approximately 1607 Indigenous prisoners in 2011 who committed a non-violent offence which they attributed to drug and alcohol use. There are many factors that influence the choice of treatment, and the appropriateness of diversion, so the estimates here should be interpreted as broad approximations. Nevertheless, the potential quantum of the offender population who could be considered for diversion into residential rehabilitation treatment is around 1600 in 2011. Details: Canberra: National Indigenous Drug and Alcohol Committee, Australian National Council on Drugs, 2012. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: ANCD Research Paper; 24: Accessed February 8, 2013 at: https://www.deloitteaccesseconomics.com.au/uploads/File/NIDAC_Deloitte%20Access%20Economics%20Report(1).pdf Year: 2012 Country: Australia URL: https://www.deloitteaccesseconomics.com.au/uploads/File/NIDAC_Deloitte%20Access%20Economics%20Report(1).pdf Shelf Number: 127551 Keywords: AboriginalsAlternatives to IncarcerationCommunity-based CorrectionsCosts of Criminal JusticeIndigenous OffendersIndigenous Peoples (Australia)Prisons |
Author: Gullberg, Sofia Title: The State of the Estate. Women in Prison’s Report on the Women’s Custodial Estate 2011-12 Summary: Five years on from the Corston report and two years since the Bangkok Rules, Women in Prison’s flagship report “The State of the Estate” is the first of its kind and a unique piece of research. It provides accessible, like-for-like data on all 15 women’s prison in the UK and is intended to serve as a useful tool for researchers, policy makers and criminal justice practitioners alike. This first report will stand as a benchmark to measure future developments against. The section titled “What the women say: A day in the life of a woman prisoner” is a collection of first-hand accounts from women across the prison estate. This section complements the statistical parts of the report and provides us with a human account of the day-to-day reality of life in prison today. The report also looks at the UK female custodial estate from a human rights perspective. It provides the first evaluation of the UK Government's compliance with the UN Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (known as the Bangkok Rules). This section outlines and explains the Rules in terms of both theoretical policy and practical application while evaluating progress. Another key part of the report is a “spotlight issue”. The focus we have chosen for the 2011-12 report is mental health - an issue that really goes to the core of questioning the extent of custodial sentencing for women with mental health issues. Details: London: Women in Prison, 2013. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 11, 2013 at: http://www.womeninprison.org.uk/userfiles/file/StateoftheEstateReport.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.womeninprison.org.uk/userfiles/file/StateoftheEstateReport.pdf Shelf Number: 127564 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale Offenders (U.K.)Prisons |
Author: SpearIt Title: Facts and Fictions About Islam in Prison: Assessing Prisoner Radicalization in Post-9/11 America Summary: This report assesses the radicalization of Muslim prisoners in post-9/11 America. In the last decade, Muslim prisoners have been scrutinized for ties to terrorist and other extremist organizations, not to mention characterized as both a “threat” and a “danger” to national security, due to the influence of foreign jihadist movements. However, closer scrutiny shows that these fears have failed to materialize — indeed, despite the existence of an estimated 350,000 Muslim prisoners, there is little evidence of widespread radicalization or successful foreign recruitment, and only one documented case of prison-based terrorist activity. Nonetheless, some prison systems have implemented an aggressive posture toward these inmates and have made suppressive tactics their bedrock policy. This approach unfortunately overlooks Islam’s long history of positive influence on prisoners, including supporting inmate rehabilitation for decades. Moreover, Muslim inmates have a long history of using the court system to establish and expand their rights to worship and improve their conditions of confinement. Hence, a closer look at “life on the ground” turns the prevailing discourse on its head by demonstrating that Islam generally brings peace to inmates and that the greatest “threat” posed by Muslim inmates is not violence, but lawsuits. Details: Saint, Louis, MO: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, 2013. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Institute for Social Policy and Understanding, January 2013 Saint Louis U. Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2013-5: Accessed February 11, 2013 at: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2206583 Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2206583 Shelf Number: 127565 Keywords: IslamPrisonsRadical GroupsRadicalizationRe-entryRehabilitation |
Author: Coyle, Andrew Title: A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management. Handbook for Prison Staff. Second Edition Summary: The second edition of the ICPS handbook A Human Rights Approach to Prison Management was launched by Baroness Glenys Kinnock, Minister of State with responsibility for Human Rights at a reception in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 27 October. The first edition of the handbook was published in 2002 It has been translated into 16 languages and is widely used in prison reform work around the world. This handbook underlines the importance of managing prisons within an ethical context which respects the humanity of everyone involved in a prison: prisoners, prison staff and visitors. This ethical context needs to be universal in its appeal and this universality is provided by the international human rights instruments. There is also a pragmatic justification for this approach to prison management: it works. This style of management is the most effective and safest way of managing prisons. What this approach underlines is that the concept of human rights is not merely another subject to be added to the training curriculum. Rather, it suffuses, and is an integral part of, good prison management. Details: London: International Centre for Prison Studies, King's College London, Source: Internet Resource: Year: 0 Country: International URL: Shelf Number: 128592 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationPrison AdministrationPrison StaffPrisons |
Author: McCullough, Alison N. Title: An Evaluation of the Pre-Release Planning Program of the Georgia Department of Corrections and a Qualitative Assessment of Reentry Experiences of Program Participants Summary: Higher rates of HIV are seen within correctional systems across the United States. Georgia has one of the largest correctional populations in the country and HIV rates among prisoners are elevated when compared to the state as a whole. In 2008. 2.1% of state prisoners in Georgia were living with HIV. A focal point for the public health system is the moment of release and reentry into the community. Prison systems are responsible for the healthcare of persons in their custody and the public health system typically has limited access to this population until release. Federal programs like Ryan White seek to address the needs of underserved populations with limited access to HIV care. The Ryan White system has facilitated access to Georgia prisoners prior to release by funding the Pre-Release Planning Program, which provides case management and linkage to medical care for persons living with HIV in Georgia state prisons. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the Pre-Release Planning Program of the Georgia Department of Corrections and to identify reentry needs unique to persons living with HIV. An assessment of the program was conducted to determine strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement. This assessment was informed by the post-release experiences of program participants who described their own reentry journeys through semi-structured qualitative interviews. Methods: For the purpose of this study secondary analysis was conducted on qualitative interviews. A convenience sample consisting of 45 Pre-Release Planning Program participants was recruited to complete a semi-structured qualitative interview following their release in 2009-2010. All 45 persons recruited consented to be contacted for an interview three to 12 months after release. A research interviewer successfully located 25 members of the original sample and they all agreed to participate. They completed an informed consent and were compensated with a cash incentive for their time. The interviews covered a broad range of topics related to: general reentry challenges, HIV, health, risk behaviors, and feelings about the Pre-Release Planning Program. In addition a structure and process evaluation of the Pre-release Planning Program was conducted within the framework of a quality improvement perspective. A stakeholder analysis identified persons and organizations best equipped to promote quality improvement efforts for this program. Recommendations for improvement were developed from the program evaluation and qualitative analysis of participants‟ reentry experiences. Results: Areas for improvement were identified for the Pre-Release Planning Program in both structure and process. The program is understaffed and incapable of reaching every person living with HIV in the Georgia Department of Corrections, more concrete linkages to community resources are sorely needed, and data collection and management activities are deficient. For former program participants three central needs were identified: housing, health (HIV, chronic conditions, and mental) and income (employment or benefits). Stigma (HIV and felony status) and risk behaviors (sexual and substance misuse) negatively impacted stability of housing, health and income. Overall the Pre-Release Planning Program was incapable of addressing most post-release barriers to HIV care and successful reentry. Strengths of the program included linkage to a Ryan White Clinic, provision of prison medical records, referrals to general social service agencies and its acceptability among interviewed participants. Participants reported appreciating the services available pre-release and were able to reflect on specific examples of how they were helpful. Conclusions: Qualitative analysis indicated that participants appreciated the Pre-Release Planning Program and deeply desired to address their health needs post-release. However, their reentry narratives illustrated a need for far more comprehensive pre-release and post-release services to ensure continuity of HIV care and successful reintegration into their home community. The structural and individual challenges faced by persons living with HIV leaving the prison system demand comprehensive integrated services to assure access to HIV care and avoid recidivism. Minimally, housing, health and income must be addressed to ensure successful reentry. To holistically attend to the needs of this population multiple forms of stigma and risk factors in the community must be mediated by working with the individual and promoting systemic changes. Social determinants of health affecting reentry experiences in Georgia must be addressed through policy changes which have the capacity to reach farther than a single Pre-Release Planning program nestled in the Department of Corrections. Details: Atlanta: Georgia State University, 2011. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Thesis: Accessed May 30, 2013 at: http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=iph_theses Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://digitalarchive.gsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1197&context=iph_theses Shelf Number: 128856 Keywords: Health CareHIV (Viruses)Prisoner ReentryPrisoners (Georgia, U.S.)Prisons |
Author: Hewitt, Anthony Title: Report on Substance Misuse Treatment in the Prisons of Northern Ireland Summary: This report is designed to inform the wider review of the Northern Ireland Prison Service, specifically in regard to the area of substance misuse treatment. It assumes a familiarity with the Northern Ireland prisons, with substance misuse and associated interventions, and specifically with good practice guidance on substance misuse interventions in prison. The findings have been informed by visits to the three prisons, interviews with a range of relevant stakeholders (see list at end), examination of strategy and policy, and consideration of operational and clinical protocols and pathways. The timescale involved did not permit interviewing uniformed staff or prisoners and the report does not specifically deal with measures to monitor or reduce the supply of drugs in prison. Details: Belfast: Northern Ireland Prison Service, 2011. 22p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 13, 2013 at: http://www.prisonreviewni.gov.uk/report_on_substance_misuse_treatment_in_the_prisons_of_northern_ireland_-_review_undertaken_by_anthony_hewitt_march_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.prisonreviewni.gov.uk/report_on_substance_misuse_treatment_in_the_prisons_of_northern_ireland_-_review_undertaken_by_anthony_hewitt_march_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 129383 Keywords: Drug Abuse TreatmentPrisoners (Northern Ireland) Drug Abuse and AddictPrisons |
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 OffendersPrisonersPrisons |
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 ReformCriminal Justice Systems (Brazil)Pretrial DetentionPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Weightman, John Title: ‘Slopping out?’ A report on the lack of in-cell sanitation in Her Majesty’s Prisons in England and Wales Summary: The age-old practice of ‘slopping out’ - referred to at the time by penal reform groups as the ‘single most degrading element of imprisonment this century’ 2 - was officially brought to an end on Friday April 12 1996. On that day, the last plastic pot was ceremoniously discarded at Armley Prison in Leeds, West Yorkshire. Flushing lavatories were then, apparently, installed for all. This heralded the end of queues of men and women to empty their pots of waste in the sluice rooms. There would be no more stench and no packages of excrement lobbed out of windows: an attempt to make the atmosphere within the cell bearable to the detriment of that in the grounds. However, this report found the following: • In-cell Sanitation does not exist in some 2000 prison cells across 10 prisons • An electronic unlocking system exists in these prisons but excessive queuing and limited access time cause further unplanned problems. • The use of buckets continues at night-time causing the practice of slopping out to continue, despite the formal termination of this system some 14 years ago. • There are particularly serious concerns where elderly and disabled prisoners are placed in these cells. • There is evidence that some prisons cope with the management of this issue better than others. • In many instances, the night sanitation system is unreliable and frequent breakdowns are reported. Details: London: Independent Monitoring Boards, 2010. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 24, 2013 at: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/prison-probation-inspection-monitoring/In-Cell_Sanitation_Report_V2_Aug_10.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/prison-probation-inspection-monitoring/In-Cell_Sanitation_Report_V2_Aug_10.pdf Shelf Number: 129506 Keywords: Prison SanitationPrisoner HealthPrisoners (U.K.)Prisons |
Author: Disley, Emma Title: Lessons learned from the planning and early implementation of the Social Impact Bond at HMP Peterborough Summary: At a time when government finances are stretched there is growing interest in finding new ways to fund public services which improve social outcomes. One new funding model currently being tested is a Social Impact Bond (SIB). A SIB is a form of payment by results (PBR) in which funding is obtained from private investors to pay for interventions to improve social outcomes. If these interventions succeed in improving outcomes, this should result in savings to government and wider benefits to society. As part of a SIB, the government agrees to pay a proportion of these savings back to the investors. If outcomes do not improve, investors do not receive a return on their investment. In September 2010 the first ever SIB was launched in the UK. Approximately £5 million of investment funding from private individuals and charities is being used to pay for interventions for offenders serving short prison sentences (less than 12 months) at HMP Peterborough, a prison in eastern England. RAND Europe has been commissioned to evaluate the development, implementation and operation of this first ever SIB. This report is the first output from the evaluation. It identifies early lessons from the development and implementation of SIB at HMP Peterborough. Such lessons may inform future SIBs or wider payment-by-results (PBR) pilots under consideration by the Ministry of Justice and other government departments. Details: Cambridge, UK: RAND Europe, 2011. 91p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 10, 2013 at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1166.html Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.rand.org/pubs/technical_reports/TR1166.html Shelf Number: 129617 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeIncarcerationInterventionsOffender RehabilitationPrisonsSentencingSocial Impact Bonds (U.K.) |
Author: Utkin, V.A. Title: Alternative Sanctions in Russia: Status, Problems and Prospects Summary: PRI's Moscow office has produced a new resource looking at the range of non-custodial sanctions available in Russia - how they developed, their application and impact in practice and how their effectiveness can be enhanced going forward. Details: Moscow: Penal Reform International, 2013. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2013 at: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Alternative-sanctions-in-Russia_English.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Russia URL: http://www.penalreform.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Alternative-sanctions-in-Russia_English.pdf Shelf Number: 131606 Keywords: Alternatives to IncarcerationCriminal LawPrisonsPunishment (Russia)Sentencing |
Author: Lin, Jeffrey Title: Follow the Money: How California Counties Are Spending Their Public Safety Realignment Funds Summary: The California correctional system is undergoing a dramatic transformation under Assembly Bill 109 ("Realignment"), a law that shifted responsibility from the state to the counties for tens of thousands of offenders. To help manage this change, the state will distribute $4.4 billion to the counties by 2016-2017. While the legislation directs counties to use these funds for community-based programs, counties retain a substantial amount of spending discretion. Some are expanding offender treatment capacities, while others are shoring up enforcement and control apparatuses. In this report we examine counties' AB 109 spending reports and budgets to determine which counties emphasize enforcement and which emphasize treatment. We also identify counties that continue to emphasize prior orientations toward punishment and counties that have shifted their priorities in response to Realignment. We then apply quantitative and comparative methods to county budget data to identify political, economic, and criminal justice-related factors that may explain higher AB 109 spending on enforcement or higher spending on treatment, relative to other counties. In short, our analysis shows that counties that elect to allocate more AB 109 funds to enforcement and control generally appear to be responding to local criminal justice needs, including high crime rates, a shortage of law enforcement personnel, and a historic preference for using prison to punish drug offenders. Counties that favor a greater investment in offender treatment and services, meanwhile, are typified by strong electoral support for the Sheriff and relatively under-funded district attorneys and probation departments. Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford law School, Criminal Justice Center, 2013. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 26, 2013 at: https://www.law.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/publication/443760/doc/slspublic/Money-Oct%202013.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: https://www.law.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/publication/443760/doc/slspublic/Money-Oct%202013.pdf Shelf Number: 131710 Keywords: California RealignmentCommunity-Based CorrectionsCorrectional Institutions (California)Costs of Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice PolicyCriminal Justice ReformPrisons |
Author: Aos, S. Title: Prison, Police, and Programs: Evidence-Based Options that Reduce Crime and Save Money Summary: Since the 1990s, the Washington State legislature has directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy to identify policies with an "evidence-based" track record of improving certain public policy outcomes. Outcomes of interest have included, among others, education, child welfare, crime, and mental health. This report updates and extends WSIPP's list of well-researched policies that reduce crime. We display our current tabulation of evidence-based prevention, juvenile justice, and adult corrections programs, and we include our initial reviews of prison sentencing and policing. As with our previous lists, we find that a number of public policies can reduce crime and are likely to have benefits that exceed costs. We also find credible evidence that some policies do not reduce crime and are likely to have costs that exceed benefits. The legislature has previously used this type of information to craft policy and budget bills. This updated list is designed to help with subsequent budgets and policy legislation. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2013. 24p. Source: Internet Resource: (Doc. No. 13-11-1901): Accessed March 12, 2014 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1396/Wsipp_Prison-Police-and-Programs-Evidence-Based-Options-that-Reduce-Crime-and-Save-Money_Full-Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1396/Wsipp_Prison-Police-and-Programs-Evidence-Based-Options-that-Reduce-Crime-and-Save-Money_Full-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 131886 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeEvidence-Based PracticesPolicing PrisonsSentencing |
Author: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Title: Pre-Trial Detention in Zimbabwe: Analysis of the Criminal Justice System and Conditions of Pre-Trial Detention Summary: This analysis of the criminal justice system and conditions of pre-trial detention in Zimbabwe was conducted to better understand the variance between the policy and legislative frameworks that govern pre-trial detention and the conditions in detention facilities in Zimbabwe, and to provide concrete recommendations to improve the situation. It was undertaken in the context of a country emerging from over a decade of socio-economic collapse, aspects of which had negatively affected the justice delivery system. Researched and produced by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights and the Law Society of Zimbabwe, the study found that the number of pre-trial detainees was found to be high - approximately 30 percent of the total prison population - due to inefficiencies in the country's justice delivery system. Direct and indirect political control of the criminal justice system has also meant that the independence and neutrality of key institutions - such as the police, Attorney-General's office and the judiciary - has often been hindered. Severe underfunding, capacity constraints and poor conditions of service among institutions within the justice delivery system have also contributed to increasing inefficiency in caseflow management, which has resulted in unnecessarily prolonged stays for many PTDs. This excessive detention undoubtedly violates inmates' rights to freedom, dignity and a fair and speedy trial as enshrined in the constitution as well as in other national, regional and international statutes. The situation of human rights defenders and detainees held for political reasons was found to be worse, with political vendettas seemingly taking pre-eminence over the execution of justice. The conditions in pre-trial detention were found to be despicable and inhumane, and amounted to violations of the detainees' rights. The report also highlights the plight of female inmates, children incarcerated alongside their mothers and juvenile offenders, as well as other concerns, such as overcrowding in prisons, run-down infrastructure and the shortage of basic services, nutritious food and adequate clothing. The study concludes that, while the country has an apparently adequate legislative framework to enable the realisation of the rights of pre-trial detainees, the implementation of these legislative provisions remains the major obstacle - due primarily to funding shortages, institutional capacity constraints, and the slow recovery in the country's socio-political and economic fortunes. The report concludes with a number of key recommendations, including the establishment of an integrated caseflow management system to enable more rapid processing of cases; more effective implementation of the parole system; an increase in government funding to upgrade the infrastructure at detention facilities, and provide adequate nutrition and clothing; and an improvement in social amenities so as to meet humane standards of treatment for detainees. The report also argues that improved conditions of service for employees within various institutions in the criminal justice system - such as the police, prison services, Attorney-General's office and judiciary - would complement efforts to improve professionalism and efficiency in the country's justice delivery system. However, there is also an overarching need for socio-economic and political stability in Zimbabwe to pave the way for the creation of an environment that allows for the optimal functioning of the criminal justice system. Conclusions and Recommendations The study found that despite a strong legislative framework - ranging from the constitution to various acts of parliament and also regional and international statues mandating rights for pre- and post-trial detainees - there were a number of challenges at the implementation level. Among the key challenges was the poor administration of criminal procedure by law enforcement institutions and agents and the judiciary, which in many cases resulted in prejudice against pre-trial detainees and the violation of their rights. Many pre-trial detainees had faced prolonged pre-trial incarceration due to the failure by the police to fully investigate their cases, so that their cases were tossed back and forth between the police and the Attorney General's Office, and they were tossed back and forth between the courts and remand prison. Meanwhile, the lack of adequate resources within the judiciary and prison services resulted in inefficiency in dealing with trials and ensuring the pre-trial detainees spent the least amount of time possible awaiting trial. There are also serious concerns about the condition of detention centres, including overcrowding, dilapidated infrastructure, and inadequate food and clothing for inmates. Unfortunately, owing to many years of neglect and underfunding, there seemed to no sustainable solutions to these problems, despite the fact that non-state actors, such as NGOs, were working hard to try and improve conditions. Recommendations: Rights of pre-trial detainees To better safeguard the rights of pre-trial detainees, there is a need for: Increased awareness and implementation of the Constitutional provisions guaranteeing pre-trial detainees their rights while they are incarcerated by all key state institutions; - Increased use of non-custodial measures such as diversion, particularly for young offenders; - Increased cooperation between criminal justice institutions to ensure the efficient flow of cases from the moment of arrest until finalisation of a trial; and - Firm judicial control over every stage of criminal proceedings. Improving conditions of service for government employees - The government must improve conditions of services for all state institutions in the justice delivery system, which would help to minimise institutional lethargy, motivate employees, promote greater effectiveness and efficiency, and reduce corruption. Improving coordination between 'sentencing' and 'custodian' authorities - A liaison committee should be established to improve coordination between the ZPS and the judiciary to help alleviate overcrowding in prisons since there is reportedly no consultation or coordination at all between the 'sentencing authority' and the 'custodian authority', which cannot refuse to accept new inmates. Strengthening caseflow management - The government and its partners should develop and implement an integrated caseflow management system, enabled by effective ICT, which will result in an automated and quicker flow of cases using an electronic filing system. - A Caseflow Management Committee should also be established to ensure that cases in the Magistrates, High and Supreme Courts are dealt with expeditiously and that in future no-one spends months or years in remand prison. - The operation of the parole system, which allows prisoners serving long sentences to be eligible for release with specific conditions before the expiry of their sentences, needs to be enhanced. - Judges and magistrates should consider travelling to prisons to hold court hearings since this would reduce congestion in the courts and consequentially the number of remand prisoners. Improving prisoners' welfare - The government should immediately fund the repair of prison infrastructure across the country, and should engage other partners, such as donor organisations and the private sector, to assist. - The involvement of volunteers, community groups and NGOs should be increased to provide meaningful programmes for prisoners since these improve morale and reduce inmate idleness. - The government - through the Department of Social welfare and with support from non-state partners - should boost funding of the Zimbabwe Prison Services so that it can adequately care for pregnant women as well as infants and children who are incarcerated with their mothers and who need play areas, bedding, clothing and food for their growth, health and developmental needs. - Prison officers need to be trained to assist pregnant prisoners by learning how to assess risk and about their extra requirements in terms of diet, nutrition, and general prenatal care. - The rehabilitation aspect within the country's prisons - particularly the thrust towards providing inmates with sustainable social, technical and economic skills so that they can reintegrate more effectively into communities upon release - needs to be strengthened. The government should also enhance collaboration with NGOs to promote better community reintegration of offenders. - Inmates should be trained on preventative health care, including basic sanitation, food preparation and personal hygiene. - Prison officers should be trained to communicate with prisoners with hearing and speech impairments. Details: Harare: ZLHR, Law Society of Zimbabwe, 2013. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 13, 2014 at: http://www.osisa.org/sites/default/files/pre-trial_detention_in_zimbabwe.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Zimbabwe URL: http://www.osisa.org/sites/default/files/pre-trial_detention_in_zimbabwe.pdf Shelf Number: 131893 Keywords: Criminal Justice SystemsInmatesPre-Trial DetentionPrisons |
Author: Beck, Allen J. Title: Sexual Victimization Reported by Adult Correctional Authorities, 2009-2011 Summary: This report presents counts of nonconsensual sexual acts, abusive sexual contacts, staff sexual misconduct, and staff sexual harassment reported to correctional authorities in adult prisons, jails, and other adult correctional facilities in 2009, 2010, and 2011. An in-depth examination of substantiated incidents is also presented, covering the number and characteristics of victims and perpetrators, location, time of day, nature of the injuries, impact on the victims, and sanctions imposed on the perpetrators. Companion tables in Survey of Sexual Violence in Adult Correctional Facilities, 2009-11 - Statistical Tables, include counts of types of sexual victimization reported for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, state prison systems, facilities operated by the U.S. military and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, sampled jail jurisdictions, privately operated jails and prisons, and jails in Indian country. Data are from the Bureau of Justice Statistics' Survey of Sexual Violence (SSV), which has annually collected official records on allegations and substantiated incidents of inmate-on-inmate and staff-on-inmate sexual victimization since 2004. Highlights: Correctional administrators reported 8,763 allegations of sexual victimization in prisons, jails, and other adult correctional facilities in 2011, a statistically significant increase over the number of allegations reported in 2009 (7,855) and 2010 (8,404). About half of all allegations (51%) involved nonconsensual sexual acts (the most serious, including penetration) or abusive sexual contacts (less serious, including unwanted touching, grabbing, and groping) of inmates with other inmates. Nearly half (49%) involved staff sexual misconduct (any sexual act directed toward an inmate by staff) or sexual harassment (demeaning verbal statements of a sexual nature) directed toward inmates. In 2011, 902 allegations of sexual victimization (10%) were substantiated (i.e., determined to have occurred upon investigation). The total number of substantiated incidents has not changed significantly since 2005 (885). Victims were physically injured in 18% of substantiated incidents of inmate-on-inmate sexual victimization, compared to less than 1% of incidents of staff-on-inmate victimization. More than half (54%) of all substantiated incidents of staff sexual misconduct and a quarter (26%) of all incidents of staff sexual harassment were committed by female staff. Overall, more than three-quarters (78%) of staff perpetrators were fired or resigned. Nearly half (45%) were arrested, referred for prosecution, or convicted. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 29, 2014 at: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svraca0911.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/svraca0911.pdf Shelf Number: 132156 Keywords: InmatesJailsPrison RapePrisoners, Sexual VictimizationPrisonsSexual AssaultSexual HarassmentSexual Violence |
Author: Weatherburn, Don Title: Why is the NSW Prison Population Growing? Summary: Aim: To provide a preliminary analysis of the rapid rise in the NSW prison population from January 2013 to March 2014. Method: Descriptive analysis of court, crime, arrest and correctional data, and ARIMA modelling of prison trends. Results: The key factors responsible for the recent rise in the NSW prison population appear to be a higher rate of arrest for serious crime and an increase in the proportion of convicted offenders given a prison sentence. There is no evidence that prisoners during 2013 are spending longer in custody but there is evidence the length of stay in custody may increase over the coming year. If the current trend in inmate numbers continues, the NSW prison population will rise by another 17 per cent (i.e., to about 12,500 inmates) by March 2015. Conclusion: Early consideration should be given to measures that reduce the demand for prison accommodation and/or expand prison capacity. Keywords: prison, Details: Sydney: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, 2014. 7p. Source: Internet Resource: Issue Paper No. 95: Accessed May 15, 2014 at: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb95.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.bocsar.nsw.gov.au/agdbasev7wr/_assets/bocsar/m716854l4/bb95.pdf Shelf Number: 132355 Keywords: ImprisonmentIncarcerationInmatesPrisoners (Australia)Prisons Sentencing |
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 AdministrationCounty JailsInmatesOffender RehabilitationPrisonersPrisonsRural AreasTreatment Programs |
Author: Subramanian, Ram Title: Recalibrating Justice: A Review of 2013 State Sentencing and Corrections Trends Summary: In 2013, 35 states passed at least 85 bills to change some aspect of how their criminal justice systems address sentencing and corrections. In reviewing this legislative activity, the Vera Institute of Justice found that policy changes have focused mainly on the following five areas: reducing prison populations and costs; expanding or strengthening community-based corrections; implementing risk and needs assessments; supporting offender reentry into the community; and making better informed criminal justice policy through data-driven research and analysis. By providing concise summaries of representative legislation in each area, this report aims to be a practical guide for policymakers in other states and the federal government looking to enact similar changes in criminal justice policy. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2014. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 18, 2014 at: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/state-sentencing-and-corrections-trends-2013-v2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.vera.org/sites/default/files/resources/downloads/state-sentencing-and-corrections-trends-2013-v2.pdf Shelf Number: 132712 Keywords: Corrections Criminal Justice Policy Criminal Justice Reform Criminal Justice Systems (U.S.) PrisonsSentencing |
Author: Drake, Elizabeth Title: Inventory of Evidence-Based and Research-Based Programs for Adult Corrections Summary: A series of recent public policy reforms has moved Washington State toward the use of 'evidence-based' programs. The central concept behind these reforms is to identify and implement strategies shown through rigorous research to improve statewide outcomes (e.g., crime rates or high school graduation rates) cost-effectively. The 2013 Legislature passed a bill to facilitate the use of evidence-based programs in adult corrections. The legislation directed the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (WSIPP) to: - Develop terms to define evidence-based and research-based programs; - Create an inventory of adult correctional programs and classify those programs as evidence-based or research-based; and - Conduct additional systematic reviews where research evidence currently lacks. The legislation also directs the Department of Corrections (DOC) to determine if the programs it delivers are evidence-based or research-based according to the inventory developed by WSIPP. DOC is required to develop a plan to phase-out ineffective programs and implement evidence-based programs by 2015. This legislative assignment parallels another project approved by WSIPP's Board of Directors requiring WSIPP to expand its benefit-cost model into new topic areas (Medicaid, aging, homelessness, public health, and employment/workforce training). In addition to expanding our benefit-cost model, we will continue to update adult corrections programs and policies relevant to Washington State until the project ends in 2015. Section I of this report contains definitions for evidence-based and research-based programs. Updated systematic reviews are found in Section II. The adult corrections inventory is located in Section III of this report. Details: Olympia, WA: Washington State Institute for Public Policy, 2013. 8p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 30, 2014 at: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1542/Wsipp_Inventory-of-Evidence-Based-and-Research-Based-Programs-for-Adult-Corrections_Final-Report.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.wsipp.wa.gov/ReportFile/1542/Wsipp_Inventory-of-Evidence-Based-and-Research-Based-Programs-for-Adult-Corrections_Final-Report.pdf Shelf Number: 132843 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsCost-Benefit AnalysisEvidence-Based PracticesPrisonsTreatment Programs |
Author: Costello, Liza Title: Travellers in the Irish Prison System: A Qualitative Study Summary: Over recent years, the Irish Penal Reform Trust (iprt) has become increasingly aware that very little has been documented about the experiences of Travellers in the Irish prison system, while evidence that has emerged from the UK gives cause for concern. Reports by the Irish Chaplaincy in Britain, the Scotland Equality and Human Rights Commission, the (then) Commission for Racial Equality and others have all revealed a wide range of issues that disproportionately affect Travellers in prison. These include racist abuse from other prisoners and prison officers, discrimination, lack of literacy, high rates of suicide, substance misuse, and often the strength of Traveller family ties not being recognised, leading to isolation, self-harm and even suicide. In 2011, the UN Committee Against Torture's Concluding Observations to Ireland suggested that such issues were not unique to the UK context. In this document, it expressed concern "at reports of allegations by prisoners from the Traveller community in Cork prison that they are consistently subjected to acts of intimidation by other prisoners" and recommended that the State address "the issue of intimidation of the Traveller community and investigat[e] all allegations of such intimidation". The aim of this research is to illuminate the experiences and needs of Travellers in prison. Its objectives are to: - present what is already known regarding Travellers in prison; - analyse the rights of Travellers in prison from an equality and human rights perspective; - conduct primary research into the needs and experiences of Travellers in the Irish prison system; - highlight models of good practice in meeting the needs of minority ethnic groups in prison; and - to make relevant evidence-based recommendations to the Irish Prison Service and other relevant bodies. Details: Dublin: Irish Penal Reform Trust, 2014. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 23, 2014 at; http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Travellers_Report_web.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Ireland URL: http://www.iprt.ie/files/IPRT_Travellers_Report_web.pdf Shelf Number: 133122 Keywords: DiscriminationEthnic GroupsGypsiesInmatesMinority GroupsPrisoners (Ireland)Prisons |
Author: California. Office of the Inspector General Title: Special review: Female Inmates Serving Securing Housing Unit Terms in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Summary: From July 8, 2013, to September 5, 2013, inmates in the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's (CDCR or department) security housing units (SHUs) staged a hunger strike to protest, among other issues, California's use of solitary confinement. As part of the monitoring duties of the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), the agency dispatched inspectors and attorneys to the institutions to ensure that CDCR staff were following policies and procedures, and to monitor conditions of confinement, medical and mental health checks, and the medical and dietary procedures for food consumption. The hunger strike ended on September 5, 2013. With the end of the hunger strike, the Chairpersons of both the Assembly and Senate Committees on Public Safety convened a joint public hearing on October 9, 2013, on issues relating to segregated housing in California's prisons. At the joint legislative hearing, the Inspector General gave testimony on the current policies and procedures and conditions within CDCR's security housing units. As a direct result of testimony at the aforementioned joint legislative hearing, on October 31, 2013, the Senate Committee on Rules requested the Office of the Inspector General further examine the conditions specifically related to female inmates serving security housing unit terms. This review and assessment evaluates the terms and conditions of confinement for the 160 inmates who were serving SHU terms between October 9, 2013 (the date of the legislative hearing), and October 31, 2013 (the date of the Senate's request for review), in the California Institution for Women (CIW) security housing unit and the CIW psychiatric services unit (PSU), and also the administrative segregation unit (ASU) at the Central California Women's Facility (CCWF). This report includes an overview of female security housing units; an overall assessment of the conditions of confinement for female inmates serving SHU terms, including, housing, programs, and privileges; and a review and assessment of the disciplinary actions and SHU terms imposed. Details: Sacramento: Office of the Inspector General, 2013. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 2, 2014 at: http://www.oig.ca.gov/media/reports/Reports/Reviews/Special%20Review%20-%20Female%20Inmates%20Serving%20Security%20Housing%20Unit%20Terms%20in%20CDCR.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://www.oig.ca.gov/media/reports/Reports/Reviews/Special%20Review%20-%20Female%20Inmates%20Serving%20Security%20Housing%20Unit%20Terms%20in%20CDCR.pdf Shelf Number: 133544 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale Prisoners (California)PrisonsSolitary Confinement |
Author: Human Rights Watch Title: Locked Up in Karaj: Spotlight on Political Prisoners in One Iranian City Summary: Locked Up in Karaj documents the cases of 62 prisoners held in two separate prisons in Karaj, north-west of Tehran. In all cases, Iranian revolutionary courts appear to have convicted and sentenced them to prison terms on charges arising solely from their involvement in peaceful political activities or their exercise of their rights to free speech or freedom of assembly, association, religion, or opinion, or other rights protected by international human rights law. The report is based on a review of all the cases, including the charges against the prisoners, and on information obtained from family members, lawyers, and other informed sources. Revolutionary courts tried and convicted the prisoner on vague charges, such as "acting against the national security," and "propaganda against the state." The report indicates that none of the 62, who include members of the political opposition, bloggers and journalists, a lawyer, and labor, and minority rights activists, had any involvement in violence. The report also documents cases of prisoners in Karaj prisons who were convicted of committing violent or other serious national security but whom the government may have targeted because of their peaceful activities. These cases were marked by serious due process violations, such as secret hearings, lack of access to a lawyer, prolonged pre-trial incommunicado detention and solitary confinement, and allegations of torture and coerced confessions. Human Rights Watch calls on Iranian authorities to release the 62 political prisoners held in Karaj prisons and all other prisoners and detainees in Iran who are imprisoned solely for exercising their human rights, and to order the fair retrial or release of all prisoners sentenced after trials in which they were denied due process. Details: New York: HRW, 2014. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/iran0814_ForUpload_1.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Iran URL: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/iran0814_ForUpload_1.pdf Shelf Number: 134019 Keywords: Human Rights AbusesPolitical Prisoners (Iran)PrisonsTorture |
Author: Doherty, Sherri Title: An Examination of the Effectiveness of the National Substance Abuse Program Moderate Intensity (NSAP-M) on Institutional Adjustment and Post-Release Outcomes Summary: What it means The findings suggest that the National Substance Abuse Program - Moderate Intensity (NSAP-M) reduced the risks associated with substance use and criminality. The offenders with partial exposure to the program showed the poorest outcomes with respect to return to custody. The results also demonstrate the value of participating in community maintenance even with limited exposure to NSAP-M. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of offenders participated in community aftercare. What we found The occurrence of institutional misconduct was not significantly reduced by NSAP-M participation. Offenders who fully completed NSAP-M were as likely to engage in serious institutional misconduct as offenders who failed to complete all sessions of the program or offenders who had been assigned to NSAP-M but who had not enrolled in the program. Offenders who completed NSAP-M were less likely to be readmitted to prison during the 24-month follow-up period. In fact, offenders who partially completed were 25% more likely to return to prison compared to those who completed NSAP-M. The Not Enrolled group did not differ from program completers in likelihood of returning to custody. At the end of the 2 year follow-up period, 52% of both the Complete and Not Enrolled groups remained in the community, compared to 39% of the Incomplete group. When participation in the National Maintenance Substance Abuse Program delivered in the community and release type were considered, the association between NSAP-M and return to custody was no longer significant, suggesting that release type and community aftercare may be key variables in the pathway between program exposure and returning to custody. Overall, offenders who did not participate in community aftercare were 41% more likely to return to custody than those who had some exposure to the program; offenders who were released on a non-discretionary basis were 53% more likely to return to custody. Why we did this study Ensuring the safety and security of staff and offenders within the institution environment and the safe reintegration offenders into the community are key priorities of Correctional Service Canada (CSC). Correctional interventions can help address offender behavior associated with criminal activity. Given that 80% of the federal offender population has a substance use problem, it is imperative that effective substance abuse interventions are available to these offenders. The current study examined the effectiveness of NSAP-M in addressing the needs of federally incarcerated male offenders who have an identified substance abuse problem. What we did The study examined the effect of NSAP-M on institutional misconduct and return to custody. The study sample consisted of 8,121 male offenders who had accessed NSAP-M between June 2004 and December 2009. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service of Canada, 2014. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report No. R-290: Accessed October 9, 2014 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0291-eng.shtml Year: 2014 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/005008-0291-eng.shtml Shelf Number: 133639 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsDrug Abuse and Addiction (Canada)Drug Abuse and CrimeDrug Abuse Treatment (Canada)Drug OffendersPrisoner AftercarePrisoner MisconductPrisoner ReentryPrisonsRecidivismRehabilitation |
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: PrisonersPrisonsPunishment (U.S.)SentencingThree-Strikes LegislationViolence Crime |
Author: Sawanobori, Bunji Title: Industry participation in the correctional mandate in Japan: The case of the Shin-Kurushima Dockyard Summary: The Shin-Kurushima Dockyard is a working shipyard in Ehime prefecture, Japan, which has offered vocational training and experience free of charge to prisoners from Matsuyama prison for over 50 years. It also offers accommodation on the same premises, again free of charge. Prisoners who live and work at the Dockyard are normally granted early release from imprisonment, at about sixty per cent completion of their sentence on average, and their recidivism rate is low in comparison with Japan's average: zero per cent for the last 5 years and 15 per cent for about 30 years from its establishment in 1961 until 1992. This paper explores the participation of the Shin-Kurushima Dockyard in the Japanese criminal justice system, looking at the origins of the project, the dynamics between the prisoners and the local community, and the way that the prisoners live in comparison with mainstream Japanese prisons. The paper also compares statistics on the parole and recidivism rates of Dockyard prisoners with mainstream prisoners. The paper concludes with the observation that access to meaningful work and being treated with dignity and respect have been key to the success of the Shin-Kurushima Dockyard in the criminal justice system. Details: London: Howard League for Penal Reform, 2014. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Howard League What is Justice? Working Papers 13/2014: Accessed November 26, 2014 at: https://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Research/What_is_Justice/HLWP_13_2014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Japan URL: https://d19ylpo4aovc7m.cloudfront.net/fileadmin/howard_league/user/pdf/Research/What_is_Justice/HLWP_13_2014.pdf Shelf Number: 134260 Keywords: Prisoner RehabilitationPrisoners (Japan)PrisonsVocational Education and Training |
Author: Jackson, Brian A. Title: Fostering Innovation in Community and Institutional Corrections: Identifying High-Priority Technology and Other Needs for the U.S. Correctional Sector Summary: The agencies of the U.S. corrections enterprise manage offenders confined in prisons and jails and those who have been released into the community on probation and parole. The enterprise is one of the three central pillars of the criminal justice system, along with police and the courts. Corrections agencies face major challenges from declining budgets, increasing populations under supervision, problems of equity and fairness in administrating justice, and other concerns. To better achieve its objectives and play its role within the criminal justice enterprise, the sector needs innovation in corrections technology, policy, and practice. This report draws on published literature and new structured deliberations of a practitioner Corrections Advisory Panel to frame an innovation agenda. It identifies and prioritizes potential improvements in technology, policy, and practice in both community and institutional corrections. Some of the top-tier needs identified by the panel and researchers include adapting transcription and translation tools for the corrections environment, developing training for officers on best practices for managing offenders with mental health needs, and changing visitation policies (for example, using video visitation) to reduce opportunities for visitors to bring contraband into jails and prisons. Such high-priority needs provide a menu of innovation options for addressing key problems or capitalizing on emerging opportunities in the corrections sector. This report is part of a larger effort to assess and prioritize technology and related needs across the criminal justice community for the National Institute of Justice's National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center system. Details: Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2015. 133p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 3, 2015 at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR820.html Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR820.html Shelf Number: 134524 Keywords: Computer TechnologyCorrectional Administration (U.S.)JailsPrisoner ReentryPrisons |
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 InmatesPrisonersPrisonsSolitary Confinement (Texas) |
Author: Beer, Marit de Title: Locked up in the tropics: Coping strategies among female prisoners of the State Prison of Bahia, Brazil Summary: The social position of many Bahian women is characterized by poverty, inequality, discrimination and marginalization. This 'second class citizenship' is the reason these women are more likely to commit a crime, as well as being sentenced to prison for it. In prison, their inferior social position is reconfirmed by harsh living conditions, the absence of facilities, weak legal assistance and ongoing discrimination by prison staff, family, and other citizens. My research showed that very low self-esteem among the female inmates has become the resulting leading thread which determines their capacity to cope with the stresses of prison life. How the prisoners of the Conjunto Penal Feminino in Salvador (Bahia, Brazil) dealt with their problems depended, on the one hand, on the changeability of the stressor and is, on the other hand, influenced by their personal life experiences. Good rehabilitation programs appeared to be absent at the Conjunto Penal Feminino da Bahia, where education and work have actually proven to be very important factors in lifting the prisoners' self-esteem and creating future possibilities for them. This is increasing the risk of reoffending and, again, confirms the women's status as 'incomplete' citizen. This way, a vicious circle is set into motion that is difficult to interrupt. Institutional coping strategies is what can, and should be improved by the Conjunto Penal Feminino da Bahia. Details: Utrecht: Utrecht University, 2010. 79p. Source: Internet Resource: Master's Essay: Accessed February 18, 2015 at: http://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/198753/Beer,%20M.%20de%20-%20Locked%20up%20in%20the%20tropics.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2010 Country: Brazil URL: http://dspace.library.uu.nl/bitstream/handle/1874/198753/Beer,%20M.%20de%20-%20Locked%20up%20in%20the%20tropics.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 134644 Keywords: Female Inmates (Brazil)Female OffendersFemale PrisonersPrisons |
Author: Grimshaw, Roger Title: Institutional care and poverty: evidence and policy review Summary: Five institutional care settings were covered: prisons; immigration detention centres; mental health placements including psychiatric secure hospitals and centres; placements for children being looked after including homes, residential schools and units for children; and placements for people with disabilities. In an increasingly globalised world the task of collating international evidence becomes more important and the review focused on more than 500 studies drawn from North America, Europe, and Australasia, in addition to the UK. Details: London: Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, 2014. 71p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 19, 2015 at: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/Institutional%20Care%20and%20Poverty%20Report%20August%202014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.crimeandjustice.org.uk/sites/crimeandjustice.org.uk/files/Institutional%20Care%20and%20Poverty%20Report%20August%202014.pdf Shelf Number: 134982 Keywords: Immigrant DetentionJuvenile DetentionMental HealthPoverty (U.K.)Prisons |
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 AdministrationCorrectional ProgramsCorrections (South Africa)Prison ConditionsPrisonersPrisons |
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 CorrectionsIsolationPrisonersPrisonsSolitary Confinement (U.S.)Supermax Prisons |
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 AdministrationCorrectional InstitutionsPrisonersPrisons Rates of Imprisonment |
Author: Mangan, Fiona B. Title: Prisons in Yemen Summary: Summary - Since the 2011 crisis sparked by the Arab Spring, Yemen has been in a critical political transition. Improving government institutions and rule of law are key goals. Reforming the prison system must be at the core of any strategy for improving rule of law institutions. - Security is universally weak across central prisons. Facilities lack both the physical infrastructure and technical expertise to counter the serious security and terrorist threats they face. Prison breaks are frequent, resulting in serious consequences for broader rule of law and citizen security. - Most facilities have no proper classification and segregation systems in place, and thus detainees held for lesser crimes often mix with serious offenders, and pre-trial detainees with sentenced prisoners. is practice not only violates detainee rights but also enables criminalization, radicalization, and recruitment throughout the detention system. - Overcrowding and substandard prisoner care both result in physical and psychological damage and contribute to frequent rioting and security incidents. - Most guards have no training before taking on their positions is lack has a negative eject on treatment of detainees, security, and prison guards themselves. Prison guards showed signs of psychological strain, fear, and stress, in part due to managing roles they have not been adequately prepared for. - Within the scope of challenges facing Yemen is a risk that reform of detention and prison facilities might not be prioritized. However, given the centrality of a safe and strong detention system for law enforcement and antiterrorism, a failure to do so would be a mistake. - A number of simple, often not costly, reforms-such as establishing basic training for prison leaders, reinforcing a prison order and routine, establishing secure key control and prisoner classification, and baseline security protections-would address many of the most serious rights violations and security concerns. Details: Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2015. 103p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 13, 2015 at: http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/PW106-Prisons-in-Yemen.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Yemen URL: http://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/PW106-Prisons-in-Yemen.pdf Shelf Number: 135624 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsPrison ConditionsPrison ReformPrisonsPrisons (Yemen) |
Author: Cooper, Maxine Title: The rehabilitation of male detainees at the Alexander Maconochie Centre Summary: The Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) provides the ACT with its own prison. It was to be the first human rights-compliant prison in Australia. It accepted its first detainees in March 2009, having officially opened in September 2008. From 2004 to 2009, ACT Government statements and documents, which presented the philosophy for operating the AMC, consistently emphasised the importance of rehabilitation. A range of rehabilitation objectives were presented: reducing offending behaviour; and encouraging detainees to seek self-improvement, fulfil their potential and lead successful lives in the community. Male detainees are the focus of this performance audit as female detainees were the subject of an independent review in 2014 by the ACT Human Rights Commission. The Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) is a relatively new prison. It incorporates innovative, human rights planning and design, expected to provide an environment to support and foster detainee rehabilitation. This has been compromised due to its relatively small size, multiple classifications, detainee association issues, mixed genders and the unexpected adverse affects of the interaction of these factors with the AMC's design. Lack of continuity in senior management in the first few years of operation contributed to the difficulties. More recently management practices have been effective in fostering improvements including a 'culture change', which emphasises respect in detainee and staff relationships, and have resulted in reductions in the use of force and lockdown hours. These improvements contribute to a healthier context for rehabilitating detainees. AMC planning for rehabilitation is ineffective as there is no rehabilitation planning framework, no evaluation framework and no finalised case management policy framework. With respect to management practices, while there have been improvements, there are inadequacies that need to be addressed including improving business planning, internal performance measures and routine quality assurance and evaluation of programs. As the prison population has increased, the ACT's detainee costs per day and utilisation rates have trended towards the Australian average. However, determining the effectiveness or efficiency of rehabilitation is problematic as there are no generally accepted comprehensive performance measures that can be used for this purpose and there is limited information on rehabilitation costs. Developing these measures will require a national approach and it would be unreasonable to expect the ACT to invest heavily in this given that it is a small jurisdiction with only one prison. Due to the lack of comprehensive performance measures and cost information an overall assessment of effectiveness or efficiency of AMC operations with respect to rehabilitation was not able to be made. However, the proposed levels of rehabilitation activities and services, as anticipated in planning (prior to the opening of the AMC), were assessed and found to be inadequate. Importantly this means a 'structured day' with 'purposeful activity' is not being achieved for many detainees. It is therefore likely that some detainees are bored and this can compromise their rehabilitation. The information management systems used at the AMC are inadequate. While action is underway to make improvements, it is important that priority be given to making the necessary changes as quickly as possible. Details: Canberra: Australia Capital City Auditor General, 2015. 205p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2015 at: http://www.audit.act.gov.au/auditreports/reports2015/Report%20No.%202%20of%202015%20The%20Rehabilitation%20of%20male%20detainees%20at%20the%20Alexander%20Maconochie%20Centre.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Australia URL: http://www.audit.act.gov.au/auditreports/reports2015/Report%20No.%202%20of%202015%20The%20Rehabilitation%20of%20male%20detainees%20at%20the%20Alexander%20Maconochie%20Centre.pdf Shelf Number: 135440 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsMale InmatesMale PrisonersPrisonsRehabilitation |
Author: Porter, Nicole D. Title: On the Chopping Block 2013: State Prison Closures Summary: During 2013, at least six states closed 20 correctional facilities or contemplated doing so, potentially reducing prison capacity by 11,370 beds and resulting in estimated five-year cost savings of over $229 million. Since 2011, at least 17 states have reduced prison capacity totaling over 35,000 beds. But in contrast to this trend, some states announced in 2013 that they may open new correctional facilities or reopen facilities that had previously been shuttered. Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2014. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 19, 2015 at: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_On%20the%20Chopping%20Block%202013.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://sentencingproject.org/doc/publications/inc_On%20the%20Chopping%20Block%202013.pdf Shelf Number: 135714 Keywords: Correctional Facilities Prisons |
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 InstitutionsInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
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 InstitutionsCorrectional ProgramsCosts of CorrectionsCosts of Criminal JusticeInmatesPrisonersPrisonsRecidivism |
Author: Ben-Moshe, Liat Title: Genealogies of Resistance to Incarceration: Abolition Politics within Deinstitutionalization and Anti-Prison activism in the U.S. Summary: "Genealogies of resistance to incarceration: Abolition politics within de-institutionalization and anti- prison activism in the U.S." looks at two main sites in which abolition of "total institutions" is enacted. The first site is activism around penal and prison abolition. The second site is deinstitutionalization- the move to close down institutions for people labeled "mentally retarded" (or intellectual/developmental disabilities) and "mental illness" (or psychiatric disabilities). My goals in this study are twofold and interrelated. First, I investigate abolition or closure of institutions as a radical form of activism and sketch the costs and benefits of engaging in abolition as an activist tactic. I highlight the limits of reform efforts, but also the way they are used strategically to improve the lives of those who are incarcerated. My second aim is to demonstrate the interwoven relations between multiple sites of incarceration and the resistance to them. I begin by sketching an alternative historiography of prisons and institutions in an attempt to paint some of the perils of these systems that were present from their inception. These landscapes of incarceration are also mapped out in both historical and ideological ways. The phenomenon of psychiatric and developmental disabilities centers closing and then turning into prisons will be highlighted as a parable of the cyclical nature of social control. I also connect prisons and mental institutions by demonstrating the ways in which such institutions shifted from being rehabilitating to custodial; were (and are) embedded in notions of danger; were created for economic gain; and were influenced by increased medicalization, as well as racist and eugenic impetuses that mark them to this day. One of the contributions of my research is in the utilization of Michel Foucault's work not only theoretically, but also methodologically. Genealogies interrogate truth claiming, notions of (scientific) progress, and the discovery of one universal truth, and provide means to extrapolate buried histories of ideas and actions that have been discarded and discredited. As part of this genealogical excavation, I critically investigate instances of possibility, both in deinstitutionalization as a tactic, a dream and its unfulfilled promises and in relation to current prison abolition work and the vision of non-punitive society. During and in the aftermath of the move out of institutions, many critiques were laid out by policy makers, academics, and organizations that cater to people with disabilities. In the popular imagination these staunch criticisms have led to a backlash toward what can be characterized as "the failure of deinstitutionalization." Part of this genealogy is devoted to investigating the chasm between activists' perception of the process of institutional closure and that of their critics. As part of such excavation, I also offer an analysis of the ways in which disability, mental illness and prisoners have been constructed in the social sciences (what Foucault characterizes as erudite knowledge), as well as the ways in which these characterizations are resisted, enacted or performed by prison abolition and de-institutionalization activists. I particularly highlight the critiques of the social world offered by those engaging in deinstitutionalization and prison abolition (about disability/mental illness/mental retardation, concepts of home and community, dependence, crime and punishment, social control, social justice etc.). Genealogy also encompasses the excavation of subjugated knowledges, in the Foucauldian sense as both buried histories -the story of the enactment of prisons and institutions told by the activists who wish to abolish them; and disqualified knowledge- disability studies, anti psychiatry scholarship and critical prison studies as forms of knowledge that are deemed non-scientific and illegitimate. Lastly, this work maps the various ways one fights against total institutions and target the instances in which abolition is seen as a useful strategy. In sum, I trace the costs and benefits of utilizing abolition as a strategy of resistance to incarceration, for the activists, for perceptions of them and their work in the public discourse and for their prospective goals. This research also attends to the various ways in which abolitionary practices are combined with others (such as reform efforts) and the social or political constraints that moved movements and activists from one strategy to the other in the winding road towards a non-carceral society. Details: Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, 2011. 410p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed May 27, 2015 at: http://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1070&context=soc_etd Year: 2011 Country: United States URL: http://surface.syr.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1070&context=soc_etd Shelf Number: 129830 Keywords: AbolitionismAlternatives to IncarcerationPrisons |
Author: Council of State Governments, Justice Center Title: Juvenile Reinvestment in Alabama: Analysis and Policy Framework Summary: This report summarizes comprehensive analyses of sentencing, corrections, probation, and parole data presented to Alabama's Prison Reform Task Force. It outlines strategies and policy options to reduce the prison population and recidivism in the state by strengthening community-based supervision and treatment, prioritizing prison space for violent and dangerous offenders, and providing supervision to every person released from prison. The report also offers strategies for supporting victims of crime through improved victim notification. If implemented, the report's suggested policies would reinvest $26 million in recidivism reduction strategies in FY2016 and avert $407 million in prison construction and operations costs by FY2021 Details: New York: Council of State Governments Justice Center, 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 30, 2015 at: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/JRinAlabamaPoliciesandFramework.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://csgjusticecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/JRinAlabamaPoliciesandFramework.pdf Shelf Number: 135832 Keywords: Alternatives to IncarcerationCommunity Based CorrectionsCommunity SupervisionCorrectional InstitutionsJustice ReinvestmentParolePrisonsProbation |
Author: Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons. Justice Committee Title: Prisons: planning and policies. Ninth Report of Session 2014-15 Summary: This is our first major inquiry on prisons planning and policies in this Parliament, and it has provided an opportunity to consider the impact of the Government's programme of reforms and efficiency savings across the prison estate. In particular we have examined two measures that have been employed by the Ministry of Justice to reduce the operational costs of the system: benchmarking; and structural reforms replacing inefficient prisons with new prisons and extra house blocks in existing prisons, the "new" programme. These policies have been implemented alongside the creation of working prisons and resettlement prisons, designed to improve the effectiveness of the prison estate in increasing employability and reducing re-offending, as well as the tightening of operational policies on earned privileges and temporary release in order to improve their public credibility. They have also come at a time when the total prison population has returned to very high levels. We express concern that that despite the Government's efforts to supply sufficient prison places to meet demand, the proportion of prisons that are overcrowded is growing, and the proportion of prisoners held in crowded conditions remains at almost a quarter, with consequent effects on the ability to maintain constructive regimes. We welcome the reduction which has taken place in the cost of a prison place, although we note that it remains high, and is unlikely to fall significantly while the pressures on estate capacity remain at current levels. We say that the new-for-old programme is a good one in principle, providing opportunity to improve the physical infrastructure of the estate, remove structural inefficiencies, and employ new technologies. But we point out that the policy of replacing older establishments with newer ones is being implemented in a way which results in the creation of large, multi-purpose prisons, while questions arising from available evidence on the relationship between the size and effectiveness of institutions do not appear to have been addressed by the Government, and we argue that reconfiguration of the estate provides an opportunity to build smaller, more specialised, establishments, for young offenders and female offenders, in line with recommendations we have made in previous reports. The benchmarking process seeks to ensure that public prisons are run in the most efficient way possible, while maintaining safety, decency, security and order. The rationale of benchmarking as a means of reducing public expenditure was widely supported, and we conclude that it is in principle an effective way of reducing expenditure more rapidly than would be possible through prison-by-prison competition. Evidence from HM Inspectorate of Prisons, the Government's own performance data, Independent Monitoring Boards, and the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman all indicate a deterioration in standards of safety and performance across the prison estate over the last two years, with fewer opportunities for prisoners to undertake purposeful work or educational activities. The decrease in safety is particularly troubling, with an increase in assaults and self-inflicted deaths. We considered it improbable that there is no link between estate reconfiguration, benchmarking, and changes in operational policy, including the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme, and the shift in safety across the prison estate. In particular, we conclude that the fall in staffing levels stemming from redundancies and increased turnover, which at their most acute have resulted in severely restricted regimes, are bound to have reduced the consistency of relationships between officers and prisoners, and in turn affected safety. In previous Reports we have commended the Government's creation of a nationwide network of resettlement prisons. It should not, however, confuse the priorities of multiple purpose establishments, and dilute the priority accorded to resettlement needs elsewhere in the estate. Prison industries are becoming more common but it remains the case that most prisons do not have the facilities for workshops on a scale that would enable the majority of prisoners to do work which will equip them for employment on release. If support for offenders in moving from custody into the community is to work to best effect, staffing shortages and clearing the backlog of risk assessments must be resolved urgently. Both issues are likely to hamper considerably the efforts of the new providers of Community Rehabilitation Companies as they seek to implement their through-the-gate Prison governors in public sector prisons and some private sector prisons are no longer responsible for the sum total of everything that happens within their prison walls. There is a risk that the proliferation of partner organisations providing services to prisons could distract prison management teams from their core role. They are also constrained in their operational decisions when decisions are taken from the centre on such matters as the Incentives and Earned Privileges scheme, the "lights out" policy and release on temporary licence. This potential effect is all the more important when resources are such that reduced staffing levels are impinging on the safety of prisoners and staff for which Governors have ultimate responsibility. We also note that prisoners themselves have an important role to play in creating effective regimes, including through prison councils. The success of the Government's policy also depends crucially on the ability of NOMS to predict demand for places with sufficient accuracy, and to provide places accordingly. The aim of the new-for-old programme is for old and inefficient facilities to be closed as modern cheaper establishments open, yet the latest projections indicate that the prison population is predicted to continue to grow. There is a risk that as the building of new prisons inevitably takes place several years in advance of those places becoming available, by the time they are in operation it will not be possible to yield savings from further prison closures as there are insufficient places to meet demand. We conclude that the size of the prison budget, the fact that it completely dominates expenditure on crime, the importance of reducing crime, and other problems identified in this report all indicate that we need to re-evaluate how we use custody and alternatives to custody in a cost-effective way which best promotes the safety of the public and reduces future crime. Details: London: The Stationery Office Limited, 2015. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 2, 2015 at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmjust/309/309.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmjust/309/309.pdf Shelf Number: 135846 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationPrison ReformPrisons |
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 PeoplesMinority InmatesPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Canada. Office of the Correctional Investigator Title: Risky Business: An Investigation of the Treatment and Management of Chronic Self-Injury Among Federally Sentenced Women Final Report Summary: Over the last five years the number of self-injury incidents in federal correctional facilities has more than tripled. In 2012-13, there were 901 incidents of recorded prison self-injury, involving 264 offenders. A relatively small number of federally sentenced women offenders (37 of 264 total) disproportionately accounted for almost 36% of all reported self-injury incidents. Aboriginal offenders were involved in more than 35% of all self-harming incidents. Aboriginal women accounted for nearly 45% of all self-injury incidents involving the federally sentenced women offender population. Of the 264 federal offenders who self-injured in 2012-13, seventeen individuals engaged in chronic (or repetitive) self-injurious behaviour (i.e., 10 or more incidents). These 17 individuals accounted for 40% of all recorded incidents. Nine were of Aboriginal descent. Nine were women (6 of whom were Aboriginal offenders). In a series of Annual Reports, the Office has repeatedly raised concerns regarding the capacity of the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) to appropriately manage chronic self-injury in federal penitentiaries: - over-reliance on use of force and control measures, such as physical restraints, and restrictions on movement and association to manage self-injurious offenders; - non-compliance with voluntary and informed consent to treatment protocols; - limited access to services for federally sentenced women offenders with complex mental health needs; - inadequate physical infrastructure, staffing complements, resources and capacity to meet complex mental health needs; and - inappropriate monitoring and inadequate oversight in the use of physical restraints. There is little doubt that management of self-injurious offenders is complex and demanding work. The Office continues to believe that a handful of the most prolific self-injurious offenders simply do not belong in a federal penitentiary. These offenders should be transferred to external psychiatric facilities that are better equipped to accommodate and care for acute and complex mental health needs underlying their self-injurious behaviours. The death in October 2007 of 19-year-old Ashley Smith, a young woman with an extensive history of self-injury who died as a result self-asphyxiation in the presence of CSC staff, underscored the importance of developing effective, evidence-based management and treatment strategies for complex self-injury cases. The Office's investigation into Ms. Smith's death revealed a number of individual and systemic failures that contributed to her tragic death. During 11.5 months of federal incarceration, Ashley's self-injurious behaviours were routinely met with control and security-focused interventions, which included the near-perpetual use of segregation, involuntary treatment (forced medical injections), numerous inter-regional transfers and over 150 documented use of force interventions. CSC's management of Ashley's behaviour served to intensify the frequency and severity of her self-injury. This investigation provides an opportunity to review CSC's capacity to balance the operational and treatment requirements of high-need, mentally ill federally sentenced women who engage in chronic self-injurious behaviour. Six years after Ashley Smith's preventable death, it serves to document how CSC responds to the mental health needs of these women and assesses the use and impact of disciplinary measures and security controls in the management and prevention of prison self-injury. Details: Ottawa: Office of the Correctional Investigator, 2013. 37p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20130930-eng.pdf Year: 2013 Country: Canada URL: http://www.oci-bec.gc.ca/cnt/rpt/pdf/oth-aut/oth-aut20130930-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 135882 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale PrisonersGender Specific ResponsesMentally Ill InmatesPrisonsSelf-Injury |
Author: de Viggiani, Nick Title: A Healthy Prison Strategy for HMP Bristol Summary: This report summarises progress in establishing a Healthy Prison strategy for HMP Bristol. It follows a period of consultancy with the prison commissioned by NHS Bristol, and carried out as follow-up to a 2007-8 Health Needs Assessment (HNA) conducted at the prison. The aims of this work were to: [1] assess and build commitment within the prison for a 'healthy prison' strategy; [2] produce a realistic and feasible plan for developing the strategy; [3] create a strategy group to lead and drive the project; and [4] form and publish key performance standards for the prison. A period of consultation preceded publication of this report, which involved interviews and meetings with a range of Prison Service and NHS stakeholders and close scrutiny of relevant reports and publications. It should be noted that work on this strategy is ongoing and now forms part of the core business of HMP Bristol. Details: Bristol, UK: University of the West of England, 2009. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 4, 2015 at: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/8252/1/HMP_Bristol_strategy.pdf Year: 2009 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://eprints.uwe.ac.uk/8252/1/HMP_Bristol_strategy.pdf Shelf Number: 135903 Keywords: Health CareMedical CarePrisons |
Author: U.S. Government Accountability Office Title: Federal Prison System: Justice Could Better Measure Progress Addressing Incarceration Challenges Summary: The federal inmate population has increased more than eight-fold since 1980, and DOJ has identified prison crowding as a critical issue since 2006. BOP's rising costs and offender recidivism present incarceration challenges to both DOJ and the nation. For example, BOP's operating costs (obligations) have increased over time, and in fiscal year 2014 amounted to more than $7 billion, or 19 percent of DOJ's total obligations. In recent years, DOJ has implemented targeted initiatives in response, and Senate Report 113-78 included a provision for GAO to review these efforts. This report discusses (1) DOJ's initiatives to address federal incarceration challenges, (2) the extent to which DOJ is measuring its efforts, and (3) the extent to which DOJ is coordinating across its components to implement the Smart on Crime Initiative. GAO reviewed DOJ documentation, interviewed DOJ officials, and compared DOJ efforts with performance measurement and coordination best practices GAO has previously identified. Details: Washington, DC: GAO, 2015. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: GAO-15-454: Accessed July 9, 2015 at: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/670896.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.gao.gov/assets/680/670896.pdf Shelf Number: 135974 Keywords: Costs of Criminal JusticeCosts of IncarcerationCriminal Justice PolicyFederal PrisonsImprisonment, Economic Aspects ofPrisonsSmart on Crime |
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 InstitutionsPrison ConditionsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: In the Public Interest Title: Buying Access: How Corporations Influence Decision Makers at Corrections Conferences, Trainings, and Meetings Summary: Private corrections companies, which contract with corrections departments and facilities to oversee and provide services to incarcerated people, make up a multibillion-dollar industry. Every year, they devote resources to building influence with decision makers in order to find and capitalize on new business opportunities. One key avenue of influence is through professional corrections associations, which are non-profit organizations that support corrections officials, including wardens, administrators, state Department of Corrections staff, sheriffs, and others through events, trainings, and public policy advocacy. This report first details how companies spend millions of dollars sponsoring conferences, paying vendor fees, and providing other funding to gain access to the professional corrections associations. This report then shows how corrections companies leverage this access in ways that can influence decision makers and benefit the companies bottom lines. Considering corrections companies track records of providing low-quality services that harm prisoners, communities, and taxpayers, the influence they exert through professional corrections associations is cause for concern. The research in this report is based on limited information that professional corrections associations make publicly available. Consequently, the reports findings constitute only a portion of the total contributions made by companies and the subsequent opportunities they receive to influence decision makers. Private companies make contributions to professional corrections associations. In 2014, sponsors, vendors, corporate partners, and other non-individual entities contributed at least $3 million to five of the largest professional corrections associations, including the American Correctional Association, the American Jail Association, the Association of State Correctional Administrators, the Corrections Technology Association, and the National Sheriffs Association. In return, corrections contractors are able to build relationships with and influence decision makers in key ways: Corrections companies send executives and staff to professional corrections association conferences to meet decision makers. Many companies receive lists of attendees, allowing the corporate staff to target certain corrections officials. Corrections companies lead trainings and workshops at conferences. Often times, companies will directly market goods and services. Corrections companies host conference events where their executives and marketing staff meet with and give speeches to corrections officials. Corrections companies market their products and services at conference vendor booths to identify potential government customers and generate leads. Corrections companies advertise on conference materials, such as the program books, hotel room key cards, tote bags, and take-home mugs. This marketing encourages officials to consider the companies products and services when making purchasing and outsourcing decisions. Details: Washington, DC: In the Public Interest, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 13, 2015 at: http://www.inthepublicinterest.org/wp-content/uploads/Buying-Access-In-the-Public-Interest-PDF.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.inthepublicinterest.org/wp-content/uploads/Buying-Access-In-the-Public-Interest-PDF.pdf Shelf Number: 136388 Keywords: Corrections PrisonsPrivate Prisons Privatization |
Author: Correctional Association of New York Title: Clinton Correctional Facility: 2012-2014 Summary: Clinton Correctional Facility is a maximum security prison that has a Main compound and an Annex, and is located in Dannemora, NY, in the northernmost part of the state. Established in 1845 and sometimes referred to as "Little Siberia" because of the harsh weather conditions and intimidating environment, Clinton is the third oldest Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) prison in New York State. Clinton has a massive foreboding stone and cement wall on its perimeter, immediately adjacent to the Main Street of Dannemora. Like many other maximum security prisons in the state, the Main is lined with long corridors of stacked tiers of cells, while the Annex has dorm-style housing. Throughout its long history, parts of Clinton had at various stages operated as a "mining prison" where incarcerated persons were forced to work in the mining and manufacturing of iron, a site for the death penalty by electrocution, a tuberculosis ward, a state mental hospital for people declared insane after conviction, a mental health treatment center, one of the largest employers in the area, and always a prison for incarcerating people convicted of the most serious crimes. Clinton has also had an infamous history of violence, brutality, and abuse by correction officers, as well as unrest, violence, organizing, and lawsuits by people incarcerated at the facility. Incidents within this history have ranged from what has been classified as one of the largest prison rebellions in New York State history in 1929, to a series of successful brutality lawsuits in the 1990s, to more recent alleged staff assaults, incarcerated person fights, and facility-wide lockdowns. In the mid- 1990s, for example, the New York Times went so far as to report 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. Today, Clinton is the largest DOCCS prison in the state, with a total capacity of 2,956 people in the Main and Annex combined. As discussed in detail below, the facility continues to be plagued by violence and staff brutality at a level that is among the worst of DOCCS prisons. In addition to its general confinement in the Main and Annex, at the time of our visit Clinton operated two unique residential programs separated from the rest of the facility, Merle Cooper and the Assessment and Program Preparation Unit (APPU), as well as a residential Intermediate Care Program (ICP) for people with serious mental health needs, and a Special Housing Unit (SHU) and additional SHU and long-term keeplock isolated confinement cell blocks. Details: New York: Correctional Association of New York, 2015. 86p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 20, 2015 at: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Clinton-Correctional-Facility-Final-Draft-2.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Clinton-Correctional-Facility-Final-Draft-2.pdf Shelf Number: 136508 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsMaximum Security PrisonsPrison ConditionsPrison ViolencePrisons |
Author: Correctional Association of New York Title: Greene Correctional Facility: 2012-2014 Summary: Greene C.F. has one of the highest concentrations of young people in any New York State prison, and also some of the highest reported allegations of staff violence, harassment, and intimidation against incarcerated persons. The Correctional Association of New York (CA) Prison Visiting Project (PVP) visited Greene C.F. on November 8 and 9, 2012, and received updated information about Greene from incarcerated persons and staff in 2014. The median age of people incarcerated at Greene is 22, there were over 40 children aged 16 or 17 at the prison as of October 2014, and 82% of the people incarcerated at Greene were Black or Latino. Although a medium security prison, Greene ranked as one of the worst CA-visited prisons on almost all indicators of safety and alleged physical abuse of incarcerated persons by security staff. Worse still, staff physical abuse, intimidation, racial and verbal harassment, retaliation, and use of solitary confinement were reportedly most directed at young people at Greene, including teenagers and youth into their early twenties. The CA did find some positive aspects at Greene, including a large number of programs. Yet, the levels of reported abuse of young people are unacceptable and far overshadowed any positive aspects. DOCCS and state policy-makers must stop all abuses taking place, remove all 16- and 17-year-olds from Greene and all adult prisons and jails, and create a more supportive, developmentally-appropriate environment for young people into their mid-twenties, and indeed for all people incarcerated. Details: New York: Correctional Association of New York, 2014. 57p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 20, 2015 at: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Greene-C.F.-Report-Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.correctionalassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/Greene-C.F.-Report-Final.pdf Shelf Number: 136510 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsCorrections OfficersPrison ConditionsPrison GuardsPrisonsYoung Adult Offenders |
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 RatesCriminal Justice PolicyPrison OvercrowdingPrisonersPrisonsPublic Safety Realignment |
Author: Reid Howie Associates Title: HMP Low Moss Research Programme into Innovative Practice 2012-2014. (Vol 2). Relationships, Culture and Ethos Summary: There have been a number of significant changes in the SPS in recent years at strategic, policy and practice level, and in wider criminal justice policy. The new HMP Low Moss has been involved in implementing and testing innovative practice and the revised SPS operating philosophy since it opened in March 2012. A range of new practices have been introduced into the prison which are designed to stimulate, promote and sustain cultural change and to support prisoner rehabilitation within the new penal environment. A programme of research has been undertaken to explore these innovative practices in Low Moss and their impact, in the context of wider changes. This research was part of that programme, and the overall objectives of this study were to examine the quality of relationships within the regime and the nature of the prevailing culture and ethos in Low Moss. The study took an "Appreciative Inquiry" (AI) approach to identifying the key issues for those living and working in Low Moss, with a focus on identifying "best experiences" throughout/ Key Findings There were generally very positive views of the relationships, culture and ethos in Low Moss from stakeholder groups of all types. The research identified a prevalent view that Low Moss was different (and preferable) to other prisons in Scotland. Key factors included the focus in the prison on: - Relationships based on mutual respect, support and appropriate values. - Positive relationships with families. - Provision of opportunities and holistic support to prisoners, to enable change. - The overall environment, including safety and comfort. - A positive, "can-do" ethos and culture. The research found that the Low Moss regime, operating philosophy and culture were seen to have become an integral part of the prison in its first 18 months, with the approach having "bedded in". The approach was seen to have a positive impact upon stakeholders in terms of, for example: day to day well-being and satisfaction; personal development; addressing specific issues; promoting positive change among prisoners; and contributing to the likelihood of their future desistance from offending. There was found to be a shared strategic approach and "vision" at senior management level, with a high level of commitment, as well as good team-working and mutual support and a general focus on enabling and encouraging new ideas. Most staff viewed working in Low Moss favourably, with strong teamworking and generally positive views of relationships with a range of stakeholders. Staff recognised the difference in their work with prisoners implied by the Low Moss approach, and many valued the challenge. The prison was seen to have high expectations of staff, and staff were generally proud of their involvement in "making a difference". There were seen to be good opportunities for learning and development for ambitious staff. Most of the prisoners identified Low Moss as being different to other prisons they had experienced, and expressed positive views of the difference. Aspects of the Low Moss approach identified as particularly important to them included: better treatment by staff; the "family-friendly approach"; positive opportunities and support; the relaxed atmosphere; and the safe, clean, well-equipped and modern environment. Relationships between prisoners themselves were also seen to be generally good, particularly in the PIP section (for those in custody for the first time), and the provision of support by other prisoners was common. Prisoners generally felt that they were listened to, and that the staff would explain reasons for decisions more readily than in other prisons. Other stakeholders and service providers were also very positive overall about the prison, and their own experiences and involvement. There was seen to be a good level of partnership and "joined up" working, with input from other stakeholders being seen as integral to the holistic approach within the prison. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service, 2014. 66p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 19, 2015 at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3520.aspx Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3520.aspx Shelf Number: 137004 Keywords: Children of PrisonersCorrectional AdministrationCorrections OfficersFamilies of InmatesPrison AdministrationPrisons |
Author: Ball, W. David Title: The New Normal? Prosecutorial Charging in California After Public Safety Realignment Summary: On April 4, 2011, Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 109, the 2011 Public Safety Realignment Act ("Realignment" or "AB 109"), into law. AB 109 was one response to the 2009 Three-Judge Court Order for California to significantly reduce its prison population to 110,000 people, or 137.5% of design capacity, by year-end 2013. Affirmed by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2011 in Brown v. Plata, the Three-Judge Court Order determined prison overcrowding to be "the primary cause of the state's unconstitutional failure to provide adequate medical and mental health care to California prisoners," concluding that population reduction was the most narrowly drawn, least intrusive remedy. Realignment shifts the responsibility of supervising, tracking and imprisoning specified non-serious, non-violent, non-sexual ("triple-nons" or "N3 felonies" or "non-non-nons") offenders previously bound for state prison to county jails and probation (see Overview of Public Safety Realignment. The law states that "the purpose of justice reinvestment is to manage and allocate criminal justice populations more cost-effectively, generating savings that can be reinvested in evidence-based strategies that increase public safety while holding offenders accountable." The implementation of Realignment in California is the largest correctional experiment of its kind. Through AB 109, the Legislature has allocated over $2 billion in the first two years of implementation to assist California's 58 counties in carrying out the legislation's provisions. In addition, more than 100,000 offenders have had their sentences altered through mid-2013. The advent of Realignment, of course, affected the decision-making of all the official actors in the criminal justice system. But the prosecutor's role is unique in one clear sense: Prosecutors have, in formal legal terms, virtually un-reviewable autonomy in the choice to charge or not charge an offender (so long as any charge matches provable facts with statutory elements). Traditionally, in deciding whether to charge as high as the provable facts allow, they consider contextual aspects of the commission of the offense itself but also any relevant background aspects and criminal record of the offender. How does this power operate in the wake of AB 109? On the one hand, AB 109 simply classified a large number of pre-existing felonies under California Penal Code S1170(h) because they were deemed "triple-nons." In that sense, prosecutors in theory might be indifferent to the change; they would continue to charge these felonies according to the same factors as they always had, and the changes in site of incarceration and possible change in de facto length of sentences would happen of their own accord. In a sense, the only mandated change in prosecutorial choice here had to do with sentence recommendation: Because judges now have the power to impose a split sentence for an AB 109 conviction - fractioning the sentence between jail time and community supervision - when prosecutors exercise their usual function of recommending sentences, they now have to build the matter of split versus straight sentences into that responsibility. Prosecutors have also always been free to consider such resource factors as their own and other agencies' budgets and crowding in jails and prisons. But many aspects of AB 109 were likely from the start to weigh significantly on the decisions made by prosecutors as they exercise their traditional charging and recommendation choices after October 2011. The most salient aspects were the change in site and de facto length of incarceration, as well as the secondary effects of new county responsibilities for post-release supervision of many prisoners returning home. In particular, in exercising discretion, prosecutors might be influenced by their views on the differences in the severity of experience of incarceration in jail as opposed to prison, or by their concerns about jail crowding or the extra costs that county jails and other county agencies might have to absorb under AB 109. Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Criminal Justice Center, Stanford Law School, 2014. 187p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 28, 2015 at: http://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/publication/513777/doc/slspublic/DA%20report%20Feb%202014.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/publication/513777/doc/slspublic/DA%20report%20Feb%202014.pdf Shelf Number: 137169 Keywords: CorrectionsCriminal Justice ReformJustice ReinvestmentPrison OvercrowdingPrison ReformPrisonsProsecutionProsecutorial DiscretionProsecutorsPublic Safety Realignment |
Author: Robinson, Cathy Title: Women's Custodial Estate Review Summary: The commissioning of this review outlined the Government's vision for rebalancing the custodial system in England and Wales, closing small and expensive prisons, as capacity allows and replacing them with fit-for-purpose accommodation where the prisoners could best address their offending behaviour needs and prepare for release. During the course of the review the team considered not only where, but also how women are held, so that the report includes a focus on regimes provided in women's prisons. Women represent only five percent of the prison population and are held in a small number of prisons compared with men. It is therefore necessary to ensure that their small numbers do not result in less favourable treatment, through careful consideration of their particular needs. We also need to ensure that the estate is effective, affordable and sustainable. The review recommends the establishment of strategic prison hubs, located as far as possible close to major centres of population. These hubs should be of an appropriate size to serve the courts, hold women from the surrounding region and provide a range of interventions. Moreover, they should provide an appropriate physical environment to support women's caring responsibilities through family visits, which maintain and build upon relationships with children and other family members. These hubs will enable most women to remain in their closest prison throughout their sentence and will support the Government's approach to Transforming Rehabilitation through their links to Community Rehabilitation Companies and "through the gate" support for all prisoners. They will also enable a larger number of women, subject to appropriate risk assessment, to undertake work outside of prison which can be continued after their sentence and which will further support rehabilitation and maintenance of family contact and personal responsibility. The review team has considered the recommendation of Baroness Corston for small custodial units. The team agreed with the underlying argument, that women should be held in appropriate physical conditions as close to home as possible, so that they can be supported back into their communities on release. However, women's prisons provide a wide range of services, particularly in partnership with health, to those who have significant needs when they enter prison. Women's access to this support is vitally important to their rehabilitation and reducing reoffending. Details: London(?: National Offender Management Service, 2013. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 24, 2015 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/252851/womens-custodial-estate-review.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/252851/womens-custodial-estate-review.pdf Shelf Number: 131845 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersPrison ReformPrisons |
Author: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Country Office Pakistan Title: Females Behind Bars: Situation and Needs Assessment in Female Prisons and Barracks Summary: The Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) has listed prisoners among the four most 'at risk and neglected populations' in the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The 2006 report states that "Prisons are sites for illicit drug use, unsafe injecting practices, tattooing with contaminated equipment, violence, rape and unprotected sex. Prisons are often overcrowded, have limited access to healthcare, offer poor nutrition and have high rates of airborne and blood borne diseases. Particularly women make up a very small proportion of the prison population in Pakistan and they are faced with much greater challenges than men in accessing healthcare. UNODC Pakistan, through one of its projects initiated HIV prevention services for female prisoners. The project contains significant importance as is only the project targeting female prisoners in the country. Data was collected in 09 female prisons and barracks across the country, where the project was being implemented. All females who were admitted to a female prison within the study period formed the study population. To be eligible for participation, a woman should be an inmate in one of the targeted prisons, be of 18 years of age or older, irrespective of her drug using status and risk behaviors and was willing to provide an informed consent for participation in the study. A total number of 375 subjects was calculated to be the final sample size for this study. The preliminary data available from the project suggested that a more or less 400 female prisoners existed in the prisons. Owing to the small number of female prisoners reported from these target prisons, no strict inclusion or exclusion criteria were used and all available prisoners who showed a willingness and provided consent to participate, were included in the study. Data collection was preceded by a pre-survey phase, which lasted for a couple of weeks. The supervisory staff in prisons was contacted by the field teams and were explained the objectives of the study to ensure their involvement in the study. This phase focused on answering any concerns of the prison staff and address any of their apprehensions about the study and confidentiality of data. Data collection lasted for a period of 6 weeks. The team members were lead by the project psychologist, who played a key role in data collection. Data were collected on a predesigned format which was developed through a consultative process between the project staff, the UNODC technical team and the research consultant. Data was collected in a secure room (project's counseling room) separate from the prison's main building and provided enough privacy for the interviews to be conducted smoothly without any interference. The questionnaire was of a structured format, developed to gather information on various socio-demographic, prison related information and personal characteristics of the individual herself. After the questionnaire information was collected, the interviewer answered any questions that participants had raised and registered with the project for future follow-up. After editing, all questionnaires were rechecked using a software designed in MS Access for data entry. Analysis was done using the statistical software package, SPSS version 12.0 (statistical package for social sciences). Since prisons have peculiar characteristics regarding exertion of rights, the numerous ethical issues such as voluntary participation, taking informed consent, and measures to ensure and maintain participants' confidentiality were taken into consideration during the entire length of this study. A total number of 359 interviews were conducted for this study, within the time allocated for data collection. The average age of prisoners across all prisons was reported to be 35.2 years - 12.6 (median = 32), with little variability between different prisons. The maximum proportion of prisoners interviewed were illiterate (68%) and more than half of the prisoners interviewed were married with children. Half of the women interviewed shared in the family expenses by providing some sort of financial support. 4% of the women interviewed were non Pakistanis; the maximum numbers of non-Pakistani women interviewed were from Zambia. Of the 359 women prisoners interviewed, an astounding 59% of the women were reported to be under trial. A remaining 31 (8.6%) were detained while the remaining 32.6% (117) were convicted. The maximum proportion of women was imprisoned due to crime such as murders (40%), and drug related offenses. These included using as well as possession of illegal drugs. Another issue of concern is the high number of women who were imprisoned on account of commercial sex work. Upon further inquiry 23.7% of the women stated that they had ever been imprisoned for drug related offenses, while another 15.6% informed that they had been imprisoned for commercial sex work. A fairly large proportion of women had been tobacco smokers before imprisonment and nearly half of them continued smoking even within prisons. In addition a substantial proportion of the overall female prisoner population indicated use of psychotic drugs before being imprisoned, but did not continue their drug using habit, as drugs were not available in prisons. Of the 359 women interviewed, only 22 (6.1%) reported that they had ever injected any form of drug. Further inquiry into drug injecting practices revealed that all these injections took place among the women were imprisoned. Forty five (12.5%) of the total women interviewed stated that they had faced some form of sexual harassment while in prison (not rape). Multiple sex partners were notified, with sex between various prisoners being the most common form of consensual sex seen in prisons. 52% of the women interviewed informed that they had heard of HIV and AIDS. Knowledge of sexual intercourse as a mode of transmission of the disease was prevalent among 27.3% of the women interviewed and 42% knew that HIV can be transmitted by sharp instrument/needles and syringes. 49% knew that HIV can spread through blood transfusion, while knowledge of mother to child transmission was found to be 26%. One fifth reported to have experienced an STI in the past 06 months, while 18% received proper treatment for these infections. An evaluation of the prison environment showed that unlike male prisons, overcrowding is not reported to be an issue in female prisons. The hygiene conditions in all prisons visited were far from ideal. The sanitation facilities available for prisoners varied according to various prisons or barracks. The number of wash rooms ranged from 3 to 4 prisoners per wash room to 60 prisoners per wash room in one of the larger prisons. Only one of the prisons visited had safe drinking water available for the prisoners. All prisons other than two had tap water available for 24 hours, however the water was not purified leading to various water borne diseases. While women prisoners were reported to keep their children with them in prisons, it is also worth mentioning that there were no child care facilities in any of the prison evaluated. Inadequate medical facilities were reported by female prisoners from nearly all prisons. Although doctors are available in all prisons, but the diagnostic and treatment facilities were found to be far from satisfactory. No measures to deal with the mental health issues were reported to be provided by the prison authorities. In all prisons, psychologists were made available through UNODC supported project. The psychological problems reported are depression, stress, mental illness, attention seeking behavior, sleep disorder and generalized anxiety. No recreational facilities are available except television, which was available in only 2 prisons. No indoor games or activities to keep the prisoners involved were seen in any of the prisons visited. Based upon the results of this study, a series of key principles and actions are recommended, to promote principles of public health, improve the mental state of health of the confined, and prevent the spread of HIV and other communicable diseases in prisons. These services should include the provision of basic determinants of health such as adequate nutrition, clean drinking water, sanitation facilities, provision of an adequate gender-sensitive and interdisciplinary mental healthcare and provision of drug dependence treatment options for prisoners with problematic drug use. Comprehensive education and awareness of HIV/AIDS and ways to prevent HIV transmission, with a special reference to the likely risks of transmission within prison environments should be provided to both Prisoners and prison staff. Prison systems should provide easy access to voluntary HIV testing and counseling, which should be easily accessible to all prisoners. While HIV, HCV and HBV testing is continuously done in most prisons under the project supported by UNODC, it is strongly recommended that TB testing should also be initiated in prisons. Some basic child health services including nutrition, immunization, basic health care needs can be provided by the project as part of the holistic support program. Women should be provided access to legal counseling and provision of legal aid if desired, to access lawyers and follow up their cases in courts. Every effort should be made to develop positive partnerships with the higher prison authorities and the prison staff for every initiative undertaken. Details: Islamabad : United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Country Office Pakistan, 2011. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 25, 2015 at: https://www.unodc.org/documents/pakistan//female_behind_bars_complete_final.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Pakistan URL: https://www.unodc.org/documents/pakistan//female_behind_bars_complete_final.pdf Shelf Number: 137338 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersHealth ServicesMedical CarePrisons |
Author: Scottish Prison Service Title: Unlocking Potential, Transforming Lives Summary: This report is a robust and intelligent appraisal of where we are now and where we need to get to in future. It is long overdue. The authors persuasively make the case for SPS becoming an ambitious organisation that has at its core skilled and professionalised people who are highly trained and continually developed. Through our people I am convinced that we will achieve and honour the ambitions to which the report convincingly encourages us to aspire: Unlocking Potential, Transforming Lives. Our exciting future is set out in the pages of this report and, as I anticipated in the 2012 annual SACRO lecture, it heralds what I believe will be a golden age for the Scottish Prison Service. The Scottish Prison Service has a strong record of service delivery, achievement and sound operational management. We need to build on these past successes and on our heritage, whilst having the courage to reflect and then decide what needs to change to meet future expectations. We need to demonstrate our effective contribution towards National Outcomes and the Strategy for Justice in Scotland. To be truly effective in this we cannot work alone. It is only by working together with other providers that we will make Scotland safer and stronger. We must focus on what we know works in reducing reoffending and provide sound evidence of our progress. We need to transform our approach to offender management and our efforts to improve wellbeing. In particular, we need to reduce reoffending amongst those 9,000 - 10,000 short-term offenders leaving our care each year. Our future Vision will focus on each individual in our care throughout their time in custody and beyond. By taking an individualised asset-based approach we will continue to address risks and needs but also build on an individual's strengths and potential. By doing this, we will empower those in our care to unlock their potential and transform their lives. This is a demanding agenda that should engage, challenge and motivate staff and offenders alike. It means we must develop our staff to be even better at what they do now and to take on the new things that they will need to do tomorrow as we operate in new and different ways, changing how we work both within and beyond the prison walls. Some of you may still be questioning why we need to change. Now, not only as an organisation but as a nation, we have high and legitimate aspirations for our generation and for those who follow. If we are going to achieve these, we have to address the seemingly intractable issue of recidivism, a burden that is a millstone around our economy's neck. To be clear, this is not a soft-touch liberal agenda; it makes hard-nosed economic sense to do so. Audit Scotland reported that the cost of crime in our country is about $3 billion every year. How many schools, hospitals, roads or houses does that represent? Moreover, for the victims of crime there can be no more powerful justification for tackling reoffending and supporting reintegration than doing so in their name to try, as best we can, to ensure that there are far fewer victims of crime in future. The recommendations set out in the report change our aspirations as a national service. Much can be done immediately, as many of the recommendations are both practical and feasible. Some are so fundamental that we need to take time to consider them, seeking agreement on how we move forward. We will also need to consider affordability and cost in prioritising the order in which we take things forward. The Organisational Review Report provides the basis of our future Road Map for change, change which will be both incremental and transformational. This change will enable our organisation to help to create a justice system in Scotland that is a model of excellence. I have accepted in principle the broad direction of the recommendations in the Report. This is a unique opportunity to deliver a singular Vision that we can all work together to achieve. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service, 2013. 254p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 28, 2015 at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Corporate9.aspx Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Corporate9.aspx Shelf Number: 137349 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional InstitutionsPrison AdministrationPrison ReformPrisons |
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 AdministrationPrison AdministrationPrison ConditionsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Charles Colson Taskforce on Federal Corrections Title: Transforming Prisons, Restoring Lives: Final Recommendations of the Charles Colson Task Force on Federal Corrections Summary: After decades of unbridled growth in its prison population, the United States faces a defining moment. There is broad, bipartisan agreement that the costs of incarceration have far outweighed the benefits, and that our country has largely failed to meet the goals of a well-functioning justice system: to enhance public safety, to prevent future victimization, and to rehabilitate those who have engaged in criminal acts. Indeed, a growing body of evidence suggests that our over-reliance on incarceration may in fact undermine efforts to keep the public safe. Momentum is strong for a new direction, for a criminal justice system guided by proven, cost-effective strategies that reduce crime and restore lives. But translating this impulse for reform into lasting change is no small challenge. This report provides both an urgent call to action and a roadmap for reforming the federal prison system, which, with 197,000 people behind bars, was the largest in the nation as 2015 drew to a close. By adopting the recommendations detailed here, and committing sufficient resources to ensure their effectiveness, we can reduce the federal prison population by 60,000 people over the coming years and achieve savings of over $5 billion, allowing for reinvestment in programs proven to reduce crime. Most important, these proposed reforms and savings can be achieved through evidence-based policies that protect public safety. Such savings will not only bring fiscal responsibility to a policy area long plagued by the opposite tendency, but will also free critical funds the US Department of Justice (DOJ) needs for other priorities, such as national security, state and local law enforcement, and victim assistance. And just as critically, these reforms will make our communities safer by ensuring we send the right people to prison and that they return to society with the skills, supervision, and support they need to stay crime free. While enacting these initiatives may seem daunting, doing nothing is not a sustainable option. The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world, confining more than 2.2 million people in its jails and prisons on any given day. Sentencing reform and other policy changes will reduce our reliance on prison and cut costs as we reconsider which people truly need to be behind bars and for how long. But the country still faces the enormous challenge of reintegrating millions of formerly imprisoned people back into society, where the enduring stigma of a criminal record complicates their efforts to find housing and jobs. Fortunately, signs of meaningful progress shine brightly in the states. Lawmakers from Texas, Utah, Georgia, South Carolina, and a host of other states have re-examined government's expensive preference for incarceration and have embraced a more diversified, evidence-based approach that delivers better public safety at less cost. Reform has come much more slowly at the federal level. Despite recent reductions, the federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has experienced a seven-fold increase in its population since 1980. Costs have spiked right along with that growth. Now almost $7.5 billion, federal prison spending has grown at more than twice the rate of the rest of the DOJ budget and accounts for about one-quarter of the total. Details: Washington, DC: The Urban Institute, 2016. 132p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: http://colsontaskforce.org/final-recommendations/Colson-Task-Force-Final-Recommendations-January-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://colsontaskforce.org/final-recommendations/Colson-Task-Force-Final-Recommendations-January-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 137694 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsCosts of PrisonsCriminal Justice ReformFederal Bureau of PrisonsPrison ReformPrisons |
Author: Alaska Criminal Justice Commission Title: Justice Reinvestment Report Summary: Alaska's prison population has grown by 27 percent in the last decade, almost three times faster than the resident population. This rapid growth spurred the opening of the state's newest correctional facility - Goose Creek Correctional Center - in 2012, costing the state $240 million in construction funds. On July 1, 2014, Alaska's correctional facilities housed 5,267 inmates, and the Department of Corrections ("DOC") had a fiscal year operating budget of $327 million. Absent reform, these trends are projected to continue: Alaska will need to house an additional 1,416 inmates by 2024, surpassing the state's current prison bed capacity by 2017. This growth is estimated to cost the state at least $169 million in new corrections spending over the next 10 years. The rising cost of Alaska's prison population coupled with the state's high recidivism rate - almost two-thirds of inmates released from the state's facilities return within three years - have led policymakers to consider whether the state is achieving the best public safety return on its corrections spending. Seeking a comprehensive review of the state's corrections and criminal justice systems, the 2014 Alaska Legislature established the bi-partisan, interbranch Alaska Criminal Justice Commission ("Commission"). In April of the following year, state leaders from all three branches of government joined together to request technical assistance from the Public Safety Performance Project of The Pew Charitable Trusts and the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the Justice Reinvestment Initiative. Governor Bill Walker, former Chief Justice Dana Fabe, Senate President Kevin Meyer, House Speaker Mike Chenault, Attorney General Craig Richards, former Commissioner of the Alaska DOC Ron Taylor, and former Chair of the Commission Alexander O. Bryner tasked the Commission with "develop[ing] recommendations aimed at safely controlling prison and jail growth and recalibrating our correctional investments to ensure that we are achieving the best possible public safety return on our state dollars." In addition, Senate President Meyer and Speaker Chenault requested that, because the state's difficult budget situation rendered reinvestment in evidence-based programs and treatment possible only with significant reforms, the Commission forward policy options that would not only avert future prison growth, but would also reduce the prison population between 15 and 25 percent below current levels. Over a seven-month period, the Commission analyzed the state's criminal justice system, including a comprehensive review of sentencing, corrections, and community supervision data. Key findings include: - Alaska's pretrial population has grown by 81 percent over the past decade, driven primarily by longer lengths of stay for both felony and misdemeanor defendants. - Three-quarters of offenders entering prison post-conviction in 2014 were convicted of a nonviolent offense. - Length of stay for sentenced felony offenders is up 31 percent over the past decade. - In 2014, 47 percent of post-revocation supervision violators - who are incarcerated primarily for non-criminal violations of probation and parole conditions - stayed more than 30 days, and 28 percent stayed longer than 3 months behind bars. Based on this analysis, and the directive from legislative leadership, the Commission developed a comprehensive, evidence-based package of 21 consensus policy recommendations that would protect public safety, hold offenders accountable, and reduce the state's average daily prison population by 21 percent, netting estimated savings of $424 million over the next decade. Details: Juneau: Alaska Criminal Justice Commission, 2015. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/sites/default/files/imported/acjc/AJRI/ak_jri_report_final12-15.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.ajc.state.ak.us/sites/default/files/imported/acjc/AJRI/ak_jri_report_final12-15.pdf Shelf Number: 137792 Keywords: Costs of CorrectionsCriminal Justice ReformCriminal Justice SystemsJustice ReinvestmentPrison PopulationPrisons |
Author: Concert Group Logistics (CGL) Title: Study of Operations of the Florida Department of Corrections Summary: The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), a joint entity of the Florida Legislature (Legislature), solicited competitive bids in order to award a contract with an independent consultant for a Study of Operations of the Florida Department of Corrections (FDC). The goal of the solicitation process was to fulfill the requirements of Chapter 2015-232, Laws of Florida (also known as Senate Bill 2500-A) passed during a special 2015 session of the Legislature. The bill states: "From the funds in Specific Appropriations 2667 and 2668, $300,000 in nonrecurring general revenue funds is appropriated for the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to contract with an independent consultant to study the operations of the Department of Corrections with regard to the incarceration of inmates. The contractor shall identify both positive and negative aspects of the department's operations and shall prepare a report of its findings, including recommendations for improvements. The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives no later than December 1, 2015." The solicitation sought a consultant to conduct an immediate, thorough, and detailed study of the operations of the FDC with reference to applicable best management practices in the corrections industry. Consistent with the time requirements contained in Senate Bill 2500-A, the final report for this study was required to be submitted no later than November 30, 2015. Details: Tallahassee, FL: Florida Legislature, Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, 2015. 178p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 8, 2016 at: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/15-FDC.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United States URL: http://www.oppaga.state.fl.us/MonitorDocs/Reports/pdf/15-FDC.pdf Shelf Number: 137806 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional ProgramsCorrections OfficersPrison GuardsPrisonsRisk and Needs Assessment |
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 ProgramsPrisonersPrisonsTreatment ProgramsVocational 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: DecarcerationPrison PopulationPrison ReformPrisonersPrisons |
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: InmatesPrison OvercrowdingPrisonersPrisons |
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 OffendersCommunity CorrectionsCorrectional AdministrationInmatesOffender SupervisionPrisonersPrisonsRehabilitation 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 InmatesInmatesMinoritiesPrisonersPrisons |
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 InstitutionsInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Reid Howie Associates Title: Community Facing Prisons Report Summary: 1.1 This report presents the findings of research into community facing prisons which was carried out by Reid Howie Associates for the SPS between March and August 2015. 1.2 The purpose of the study, as set out in the brief from the SPS, was to focus on three prisons identified as "community facing": Addiewell; Low Moss; and Grampian1. The aim was, from the experience in these prisons: "To understand in what practical and demonstrable ways the prisons are embracing and implementing the new community facing operating paradigm in terms of throughcare and support." 1.3 The brief specified that the research should seek to understand better: - In what practical and demonstrable ways a community facing prison is providing a new model for penal practice? - While service provision purports to be community orientated, what is being delivered in practice? - In what ways can we measure the community facing element? - How can we measure that what is being done differently is having an actual (positive) impact on those involved? - What is demonstrably new about the community facing method? 1.4 The research process involved extensive discussions with senior management, staff, other organisations and people in custody in the three prisons. Discussions were also held with staff in Perth and Greenock prisons for comparison. The information gathered was entirely qualitative, to reflect the purposes of the research, and a very large amount of detailed material was gathered. It is clearly impossible, in this report, to describe all aspects of each of the prisons. Instead, common themes relevant to the research questions are identified, illustrated with examples from each establishment. 1.5 This report summarises the findings in five sections. This section provides an introduction to the research, and outlines the background to the concept of "community facing prisons." Section 2 identifies participants' views of the key features of a community facing prison. Section 3 examines how the model has been implemented, and how it is being delivered in practice. Section 4 summarises the perceived benefits and limitations of the current approach (on the basis of participants' experiences), and some of the key challenges faced. The final section sets out a number of conclusions and points to note arising from the research. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Prison Service, 2015. 50p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 23, 2016 at: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3919.aspx Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.sps.gov.uk/Corporate/Publications/Publication-3919.aspx Shelf Number: 138392 Keywords: Community-Based CorrectionsCorrectional InstitutionsPrisons |
Author: Abarbanel, Sara Title: Realigning the Revolving Door: An Analysis of California Counties' AB109 2011-2012 Implementation plans Summary: On April 5, 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed into law AB 109, the "2011 Realignment Legislation Addressing Public Safety" ("Realignment), which dramatically shifted responsibility from the state to the counties for tens of thousands of offenders. The state was in an unprecedented financial crisis, and recent budget deficits had forced legislators to make tough decisions that included cutting spending not only in the criminal justice system, but in education and other social services as well. Not only that, but just a few weeks before the bill's signing, the United States Supreme Court had upheld a lower court's judgment ordering California to reduce its prison population by approximately 40,000 persons within two years. California, and its prison system, had to make big changes. Details: Palo Alto, CA: Stanford Law School Criminal Justice Center, 2013. 129p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed arch 24, 2016 at: http://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/child-page/183091/doc/slspublic/Realigning%20the%20Revolving%20Door%20with%20updates%20for%2058%20counties%20080113.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United States URL: http://law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/default/files/child-page/183091/doc/slspublic/Realigning%20the%20Revolving%20Door%20with%20updates%20for%2058%20counties%20080113.pdf Shelf Number: 131263 Keywords: California RealignmentCorrectional AdministrationCosts of CorrectionsCriminal Justice PolicyPrisons |
Author: Goff, Diana Title: A Crisis of Confidence, Competence and Capacity: Programming Advice for Strengthening Mali's Penal Chain Summary: This report analyses the organisation and performance of the penal process in Mali. Its aim is to provide advice on how this process could be strengthened in ways that would enable it to act as a unifying element in Mali's development by holding state and citizens accountable to the same standards of conduct. Despite the shortcomings of a number of top-down reform efforts in the past, there seems to have been little variation or innovation in how the many challenges that plague the penal chain in Mali have been addressed programmatically. It is for this reason that the report examines a number of recent innovations in development programming such as 'Thinking and Working Politically', the 'Theory of Change' concept and 'Systems Complexity', in addition to an in-depth analysis of the state of justice in Mali. It uses the resulting insights to develop elements of an innovative program to strengthen Mali's penal chain. This offers a basis for further discussions between Malian and international stakeholders. Key elements are to work on the basis of bottom-up, pilot-type programmes that enable learning and scaling, to focus on local improvements in the accessibility and quality of criminal justice, to also work collaboratively with 'customary justice' actors and civil society representatives - beyond the usual local state representatives of the penal process and to monitor programme implementation jointly on the basis of behavioural change on the part of Malian stakeholders. Details: New York: International Development Law Organization (IDLO); The Hague: Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), 2015. 60p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 26, 2016 at: http://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/IDLO%20CRU%20report%20A%20crisis%20of%20confidence%2C%20competence%20and%20capacity_0.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Mali URL: http://www.clingendael.nl/sites/default/files/IDLO%20CRU%20report%20A%20crisis%20of%20confidence%2C%20competence%20and%20capacity_0.pdf Shelf Number: 138431 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsCriminal Justice ReformCriminal Justice SystemsPrisons |
Author: Sanhueza, Guillermo E. Title: Exploring Correlates of Prison Violence in Chilean Prisons: Examining nationwide, administrative data Summary: In modern times, imprisonment has been established as punishment and not for punishment, which means that the only right that is suspended has to do with freedom of movement. Nevertheless, serving a sentence in Chilean prisons has become a form of continuous punishment that extends far beyond the mere deprivation of liberty. Indeed, Chilean prisons have been criticized for their levels of overcrowding, lack of access to rehabilitative programs, and for their levels of mistreatment towards inmates. In addition, violence has become a common, daily reality in many facilities throughout the country. Its occurrence is problematic not only because it threats security and order inside prisons, but also because it undermines any attempt to successfully develop rehabilitative initiatives inside prison walls. Despite that prison violence has been studied in developed nations, much remains unanswered for developing countries. Thus, this dissertation will try to fill part of this gap by analyzing the correlates of violent events in Chilean prisons as well as by examining which theory of prison violence (among deprivation, administrative-control and importation) seemed to better explain the study's results. In order to do that, this study employed a combination of both administrative data from the Chilean Bureau of Prisons (Gendarmeria de Chile) and some results of the First National Survey on Inmates' Perception of Quality of Life, conducted in 2013 (Sanhueza, in press). Anchored in the literature review and on empirical findings on prison violence, this study included six representative indicators coming for the three theories tested, while controlling for total inmate population size. Then, descriptive analyses and a series of multivariate, negative binomial regression models were run. Main results indicated that the two importation variables (average inmates' age and the proportion of inmates highly-engaged in criminal activities) and the control variable remained significant in the full model. Finally, this study highlights some of their possibilities and limitations, as well as suggests some further research questions and policy implications. Details: Ann Arbor: University of Michigan, 2014. 123p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed March 28, 2016 at: https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/110463/gesanhue_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Year: 2014 Country: Chile URL: https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/110463/gesanhue_1.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y Shelf Number: 138448 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationPrison AdministrationPrison RiotsPrison ViolencePrisoner MisconductPrisons |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons Title: Court Custody: Urgent Improvement Required Summary: Anyone can end up in court custody: the guilty and the innocent; those who are a threat to the safety of others and those who are a danger to themselves; healthy adults, children and those with the range of mental health and substance misuse problems familiar from police and prison custody. This thematic review of my inspectorate's first eight inspections of court custody in England draws together findings from our inspections of 97 courthouses with custody facilities between August 2012 and August 2014. In short, we found some of the worst custody conditions we have inspected. The treatment of detainees and the conditions in custody suites were very low priorities for the different organisations involved, which failed to adequately coordinate their custody roles. We could find almost no one at local or national level who accepted overall accountability for this state of affairs or saw it as their responsibility to address our recommendations. The treatment and conditions we found were the consequence. We found filthy, squalid cells covered in old graffiti. The needs of women, children or other detainees with particular needs were often not understood or addressed. Routine security measures were often disproportionate or inconsistent. Complaint processes in most courts, in practice, were non-existent. Health care was inadequate. Of most concern and despite, in many cases, the best efforts of custody staff, we found a dangerous disregard for the risks detainees might pose to themselves or others. Court custody is an accident waiting to happen. The pockets of good practice inspectors found, and the fact that most court custody staff tried hard to treat people in court custody decently, shows it is not inevitable that poor conditions and degrading, unsafe practices will prevail. This report identifies some examples of good practice and draws together the key recommendations necessary to make the urgent improvement required. Our inspections of courts custody are part of the UK's obligations arising from its status as a party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention against Torture and other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT), which requires state parties to establish a system of independent, preventive inspection of all places of detention. We began our inspections of court custody in 2012 and developed expectations (inspection criteria) and an inspection methodology that reflect the inspection methods we use in other places of detention. Our expectations of court custody are modest. We expect there to be a clear strategy for and leadership of the custody function; that detainees are held for the shortest time possible; and that their rights are respected. While they are in custody we expect them to be safe and treated decently according to their individual needs. We expect any health needs they have to be dealt with effectively. We found that no single organisation exercised any effective leadership for court custody provision at local or national level. Management of court custody operations is spread between several organisations which do not always communicate effectively with each other. No organisation has a good overall picture of the situation and in my view this explains why, in many clusters, physical conditions were poor, with deep cleaning and decorating clearly neglected for years. The valuable insights of Lay Observers - whose independent scrutiny of court custody is of pivotal importance - are often overlooked. The contract management process, while in many ways robust, has rarely led to significant improvements in outcomes for detainees because contract monitoring is focused largely on timeliness and security. These are imperative, but detainee care needs equivalent attention. Timely delivery of detainees to court is important, but it is concerning that so little priority is given to ensuring detainees do not spend inordinately long periods in court cells after their appearance is over. Meanwhile deficits in aspects of detainee care, such as risk assessment, where poor care could result in serious harm, are allowed to remain almost entirely unaddressed. Established practices that are applied unquestioningly tend to cause the greatest disadvantage to the most vulnerable detainees. These include the longer journeys experienced by young people, the practice of transferring women on the same vehicles as men, and the handcuffing of disabled detainees in public. Little importance is placed on detainees being given information about their rights in court custody. In practice there are no workable complaint processes. Of most concern is the lack of any meaningful risk assessment when detainees arrive in court custody or are released. Custody staff often received very vague information about risks in person escort record forms, and were often reluctant to talk with detainees to help clarify concerns. A few custody staff did attempt to ask detainees how they were feeling, or about what had happened when they had harmed themselves before, but it was often clear that they lacked training in risk assessment. This meant that serious risks - including risks that detainees might harm themselves or others, lapse from sleep into coma, or become ill while in custody - were not managed. Cell sharing risk assessments, necessary at busy times when detainees had to share cells, were rarely properly conducted. Some senior custody officers were 'too busy' to do them and did not consider delegating the task to another custody officer. Important changes, such as the introduction of new cell sharing risk assessments, were often communicated to custody staff without a thorough briefing that would help to ensure their purpose was understood. The implementation of such changes was poorly monitored. On release, pre-release risk planning was unusual with, on most occasions, only a travel warrant given to vulnerable detainees. Most did not benefit from custody staff exercising any ongoing duty of care. This is in sharp contrast to our findings in police custody inspections, despite there being similar issues on release. Unlike courts, most police services recognise they have a duty of care that extends beyond the confines of the custody suite. Often, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) managers were unaware of how bad conditions in the cells were, or claimed that detainees only spent a couple of hours in them. In reality, we found that many detainees spent eight or 10 hours in a tiny cell with no natural light, and sometimes no heating, that might be filthy or covered in graffiti, on a hard wooden or plastic bench with nothing to do. We found some conditions that were a threat to the health of people working in or detained at the suite. Provision for people who were pregnant, elderly or disabled was almost always inadequate. Custody staff had little awareness of the needs of children: it was rare for any allowance to be made for their age and concerns and children were sometimes detained for long periods without adequate supervision and reassurance. Physical health care was poor, with treatment and medication often delayed in the belief it would be provided later in prison or police custody. The first aid equipment was often insufficient for the type of emergencies likely to occur. Mental health, often linked to what was available in the court itself, was better. These finding are not acceptable. In each section of this report we set out key recommendations from each of the eight individual court inspections we have undertaken and we continue to expect these to be addressed. Details: London: HM Inspectorate of Prisons, 2015. 45p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2016 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/11/Court-custody-urgent-improvement-required-corrected.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2015/11/Court-custody-urgent-improvement-required-corrected.pdf Shelf Number: 138478 Keywords: Court CustodyDetention FacilitiesPrisoner EscortPrisoners, TreatmentPrisons |
Author: Minnesota. Office of the Legislative Auditor Title: Health Services in State Correctional Facilities 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 co-payments in a more limited set of circumstances than indicated by Minnesota statutes. Details: St. Paul: Office of the Legislative Auditor, 2014. 135p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed March 30, 2016 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: 138495 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsHealth CareMental Health ServicesPrisons |
Author: New South Wales. Audit Office Title: Performance frameworks in custodial centre operations Summary: The effectiveness of Corrective Services NSW's performance framework is limited because organisational key performance indicators (KPIs) do not cascade to public correctional centres, according to a report released today by the Acting New South Wales Auditor-General, Tony Whitfield. "As a result, individual public correctional centres could not be assessed on how well they are contributing to overall Corrective Service objectives, and it is difficult to vary performance expectations in response to changing operating environments," said Mr Whitfield. "Its commissioning and contestability project is designed to address these issues," he added. Some key organisational targets were met and publicly reported In 2014-15, Corrective Services met five of 12 organisational targets. Targets that were not met include nil prisoner-on-prisoner assaults and eight hours' time out of cells for inmates in secure facilities. It advised that these targets reflect government policy and can be difficult to consistently achieve in a high risk corrective services environment. "Corrective Services does not publicly report on public correctional centre performance and provides only limited information for private centres, which limits transparency and accountability," said Mr Whitfield. Corrective Services' low time out of cells low cost system increases risk More inmates are being housed in existing facilities, reducing the time out of cells for inmates and the cost per inmate. "While the increasing number of inmates is reducing the inmate per day cost, it also is adversely affecting inmate welfare and increasing the risk of inmate self-harm," said Mr Whitfield. "In 2014-15 the inmate cost per day was $190.29," he added. The effectiveness of remedial action in response to poor KPI performance was limited Corrective Services set remedial actions in response to poor performance against KPIs, but correctional centre general managers found it difficult to deal with underperformance as not all employees have performance agreements. Correctional centres met most operating standards Corrective Services has developed a comprehensive suite of operating standards and specifications to assess correctional centres against international best practice. High security public centres met most operating standards while private centres met all but one operating specification for the 2014-15 contract year. Lower security public correctional centres have not been assessed against these standards. Private correctional centres met all but one performance linked fee Junee Correctional Centre met all of its performance linked fees and Parklea Correctional Centre met all but one for the 2014-15 contract year. The link between performance linked fees and outcomes could be strengthened by applying greater weight to outcomes-focused performance measures, such as prisoner-on-staff assaults. Details: Sydney: Audit Office, 2016. 44p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 1, 2016 at: http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/publications/latest-reports/performance-frameworks-custodial-centre-ops Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.audit.nsw.gov.au/publications/latest-reports/performance-frameworks-custodial-centre-ops Shelf Number: 138520 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsCorrrections ManagementPrison AdministrationPrisonsPrivate Prisons |
Author: Cate, Matthew Title: Beyond Litigation: A Promising Alternative to Resolving Disputes Over Conditions of Confinement in American Prisons and Jails Summary: In 1976, Governor Jerry Brown and the California Legislature passed a series of laws creating the state's determinate sentencing structure. Over the next 30 years, a tough-on-crime mindset drove legislators and voters to lengthen sentences and reduce opportunities for parole, resulting in a prison system packed to more than 200 percent of its design capacity. By 2006, overcrowding in California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) facilities was so bad that more than 168,000 inmates were packed into a prison system designed for only 84,000.To cope with the population boom, the state built 22 mega-prisons and hired staff at a rapid rate. But those new prisons immediately became overcrowded as well, and it became increasingly difficult for the state to properly care for inmates while maintaining order and discipline. As a result, the CDCR became the target of a series of class-action lawsuits focusing on nearly every aspect of its treatment of inmates in prison and on parole. As these cases were filed, the state chose to defend itself primarily through traditional prison litigation strategies. The approach was largely unsuccessful. Details: Stanford, CA: Stanford Law School, Stanford Criminal Justice Center, 2014. 14p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 14, 2016 at: https://www-cdn.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Beyond-Litigation-Cate-and-Weisberg-Final.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: https://www-cdn.law.stanford.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Beyond-Litigation-Cate-and-Weisberg-Final.pdf Shelf Number: 138673 Keywords: Prison ConditionsPrison OvercrowdingPrisons |
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 AbuseDrug OffendersPrison ContrabandPrisoner MisconductPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Council of Economic Advisors Title: Economic Perspectives on Incarceration and the Criminal Justice System Summary: Calls for criminal justice reform have been mounting in recent years, in large part due to the extraordinarily high levels of incarceration in the United States. Today, the incarcerated population is 4.5 times larger than in 1980, with approximately 2.2 million people in the United States behind bars, including individuals in Federal and State prisons as well as local jails. The push for reform comes from many angles, from the high financial cost of maintaining current levels of incarceration to the humanitarian consequences of detaining more individuals than any other country. Economic analysis is a useful lens for understanding the costs, benefits, and consequences of incarceration and other criminal justice policies. In this report, we first examine historical growth in criminal justice enforcement and incarceration along with its causes. We then develop a general framework for evaluating criminal justice policy, weighing its crime-reducing benefits against its direct government costs and indirect costs for individuals, families, and communities. Finally, we describe the Administration's holistic approach to criminal justice reform through policies that impact the community, the cell block, and the courtroom. Details: Washington DC: U.S. Executive Office of the President, 2016. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 26, 2016 at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/page/files/20160423_cea_incarceration_criminal_justice.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/page/files/20160423_cea_incarceration_criminal_justice.pdf Shelf Number: 138815 Keywords: Cost-Benefit AnalysisCosts of CorrectionsCosts of Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice PolicyCriminal Justice ReformEconomics of CrimePrisons |
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 ProgramsPrison AdministrationPrison Conditions Prison ViolencePrisoners 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: InmatesPrisonersPrisons |
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 InstitutionsInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Western Australia, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services Title: Female Prisons in Western Australia and the Greenough Women's Precinct Summary: Women still form a relatively small proportion of Western Australia's prison population but their numbers have grown quickly, and at a much faster rate than male numbers. At the time of writing, there were 486 women in prison, a staggering increase of 40 per cent in five years (in July 2009 there were 350). The number of male prisoners has increased by 15 per cent over the same period (from 4120 to 4748). Greenough Regional Prison has always accommodated a number of women, usually around 25 and historically in Unit Five, a claustrophobic, confined and run down area. In 2012, in response to a crisis of numbers at Bandyup Women's Prison, a newer larger unit, Unit Four, was converted to the use of women prisoners. The women already at Greenough were moved into Unit Four in late November 2012 and Unit Five became a male unit. Women began being transferred from other prisons, especially Bandyup and Roebourne Regional Prison, from late January 2013. Unit Four is located within the same perimeter fence as the rest of the prison, close to male accommodation blocks, the oval and a number of other amenities. It is separated from the male accommodation areas by a mesh fence topped by razor wire. A privacy screen was added to the fence line adjacent to the male prisoners' accommodation, obscuring the view in and out of the women's unit. This adds some degree of visual, but not aural, privacy. Additional supporting infrastructure, in the form of demountables, was added to allow for the provision of education, programs, and other services to be delivered to the women separately. The Unit's grounds also include a basketball/netball court, some isometric gym equipment, and a pleasant garden area. However it is not entirely self-contained, and this generates some significant issues. When Unit Four is fully occupied, it has a total capacity of 69. Therefore, compared with Unit Five, it offers a gain of up to 44 beds for women. Importantly though, the new Women's Precinct offered an opportunity to do much more for women being held at Greenough than had been done in the past. This report provides a review of services for women prisoners at Greenough based on an on-site inspection in August 2013. It also provides a thematic overview of the state of women's imprisonment in Western Australia, and the historical context which brought about the need for the creation of the Greenough Women's Precinct. Details: Perth: Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, 2014. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 5, 2016 at: http://www.oics.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/91-Greenough-Women.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.oics.wa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/91-Greenough-Women.pdf Shelf Number: 138938 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersFemale PrisonsPrisons |
Author: Pacholke, Dan Title: More Than Emptying Beds: A Systems Approach to Segregation Reform Summary: Restrictive housing, sometimes referred to as solitary confinement, administrative segregation, or simply segregation, typically consists of placement of an individual in a solitary cell for up to 23 hours a day, with only an hour out of the cell to shower or for solo recreation. It is essentially a prison within a prison, where individuals who presumably cannot safely be housed in the general population are placed for some period of time. Although there are occasions when restrictive housing may be the best tool we have to ensure the safety of inmates, staff, and the public, our experience shows that, with a systems approach, it is possible to reduce the numbers of people going into restrictive housing, create rehabilitative alternatives, ensure an accountable and consistent process for placement and release decisions, improve conditions for those who are placed in restrictive housing and for those who work there, and facilitate successful exit from those placements. Deciding who is kept in these units and for how long has traditionally been at the discretion of each prison facility's administration or disciplinary hearing officers within the parameters established in that system's policies. Practices vary from system to system and from facility to facility. Consistent evidence suggests that segregation can be detrimental to the physical, psychological, and behavioral health of those placed in these conditions. Increasingly, courts, policymakers, media, and advocacy groups are questioning these practices as violations of constitutional and human rights. As a result, federal and state governments are requiring correctional systems to examine their segregation policies, practices, and protocols and calling for its reduced use, or even elimination in certain cases. Correctional systems are challenged in this call to action as, to date, there has been little guidance on how to implement segregation reform while also maintaining safe prisons. Segregation has been and will continue to be a tool that is necessary to manage legitimate safety concerns. Reforms in the use of this practice will only be successful if the safety of inmates and staff is maintained or improved in the process. To impact the health and well-being of people under correctional control, reducing the use of segregation on its own by only "emptying beds" is of limited value. To make an impactful change, a systems approach to this complex issue is essential. This policy brief shares lessons from the systems approach to reform undertaken by the Washington Department of Corrections (WADOC) that began more than a decade ago and continues to the present day. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2016. 16p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 16, 2016 at: https://www.bja.gov/publications/MorethanEmptyingBeds.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.bja.gov/publications/MorethanEmptyingBeds.pdf Shelf Number: 139046 Keywords: Administrative SegregationCorrectional AdministrationPrisonsRestrictive HousingSolitary Confinement |
Author: JustSpeak Title: Unlocking Prisons: How We Can Improve New Zealand's Prison System Summary: Unlocking Prisons is a comprehensive report on how we can improve New Zealand's prison system. This report looks at why we imprison people; the impact imprisonment has on prisoners, their families and the wider community; and the alternatives and improvements to prisons that will better keep our communities safe and ensure crime is dealt with appropriately. Part 1 Part One of the report looks at why we send offenders to prison and whether sending offenders to prison achieves these legislative purposes. Prison is generally intended to be used as a measure of last resort for dealing with an offender, after all community-based sentences have been exhausted. However, this report suggests that too often people are sent to prison when it will not achieve the purposes of sentencing. JustSpeak recommends that judges more thoroughly assess whether sending the particular offender to prison will actually accomplish the stated sentencing purposes. JustSpeak also recommends an increasing in the use of other sentencing options such as home detention. Compared to imprisonment, other sentencing options have been shown to reduce certain types of re-offending, are significantly cheaper, and, overall, make communities safer. To expand their use, JustSpeak recommends that the threshold for a "short term of imprisonment" be extended to three years and that the Sentencing Council, originally recommended by the Law Commission, be established. Part 2 Part Two sets out the evolution of prisons from the late 1700s to present, with a focus on Anglo-American experiences. In recent decades private prisons have become commonplace, raising important ethical questions about balancing the state's monopoly on the use of force over citizens against the potential fiscal gains to be made in privatising prisons. International research suggests that inmates and staff in private prisons are more likely to experience degrading prison conditions, increased misuse of force, decreased security, and inadequate health, education and work programmes. Part Two goes on to analyse the make-up of our prison population and offers insights into the life of a prisoner, from the procedure of processing a new inmate to visitor rights and the accessibility of hobbies for prisoners. Healthcare in New Zealand prisons is particularly concerning. A 2012 Ombudsman's investigation revealed several issues, such as a failure to record prisoner requests for medical appointments, lengthy waiting times for prisoners seeking medical advice and, more generally, unsatisfactory standards of dental and mental health services. The prison health budget is not ring-fenced, meaning it may be diverted to other costs at any time. Part 3 Part Three looks at the future direction of prisons in New Zealand, while also considering some successful initiatives that are currently in operation within our prison system. Part Three recommends better publicity, support and further rollout of these positive initiatives, which are often restricted to the regions where they began or were piloted. To achieve the goal of reducing re-offending, we need better data on which programmes are working and more universal implementation of those programmes. Details: Wellington, NZ: JustSpeak, 2014. 170p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 26, 2016 at: https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/2714/2550/8324/JustSpeak_2014_-_Unlocking_Prisons.pdf Year: 2014 Country: New Zealand URL: https://www.hrc.co.nz/files/2714/2550/8324/JustSpeak_2014_-_Unlocking_Prisons.pdf Shelf Number: 139226 Keywords: Alternatives to IncarcerationCorrectional InstitutionsPrison ReformPrisons |
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 PrisonsPrison PopulationPrisonersPrisons |
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 ReformIsolationPrisonersPrisonsSolitary Confinement |
Author: Baker, Jo Title: Conditions for Women in Detention in Zambia: Needs, Vulnerabilities and Good Practices Summary: While conditions for women in Zambia's under-resourced prison system are largely considered better than those for men, a closer look tells a different story. As a minority, it may be that various women's facilities suffer from less (yet still chronic) congestion, are subject to lighter security restrictions, and allow more flexibility, at the discretion of the warden. Yet as revealed by this study, there is a broad, acute and harmful lack of consideration for the special needs of women in detention, in forms acknowledged by and less visible to officials and personnel in the Zambia Prison Service (ZPS or Prison Service). These gaps are detrimental to the dignity and wellbeing of female detainees and breach many of their human rights. Key among these gaps are a lack of basic hygiene provisions and gender-specific healthcare. These present particular risk to the health of inmates, among others, who are pregnant, living with HIV, accompanied by young children or for those who, because of stigma or distance from family (which are both, in many cases, worse for men than women), have no outside assistance at all. Although the Prison Service should be commended for the continued opening of prisons to outside support and a human rights approach, it must observe its State responsibility to meet detainees' basic needs. Female inmates were largely found to be isolated from family, including children, and from other forms of outside support, which research has indicated is likely to be more harmful to women than men, in general, from a psychological and material perspective. For the women interviewed in Zambia, this was often the greatest cause of anxiety and despair (as summarized in the section, What Matters Most). Female inmates lack access to vocational, educational and recreational activities that are made available to men; they are also unremunerated, even though many women face extreme anxiety about supporting themselves and any dependents on release, in the context of rejection from their husbands, families and communities. Key, also, are discriminatory barriers to complaint and information that place them at risk. The Offender Management role has been seen to fill critical gaps in admissions screenings and orientation for female inmates, in identifying special needs and connecting them with needed services and counseling, but it is under resourced and under supported institutionally. Men and women are separated in law and to a great extent, in practice, and inmates were protected from gender-based violence and harassment by men in the facilities visited by DIGNITY, according to our research. In contrast to reports of police custody, a sharp decline in the use of physical violence and torture against women by prison staff has also been reported in recent years, among other improvements. Yet DIGNITY is concerned that sexual relationships with male staff are not fully and effectively prevented in some facilities, and degrading and harmful disciplinary measures were also found to be used by female staff, including body searching practices. Attention to staff training, gender awareness and attitudes would make a great difference - particularly among female staff -- as would measures to encourage free, regular and dignified contact with family and children; structured activities to engage and empower women (personally and economically); and greater attention to sanitation and health provisions, particularly for pregnant women, new mothers, and children. While these may be most important for women with long sentences, they are also urgently needed in small rural prisons, where women may have very little. The role of the Offender Managers, if adequately resourced, gender trained and institutionally supported, could be one of the most effective ways to ensure the well-being and dignity of women in detention in Zambia. Details: Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), 2015. 41p. Source: Internet Resource: DIGNITY Publication Series on Torture and Organised Violence no. 12: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066110/pubserieswid12.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Zambia URL: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066110/pubserieswid12.pdf Shelf Number: 139426 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersPrisonsWomen Prisoners |
Author: Baker, Jo Title: Conditions for Women in Detention in the Philippines: Needs, Vulnerabilities and Good Practices Summary: What are the particular needs, issues, risks and vulnerabilities that face imprisoned women across the world? What challenges and promising practices are common in their management? And where do these practices fall in relation to international standards? These questions lie at the heart of DIGNITY's research into conditions for women in detention in four countries - of which this Philippines country study is one part. The management of women in the Philippines' vast and fragmented penal system demonstrates a broad spectrum of approaches. In some smaller, provincial facilities women are reportedly detained with minimal or no attention to their human rights or particular needs, including the right to be held separately from male inmates, causing strong concern for their safety and wellbeing. In other women-only prisons and pre-trial facilities, visited by DIGNITY in 2013, close attention is given to inmates' welfare, and good practices can be found for other resource-constrained countries - particularly in the management of visits and the use of structured activity to keep inmates active and motivated. In speaking to detainees (as summarized in the section, What Matters Most), DIGNITY has been able to understand the critical importance of ties to the outside world, particularly to children and lawyers, of dignified spaces in which to meet visitors, and of opportunities to take on responsibility, and stay busy. We have been told of the acute need for gender-sensitive healthcare, particularly in areas of reproductive and sexual health, and for survivors of gender-based violence, and substance abusers. Women have spoken of gendered risks and dangers that they face while in detention, including sexual exploitation, mental health risks and harmful forms of misinformation. They have also shared their experiences of abandonment and stigma, which many believe are experienced differently and disproportionately by women. Yet in only one of the country's penal systems, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor), is the operational approach gender responsive - and comprehensively so. A series of operational guidelines circulated among staff of the Correctional institute for Women in 2013 has integrated the recently elaborated United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (Bangkok Rules) into the management of the prisons. This has ensured that a broad range of measures respond to the special needs and common histories of women, both generally and as members of particular groups, to help protect their rights and ensure their wellbeing. These measures include the development of alternative screening methods to strip searches and invasive body searches, and the recognition that disciplinary sanctions for inmates must never include a prohibition of family contact, especially with children. They ensure that a portion of inmates' earnings are placed in a savings fund to be made available on release, and include the development of strategies to provide gender-specific and individualized psychosocial and psychiatric support, and prevent suicide and self-harm. The memorandum also commendably requires that: "The treatment of prisoners should emphasize not their exclusion from the community, but their continuing part in it," and urges flexibility and assistance for visiting friends and relatives, where needed. In order to ensure that these commendable guidelines offer effective and sustainable protection for BuCor detainees, the next step must be to make them legally binding. Meanwhile, as welfare programmes and guidelines are being championed and developed across this vast penal network, and steps to centralize its procedures are taken, the chance to mainstream gender in policy, operational guidelines and training is being missed. As the number of female detainees continues to grow, it is critical that their needs and human rights are adequately reflected in these processes, in accordance with international standards. Given the positive practices found in visits to both BuCor and the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) facilities, it is clear that coordination and lesson sharing between staff across these systems could go a long way in achieving this. Details: Copenhagen: Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), 2015. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: DIGNITY Publication Series on Torture and Organised Violence no. 11: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066109/pubserieswid11.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Philippines URL: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066109/pubserieswid11.pdf Shelf Number: 139427 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersPrisonsWomen Prisoners |
Author: Baker, Jo Title: Conditions for Women in Detention in Albania: Needs, Vulnerabilities and Good Practices Summary: What are the particular needs, issues, risks and vulnerabilities that face imprisoned women across the world? What challenges and promising practices are common in their management? And where do these practices fall in relation to international standards? These questions lie at the heart of DIGNITY's research into conditions for women in detention in four countries - of which this Albania country study is one part. The management of women in Albania's prison system has shown growing consideration for their special needs. Until recently this was not systematic, but reflected in the work of enlightened officials in the prison system, and NGOs. However in 2014 the State made a commendable series of gender-sensitive amendments to the prison law, and transferred all female detainees permanently from a substandard and much-criticised pre-detention facility to the country's only prison facility for women. DIGNITY's visit to this prison in 2013, governed by its former director, revealed good practices. Findings here suggest that when gender-sensitive staff can support female inmates emotionally, reduce trauma and stigma, treat health issues, and connect inmates with their families and special services, then morale will likely be higher, rights better protected, and the chances of rehabilitation greater. Importantly, DIGNITY found outreach efforts being made by staff to the families of inmates, which responds to the often-greater need and challenge of detained women to contact the outside world, particularly their children. We found preventive healthcare and education that addressed the often-lower levels of health knowledge and access to care in women's backgrounds. Other significant findings included willingness by the administration to open the prison to the community outside of its walls in order to help combat the harmful effects of stigma, isolation and abandonment among detainees (as summarized in the section, What Matters Most). Each of these responses addresses an important provision in the United Nations Rules for the Treatment of Women Prisoners and Non-custodial Measures for Women Offenders (the Bangkok Rules), although they were not all implemented systematically or protected as law or policy. However, the facility faces significant infrastructure and resource challenges, particularly now that it also houses pre-trial detainees, and in this respect it is considered by staff and NGOs to be among the worst in the penal system in certain respects. Hygiene facilities are inadequate, and living quarters are run-down and lack the space, ventilation and heat required by international standards. Although inmates can train and work, they are not equally remunerated, and the very low rates of pay place them and their dependents in a vulnerable position on release. The over-use of pre-trial detention for low-risk offenders, which often stretches to months if not years, is also of serious concern. Finally, the practice of regularly redistributing or removing prison staff, at all levels, as happened after the 2013 General Election, arbitrarily interrupts relationships, trainings and programmes that have been tailored to a particularly vulnerable population, and may well as a result, do harm. This requires further consideration. Details: Copenhagen: Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), 2015. 35p. Source: Internet Resource: DIGNITY Publication Series on Torture and Organised Violence no. 10: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066108/pubserieswid10.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Albania URL: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066108/pubserieswid10.pdf Shelf Number: 139428 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersPrisonsWomen Prisoners |
Author: Baker, Jo Title: Conditions for Women in Detention in Jordan: Needs, Vulnerabilities and Good Practices Summary: What are the particular needs, issues, risks and vulnerabilities that face imprisoned women across the world? What challenges and promising practices are common in their management? And where do these practices fall in relation to international standards? These questions lie at the heart of DIGNITY's research into conditions for women in detention in four countries - of which this Jordan country study is one part. The strong social norms and forms of discrimination that women face in Jordan reach deep into places of detention, and their experience of being detained. To be a detained woman here, in many cases, is to lose touch with the majority of your family members and your children despite an acute need for intimate and social contact, and to feel isolated from the outside world. It is often to be heavily stigmatized by your own community, and by prison staff. It is to have likely experienced forms of gender-based violence before entering prison - some physically and mentally debilitating in the name of honour - and to not receive the help that you need in order to recover. And it is to have many of your other needs and human rights go largely unmet and unprotected, including the right to rehabilitation. In its management of women there are some areas in which Jordan's Public Security Directorate (PSD) complies with core human rights treaties and other international standards. Detained women are commendably well-protected from gender-based violence by men in most cases because of the strict segregation by sex that takes place between inmates and DIGNITY's research among women's prisons and prison communities staff from the moment of arrest. Torture of women is also rarely reported. Some physical conditions in the main prison for women in Amman comply with basic minimum rules. However in many other ways, Jordan fails to meet the gender-specific needs and human rights of its female judicial and administrative detainees. The most serious violations reported during this study were the inhuman and degrading treatment of female inmates by prison officers, particularly during admissions processes, and inadequate staff intervention in violence between inmates in the Juweida Women's Correctional and Rehabilitation Center (JWC or 'Juweida') that included cases of threats, sexual molestation, beating and burnings. Gender-specific healthcare was largely absent, including mental healthcare, and some basic sanitary products are not provided for free. No structured rehabilitation programme is offered, and attempts to provide vocational and educational training or work, are minimal and insufficient. Although DIGNITY is informed that children under the age of three may live with their mothers in prisons, there are some unanswered questions about the extent to which this option is provided, both generally, and in regard to children who are born outside of marriage - including those born as a result of rape. Detainees feel profoundly isolated, struggle to access information and outside contact - particularly those with children - and can face disrespectful and harsh attitudes from female frontline staff (as summarized in the section What Matters Most. These factors in particular appear to account for a low general morale. Levels of depression appear high and incidents of self-harm, including hunger strikes, are not uncommon. This environment is particularly harmful for those who have experienced extreme violence, those who have been separated from their babies or young children, and those who are detained indefinitely, involuntarily and without due process under the 1954 Crime Prevention Law, for the ostensible purpose of their own protection (known also as 'protective', 'preventive' or 'precautionary' detention), including foreign migrants and/or rape victims. The situation of foreign migrants, many of whom lack proper identification or residency documents (often as victims of labour rights violations) and have very little contact with their families and lawyers, is also of particular concern. These women are often held in temporary detention, where information about them and their conditions is difficult to obtain. Combinations of these factors above intersect in detention among both Jordanian and foreign women, creating an axis of tremendous harm and vulnerability. As Jordan enters a phase in which it is amending key legislation related to the criminal procedure, drafting a new national human rights plan, and engaging in dialogue under the review of key UN bodies, it is hoped that the situation of this group receive the attention it so urgently requires. Details: Copenhagen: Danish Institute Against Torture (DIGNITY), 2015. 77p. Source: Internet Resource: DIGNITY Publication Series on Torture and Organised Violence no. 9: Accessed June 13, 2016 at: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066001/pubseriesno9_wid_jordan.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Jordan URL: https://dignityinstitute.org/media/2066001/pubseriesno9_wid_jordan.pdf Shelf Number: 139429 Keywords: Female InmatesFemale OffendersFemale PrisonersPrisonsWomen Prisoners |
Author: Joldersma, Cisac, ed. Title: Final Report: Prisons of the Future Summary: It is the year 2050. We travel around Europe. In every country, we look around for prisons. In our mind, we have the image of a traditional prison: a high secure building with fences, windows with bars, and cameras all around. We wonder why we cannot find these kinds of prisons. We ask people in the street where to find a prison. They look at us if they have never heard of such a building where offenders are staying together, excluded from society. We further discuss with them the crime rate in their country. They explain that in the last years the crime rate decreased a little, but still offences are taking place. They have no idea where we can find offenders living together; offenders are part of society. We interview experts of the criminal justice system, on what happened to their prisons. They tell us, that all around Europe, governments decided that new traditional prisons are not needed anymore. European criminal law has been changed and some offences are decriminalized, such as drug use and drunken driving. Drug users and drunk drivers are seduced to addiction treatment and urged to compensate victims. Research has also proved conclusively that detention is not effective and efficient to reduce recidivism. The longer offenders stay in traditional prisons, the higher the risk of recidivism, and the lower the chance of a successful reentry in society. Politicians have been convinced by researchers that traditional prisons primarily have a symbolic value to satisfy the public need. Traditional prisons appear to have deterrence effects on the public, but to some offenders they are - in a peculiar way - attractive. Consequently, other sanctions than regular imprisonment have become more common. More offenders stay at home, supervised by electronic monitoring. The use of community services has also increased, and offenders are supervised by layman probation officers. More offenders have been convicted by means of restraining and protecting orders. We like to know what happens when offenders breach the conditions, because traditional prisons are not available anymore as a last resort. New time-out facilities have been created. Offenders reside in an open, low secure setting. The time-out facilities are also accessible for ex-offenders who want to stay voluntarily because they feel they are at risk for relapse. We still wonder what happens to offenders who have been convicted for serious crimes and who used to stay in high secure prisons. They admit that there are still a few old prisons available for offenders of serious crimes. However, moral quality of life inside the old prisons changed a lot in comparison to the past. Offenders with (life)long prison sentences are quite busy during working days. They work four days a week within the prison or outside the prison area. Additionally, within certain limits, they are enabled to autonomously take decisions regarding their personal life. With regard to sex offenders, circles of support and accountability have been established. After a short stay in prison, they are offered the possibility of a prerelease option to live in community with support and supervision of volunteers. Volunteers are coached by professionals. The circles help to manage sex offenders' risk and support them in becoming part of the local community. Walking around, we follow the sign of a forensic care hospital. The lady at the reception tells us that in this hospital, partners, family, worried neighbors or care takers can register patients for psychiatric treatment. The forensic care hospital also treats patients who have not already committed a serious crime, but who need psychiatric treatment due to their high risk profile and mental illness. The forensic care hospital provides voluntary treatment as well as enforced treatment. We are curious what services can be provided to people who are in need of care, but avoid care at the same time. We think about homeless people with low secure risks, but socially unacceptable or deviant behavior. For these homeless people, tiny houses are available. The person who is not welcome anymore in a neighborhood, can register for renting such a 'tiny house'. The houses can easily be moved to another area in case of nuisance. We enter a community centre and ask if they know the offenders in the neighborhood. The neighborhood team confirms that there are some offenders living in their area. They try to support them on basic reintegration issues, such as housing, debts, relational issues, and basic social skills. They offer these services to inhabitants of the neighborhood, regardless of them being an offender or not. All clients are encountered respectfully; the client is 'in the lead' organizing as much as possible his of her own personalized trajectory. The scenario above elaborates on basic principles as normalization and reintegration. It makes clear that prisons of the future are related to all kind of sentences, sanctions, psychiatric treatments, and social services. Furthermore, the focus in the project prisons of the future is on what happens in practice. Therefore, in this report we preferably use the term 'prison and probation practice' instead of prison or prison policy. With regard to the scenario above, it is hard to believe that in the near future there are only a few prisons. On the contrary, other probable scenario's are possible. A scenario could be that, in the near future, differences between offenders and other citizens will be more and more emphasized and offenders are more and more excluded from society. Offenders can be gathered in warehouses that are located in large prison industry complexes, far away from local communities. Another probable scenario is more focus on risk assessments. A high risk offender will be controlled at more areas of life than a low risk offender. The high risk offender has to stay in a high secure setting as long as it is expected that the offender will be of a high risk to society. Another possible scenario is that of personalized sentencing. Personalized sentencing is, as personalized medicine for the individual patient, customized to the individual offender. Deprivations of liberty can be matched precisely with the expected experience and impact they have on the offender. In conclusion, there are different roads and routes to shape future prisons. It is hard to predict where we exactly are going to. Details: The Hague: European Commission, 2016. 250p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 11, 2016 at: http://www.europris.org/resources_package/prisons-of-the-future-final-conference-presentations-and-summary-report-3-4-march-2016-2-2/ Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://www.europris.org/resources_package/prisons-of-the-future-final-conference-presentations-and-summary-report-3-4-march-2016-2-2/ Shelf Number: 139610 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsCorrectional ReformPrison ReformPrisons |
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 ConditionsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Yale Law School. The Arthur Liman Public Interest Program Title: Rethinking "Death Row": Variations in the Housing of Individuals Sentenced to Death Summary: In 2015, individuals sentenced to death in the United States were housed in varying degrees of isolation. Many people were kept apart from others in profoundly isolating conditions, while others were housed with each other or with the general prison population. Given the growing awareness of the debilitating effects of long-term isolation, the placement of deathsentenced prisoners on what is colloquially known as "death row" has become the subject of discussion, controversy, and litigation. This Report, written under the auspices of the Arthur Liman Public Interest Program at Yale Law School, examines the legal parameters of death row housing to learn whether correctional administrators have discretion in deciding how to house death-sentenced individuals and to document the choices made in three jurisdictions where death-sentenced prisoners are not kept in isolation. Part I details the statutes, regulations, and policies that govern the housing of those sentenced to death and reviews prior research on the housing conditions of death-sentenced prisoners. Part II presents an overview of decisions in three states, North Carolina, Missouri, and Colorado, where correctional administrators enable death-sentenced prisoners to have meaningful opportunities to interact with others. Given the discretion that correctional officials have over housing arrangements, these states provide models to house capital-sentenced prisoners without placing them in solitary confinement. Details: New Haven, CT: Yale Law School, 2016. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 23, 2016 at: https://www.law.yale.edu/system/files/documents/pdf/Liman/deathrow_reportfinal.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.law.yale.edu/system/files/documents/pdf/Liman/deathrow_reportfinal.pdf Shelf Number: 139808 Keywords: Capital PunishmentDeath PenaltyDeath RowPrisoner IsolationPrisons |
Author: Lessing, Benjamin Title: How to Build a Criminal Empire from Behind Bars: Prison Gangs and Projection of Power* Summary: Providing law and order is a core state function; the very attempt, however, can be counterproductive. Punishment incapacitates and deters individuals, presumably reducing crime, but can also 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 streetlevel 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: Bonn, Germany: IZA, 2014. 49p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 29, 2016 at: http://www.iza.org/conference_files/riskonomics2014/lessing_b9947.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.iza.org/conference_files/riskonomics2014/lessing_b9947.pdf Shelf Number: 140067 Keywords: GangsPrisonsPrisons Gangs |
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 FacilitiesPrison ConditionsPrisonersPrisonsTorture |
Author: Engleman, Laura Title: Evaluation of the OTMA and ASUS-R among Colorado offenders Summary: The current study sought to: 1) conduct a thorough literature review to explore assessment approaches and quality (including the issues of clinical judgment vs. statistical prediction, the accuracy of self-report data, and treatment matching); 2) evaluation the measurement characteristics of the ASUS-R and OTMA scales that assess substance use/abuse and substance dependence; 3) select the best substance abuse severity measure, considering psychometric properties as well as administration time, ease of use, cost, training, and staffing. Details: Denver, CO: Colorado Interagency Advisory Committee on Adult and Juvenile Correctional Treatment, 2012. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2016 at: http://hermes.cde.state.co.us/drupal/islandora/object/co%3A11606 Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://hermes.cde.state.co.us/drupal/islandora/object/co%3A11606 Shelf Number: 147862 Keywords: Correctional Treatment ProgramsDrug OffendersPrisonsSubstance Abuse Treatment |
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 OvercrowdingPrisonersPrisonsRecidivism |
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 ConditionsPrisoner AbusePrisonersPrisons |
Author: Mangan, Fiona B. Title: Prisons and Detention in Libya Summary: This report examines the prison system in Libya. With the permission of the Libyan Ministry of Justice and Judicial Police, United States Institute of Peace (USIP) research teams conducted two assessments of the Libyan prison system, visiting detention facilities throughout the country in 2012 and again in 2015-16 to evaluate organizational function, security, infrastructure, and prisoner well-being. This report combines and compares the findings of the two assessments, discussing the broader context of detention issues in Libya, with analysis centering on prisons under the authority of the Ministry of Justice and operated by the Judicial Police. The 2012 assessment team consisted of Fiona Mangan, a USIP senior program officer, and Dr. Mark Shaw, an expert consultant. The 2015-16 assessment team consisted of Rebecca Murray, a researcher and journalist; Rami Musa, a journalist; and Fiona Mangan. Mohamed Abouharous provided invaluable translation and logistical support during both visits. The assessments, part of a multiyear portfolio of rule of law programming and analysis conducted after the 2011 revolution, were supported by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Bureau of the U.S. Department of State. Details: Washington, DC: United States Institute of Peace, 2016. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 30, 2016 at: https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/PW119-Prisons-and-Detention-in-Libya.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Libya URL: https://www.usip.org/sites/default/files/PW119-Prisons-and-Detention-in-Libya.pdf Shelf Number: 140530 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsDetention FacilitiesPrisons |
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 InstitutionsCorrectional ReformPrison ReformPrisonersPrisons |
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: PrisonersPrisonsRestorative JusticeVictim-Offender Mediation |
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 AbusesInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
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 SystemInmatesPre-trial DetaineesPrisonersPrisons |
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 ForecastPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Justice Committee Title: Prison safety Summary: In this report we examine the Government's response to the ongoing and rapid deterioration in prison safety in England and Wales which began in 2012. We took evidence from the Prisons Minister and the Chief Executive of the National Offender Management Service on prison safety in December 2015, and statistics published in January and April 2016 showed higher rates of self-harm and assaults than in the previous 12 months, and significant growth in the number of incidents compared to the previous quarter. We wished to reflect on the progress made by the Ministry of Justice and NOMS in their efforts to stabilise the rise in assaults against prisoners and staff, incidents of self-harm and self-inflicted deaths, and obtained the views of several key stakeholders in writing. The MoJ and NOMS have sought to improve prison safety through a wide range of legislative, operational and staff recruitment measures, including the creation of new offences of possession of new psychoactive substances and knife possession in prison and action to address violence through the use of body-worn cameras and to improve safeguarding procedures. Notwithstanding these considerable efforts, together with those of staff in prisons striving to keep prisoners and themselves secure and unharmed, overall levels of safety in prisons have not stabilised as the Ministry hoped, let alone improved and continue to deteriorate significantly. We say that this is a matter of great concern, and improvement is urgently needed. Our central recommendation is that the Ministry and NOMS together produce an action plan for improving prison safety, addressing the factors underlying the rises in violence, self-harm and suicide. Of particular concern is a major issue with staff retention which resulted in a net gain of only 440 prison officers last year following the recruitment of 2,250. This is against the fact that there are 7,000 fewer officers than in 2010, when the prison population was about 2,500 lower than it is now. We also say that we wish to receive quarterly reports over the remainder of this Parliament containing data which will enable progress against the plan to be evaluated. We will also continue discussions with HM Inspectorate of Prisons on scrutiny of NOMS' performance in managing prison safety. Details: London: House of Commons, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Sixth Report of Session 2015-16, HC 625: Accessed October 19, 2016 at: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmjust/625/625.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201516/cmselect/cmjust/625/625.pdf Shelf Number: 145897 Keywords: Prison AdministrationPrison ConditionsPrison ViolencePrisons |
Author: Adler, Joanna R. Title: Evaluation of the Forgiveness Project within prisons Summary: The Forgiveness Project (TFP) is a UK based charity that uses real stories to explore how ideas around forgiveness, reconciliation and conflict resolution can have a positive impact on people's lives. One aspect of the charity's work is a programme run within prisons, targeted at the early stages of a sentence. TFP describe their prison programme as an intensive, group based intervention that encourages prisoners to explore concepts of forgiveness and reparation in a framework that fosters greater accountability and responsibility. Every course is co-facilitated by at least one ex-offender and a victim/survivor of serious crime. The intervention can be seen as being restorative and preparatory; those who take part in the programme will tend to be relatively early on in their sentence. TFP centres on the personal testimonies of both victims and perpetrators of crime and violence. TFP is unlike many other restorative initiatives in that it has no political or religious affiliation and TFP's prison programme is similarly secular in its approach. TFP aims to facilitate changes in attitude and thinking styles of offenders. That is, to encourage prisoners and young offenders in finding their own pathways to change. In finding those pathways, they may draw on many different resources and insights. These could include personal, communal, spiritual or religious beliefs that they may have, whether or not they have previously seen those beliefs as relevant to their offending behaviours. TFP run programmes via both education and psychology units. The emphasis on individual change is also intended to differentiate TFP from prison or National Offenders Management Service interventions. This person centred, facilitative but non prescriptive approach was adopted with the intention that prisoners and young offenders would be more responsive to the intervention than they may be to other, more standardised, manual based programmes. ii Design and Participant Information This evaluation was commissioned to build on a previous qualitative examination of the work of TFP within prisons and to provide information that would begin to evaluate its impact. The aims included consideration of the extent to which TFP is meeting its objectives and assessment of whether adequate safeguards are in place for the young offenders and adult prisoners who participate in the intervention. We adopted a triangulated approach using quantitative and qualitative methodologies with: 1. A prospective, longitudinal sample of male young offenders and older male prisoners and matched control groups (a total of 20 research and 20 control group participants across two institutions, followed up over 3 months). 2. A sample of 7 prison staff drawn from the same two institutions. 3. A retrospective, cross-sectional sample of 4 adult, male prisoners from a third institution. Our key hypotheses for this evaluation were: H1: That TFP will encourage greater awareness of victims and victim empathy. H2: That TFP will encourage enhanced cognitive processing and improved thinking skills. H3: That participants will face psycho-social challenges that result in additional needs, currently unmet. These needs include increased anxiety, challenges to self-esteem and increased negative attitudes. Details: London: Middlesex University, 2012. 87p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 7, 2016 at: http://www.thebromleytrust.org.uk/Indexhibit/files/Restore%20evaluation%20final%20report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.thebromleytrust.org.uk/Indexhibit/files/Restore%20evaluation%20final%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 150549 Keywords: MediationPrisonsRestorative JusticeVictim-Offender Mediation |
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 PopulationPrisonersPrisons |
Author: In the Public Interest Title: Buying Influence: How Private Prison Companies Expand Their Control of America's Criminal Justice System Summary: Every year, private prison and other corrections companies spend millions of dollars influencing public officials. Whether advocating for legislation that benefits their business models, making campaign contributions to candidates, or seeking new contracts, private prison companies' government-relations arms aim to expand the role the companies play in America's criminal justice system. In 2014, the two largest private prison companies in the U.S., Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group, spent at least $5.9 million on lobbying and contributions to campaigns. Since private prison companies' revenues come from government contracts, when CCA and GEO Group spend money influencing public officials, taxpayers in effect pay for these companies to grow their businesses. Corrections companies have a track record of human rights abuses. In an effort to maximize profits, private prison companies and the companies that provide other corrections services like health care and food cut corners, creating environments that are more violent and counterproductive to rehabilitation. If government agencies in-sourced the services provided by corrections companies and shuttered private prisons, they could help alleviate the atrocities endemic behind bars. Additionally, the tax dollars the companies spend influencing public officials could be invested instead in programs to rehabilitate people who are incarcerated and keep at-risk people out of the criminal justice system. Key findings in this report show that corrections companies wield a broad range of influence: • During the 2013 and 2014 election years, the corrections industry contributed more than $2.5 million dollars to 360 candidates running for state offices. In 2014, out of the 30 governors, lieutenant governors, controllers, attorney generals, and legislators that received individual contributions of $5,000 or greater from the corrections industry, 27 won their races. • During the 2014 election cycle, CCA contributed to 23 senators and 25 representatives in the House, and GEO Group contributed to 10 senators and 28 representatives. In 2014, out of the 17 senators and representatives that received contributions of $5,000 or greater from CCA or GEO Group, 14 won their races. In 2015, CCA hired 102 lobbyists in 25 states and GEO Group hired 79 lobbyists in 15 states. Community Education Centers (CEC), Corizon Correctional Healthcare, Global Tel*Link (GTL), and MHM Services—companies that provide services to the criminal justice system—likely hired more than 150 lobbyists at the state level. • In 2015, CCA and GEO Group hired 20 lobbyists in Washington, D.C., paying them a combined $1.6 million. Seventy percent of their lobbyists had previously worked in congressional offices. This report explores these and more ways corrections companies influence public officials. It is divided into three sections, each of which studies a separate avenue of influence: (1) campaign contributions, (2) lobbying, and (3) professional corrections associations Details: Washington, DC: In the Public Interest, 2016. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 10, 2016 at: https://www.inthepublicinterest.org/wp-content/uploads/ITPI_BuyingInfluence_Oct2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: https://www.inthepublicinterest.org/wp-content/uploads/ITPI_BuyingInfluence_Oct2016.pdf Shelf Number: 141080 Keywords: PrisonsPrivate Prisons Privatization |
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 InstitutionsPrisonersPrisons |
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: PrisonersPrisons |
Author: Texas. Legislature. House Committee on Corrections Title: Interim Report to the 85th Texas Legislature Summary: INTERIM STUDY CHARGES 1. Examine fees and revocations for those on probation and parole; examine effectiveness of fees imposed as a condition of probation and parole; study technical revocations in adult probation to identify drivers of revocations, disparities across the state, and strategies for reducing technical revocations while ensuring program effectiveness and public safety. (Joint charge with the House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence) 2. Study recidivism, its major causes, and existing programs designed to reduce recidivism, including a review of current programs utilized by the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) and the Windham School District for incarcerated persons. Examine re-entry programs and opportunities for offenders upon release. Identify successful programs in other jurisdictions and consider how they might be implemented in Texas. 3. Study incarceration rates for non-violent drug offenses and the cost to the state associated with those offenses. Identify alternatives to incarceration, including community supervision, that could be used to reduce incarceration rates of non-violent drug offenders. 4. Study inmate release policies of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, including the release of inmates directly from administrative segregation. Identify best practices and policies for the transitioning of these various inmate populations from the prison to appropriate supervision in the community. Identify any needed legislative changes necessary to accomplish these goals. 5. Conduct legislative oversight and monitoring of the agencies and programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and the implementation of relevant legislation passed by the 84th Legislature. In conducting this oversight, the committee should: a. consider any reforms to state agencies to make them more responsive to Texas taxpayers and citizens; b. identify issues regarding the agency or its governance that may be appropriate to investigate, improve, remedy, or eliminate; c. determine whether an agency is operating in a transparent and efficient manner; and d. identify opportunities to streamline programs and services while maintaining the mission of the agency and its programs. Details: Austin: Texas Legislature, 2016. 73p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 27, 2016 at: http://www.house.state.tx.us/_media/pdf/committees/reports/84interim/Corrections-Committee-Interim-Report-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.house.state.tx.us/_media/pdf/committees/reports/84interim/Corrections-Committee-Interim-Report-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 144922 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional ProgramsCorrectionsPrisons |
Author: Skywalker, Luke Lee Title: Politics of the Number: An Account of Predominent South African Prison Gang Influences Summary: The study is a contextual account of various factors that facilitate and promote the continued dominance of the 'Number gangs' prevalent in many (if not most) South African prisons. Even though there is a substantial amount of factors that critically influence and sustain the South African prison gangs, this paper will focus upon a few of these influences. An emergent sentiment from exponents within these gangs, and supporting academic literature both argue that these dominant inmate factions are now adapting their mythical credo so as to remain an informal power-player within the scope of a failing South African prison administration. From a managerial perspective, the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) is often found attempting to give meaningful accounts of itself amidst its failed efforts to transform both itself and the South African prison administration. The policy legislation and administration of DCS thus also contribute to prison gang prominence. The study shows that DCS has embraced a policy of harsher penality, although its official position is that it is transforming into an administration that is focused upon human rights. This paper will thus give brief insight into the prison gangs' organization and operations, and then focus upon various contexts within which the Number gangs continue to be pervasive, especially due to changing prison administrative policy (or lack thereof) and due to new adaptive strategy employed by gangs to make themselves powerbrokers within this contentious penal discourse. Details: Cape Town, South Africa: University of Cape Town, 2014. 83p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed February 8, 2017 at: https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/9095/thesis_law_2014_skywalker_ll.pdf?sequence=1 Year: 2014 Country: South Africa URL: https://open.uct.ac.za/bitstream/handle/11427/9095/thesis_law_2014_skywalker_ll.pdf?sequence=1 Shelf Number: 146003 Keywords: Prison GangsPrison ViolencePrisons |
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: DisappearancesMurderPrisonersPrisonsTorture |
Author: Growns, Bethany Title: Supported Accommodation Services for People Released from Custody: A systematic review to inform the development of the Rainbow Lodge Program Summary: A 2015 report by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimated that there were 51,000 instances of people being released from Australian prisons in 2014 (AIHW, 2015). There is a substantial need for programs that provide support and services to people at this vulnerable time. Securing safe and secure accommodation is one of the most critical challenges that people leaving custody face; however, obtaining housing can be problematic due to interpersonal conflict, lack of family, complex treatment needs and limited finances (Fontaine & Biess, 2012; Graffam & Shinkfield, 2012; Roman & Travis, 2004). Therefore, people recently released from custody may rely on other options, such as supported accommodation programs or homeless shelters (Clark, 2015). These can take many forms, including 'halfway houses', where people live in a house as a group, sometimes following a therapeutic program; or scattered site supported housing programs, where people are provided with their own accommodation (i.e. a house or apartment), while also receiving therapeutic support in the form of home visits and/or participating in other therapeutic activities (e.g. attending a day centre). There is a growing demand within the field of criminal justice for more rigorous research and evaluation of interventions (Wright, Zhang, Farabee, & Braatz, 2014). Demonstrating the effectiveness of criminal justice interventions is critical in developing and producing evidence-based programs that can produce tangible outcomes for individuals. There is some evidence that interventions for people released from prison that include an accommodation component are effective in reducing re-offending and the severity of future re-offending (Seiter & Kadela, 2003; Somers, Rezansoff, Moniruzzaman, Palepu, & Patterson, 2013). A recent narrative review examined the efficacy of a variety of post-release programs, including programs that included a residential component, provided counselling services, vocational training, education or aftercare. Programs that included some kind of a residential component were found to produce the most positive results overall (Wright et al., 2014). Existing reviews have not looked at specific forms of supported accommodation for people released from prison, nor identified elements of supported accommodation services that contribute to positive outcomes. Objectives of this study The Rainbow Lodge Program is a non-profit organisation in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, that provides a responsive, intensive and supportive service to male Corrective Services clients assessed with having high needs, a strong risk of re-offending and homelessness, in order that they effectively re-enter and integrate into the community. This study has been undertaken to: Document the Rainbow Lodge Program; and Identify opportunities for the development of the Rainbow Lodge Program as an evidence-informed service. To these ends, this report includes: A description of the Rainbow Lodge Program, developed in consultation with staff and management of the Program; The results of a systematic review aimed at assessing the evidence on effectiveness of post-release supported accommodation programs similar to Rainbow Lodge, and identifying elements of such programs that contribute to positive client outcomes; and Implications of the findings of the systematic review for the Rainbow Lodge Program. Results of the systematic review The systematic review identified only nine publications meeting the eligibility criteria for inclusion (evaluation of a post-release supported accommodation program similar to the Rainbow Lodge Program). Studies were frequently methodologically flawed, and few consistent findings were evident, with regards to either effectiveness of post-release supported accommodation programs in reducing recidivism, or program characteristics associated with positive participant outcomes. Recommendations for the Rainbow Lodge Program Given the inconclusive findings of the review, it is difficult to identify recommendations for the day-to-day operations or components of the Rainbow Lodge Program. What is clear from the review is that there is a need for methodologically rigorous, comprehensive research on this type of post-release program, particularly outside the United States. Ideally, an outcome evaluation would be undertaken to assess the impact of the Rainbow Lodge Program on recidivism and other outcomes. However, there are important challenges to consider in proposing an outcome evaluation: identification and recruitment of an appropriate comparison group, and recruitment of sufficient numbers of participants to detect any effect that may exist. Given the challenges of undertaking an outcome evaluation (which will require further planning to be overcome), in the short-term, a process evaluation may be a more feasible option for further research on the Rainbow Lodge Program. This could include a retrospective file review, as well as quantitative and qualitative data collection with current residents. In order to enable future research, it is recommended that the Rainbow Lodge Program introduce a “Consent to research” form at program entry. This will allow client assessments to be used in research, and data linkage into the future. Details: Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, 2016. 39p. Source: Internet Resource: NDARC Technical Report No. 335: Accessed February 21, 2017 at: https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/NDARC%20Technical%20Report%20No%20335.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: https://ndarc.med.unsw.edu.au/sites/default/files/ndarc/resources/NDARC%20Technical%20Report%20No%20335.pdf Shelf Number: 141142 Keywords: Community InterventionsHalfway HousesHousingPrisoner ReentryPrisons |
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: MisdemeanorsPrison PopulationPrisonersPrisons |
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-TerrorismDeradicalizationExtremismHomeland SecurityPrisonersPrisonsRadical GroupsRadicalizationTerrorism |
Author: Jaitman, Laura Title: The Costs of Crime and Violence: New Evidence and Insights in Latin America and the Caribbean Summary: This publication is the first to provide a comprehensive, systematic, and rigorous analysis of the costs of crime in Latin America and the Caribbean. The main challenges in the region are addressed: the social cost of homicides, private and public spending on security, the penitentiary crisis, violence against women, organized crime, and cybercrime. The volume estimates that the direct cost of crime for 17 LAC countries in 2010-2014 is, on average, 3.5 percent of the region's GDP, twice as much as in the developed world. It also provides a detailed analysis of the costs of crime in Brazil by state, as well as an examination of the geographical distribution and drivers of crime in the most dangerous subregions: the Northern Triangle in Central America and the Caribbean. The situation in terms of violence against women and cybercrime is assessed: the region is lagging behind to confront these new and old crimes. Details: Washington, DC: Inter-American Development Bank, 2017. 129p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 23, 2017 at: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/8133/The-Costs-of-Crime-and-Violence-New-Evidence-and-Insights-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf?sequence=7 Year: 2017 Country: Latin America URL: https://publications.iadb.org/bitstream/handle/11319/8133/The-Costs-of-Crime-and-Violence-New-Evidence-and-Insights-in-Latin-America-and-the-Caribbean.pdf?sequence=7 Shelf Number: 141203 Keywords: Costs of CrimeCosts of Criminal JusticeCybercrimeEconomics of CrimeHomicidesOrganized CrimePrisonsViolence Against WomenViolent Crime |
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: InmatesPrisonersPrisons |
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 InstitutionsInmatesPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Smoyer, Amy B. Title: Food systems in correctional settings A literature review and case study Summary: Food is a central component of life in correctional institutions and plays a critical role in the physical and mental health of incarcerated people and the construction of prisoners' identities and relationships. An understanding of the role of food in correctional settings and effective management of food systems may improve outcomes for incarcerated people and help correctional administrators to maximize the health and safety of individuals in these institutions. This report summarizes existing research about food systems in correctional settings and provides examples of food programmes in prison and remand facilities, including a case study of food-related innovation in the Danish correctional system. Specific conclusions are offered for policy-makers, administrators of correctional institutions and prison food services professionals, and ideas for future research are proposed. Details: Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe, 2015. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 21, 2017 at: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/292965/Food-systems-correctional-settings-literature-review-case-study.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Europe URL: http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/292965/Food-systems-correctional-settings-literature-review-case-study.pdf Shelf Number: 145069 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationFood ServicesPrisons |
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 InstitutionsJailsPrison ConditionsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Seidman, Louis Michael Title: Hyper-Incarceration and Strategies of Disruption: Is There a Way Out? Summary: There is already a large literature on the causes and effects of mass incarceration or hyper-incarceration as Loic Wacquant more accurately labels the phenomenon. Much less has been written about exit strategies, In doing so however, I start by holding open the possibility that there are no such options. Leibnitzian optimism has a dark side: If successful exit strategies were possible, they would surely have been discovered already. As the old economist joke has it, if that piece of paper lying on the ground were really a $100 bill, someone would have picked it up by now. and, so, I want to devote this paper to exploring the available options. Beyond this general point is the dispiriting reality that the tragedy of hyper-incarceration is tied to very large political and economic trends that are unlikely to be reversed. As others have convincingly demonstrated, the proximate cause of the astonishing growth of imprisonment seems to be the collapse of the black ghetto and, with it, of more subtle forms of discipline that once kept a racially defined "underclass" under control. That collapse, in turn relates to very persistent racism, the splintering of the African American community, the selective disemployment effects of world trade and globalization, and, most broadly, the decline of the U.S. economic and political power that supported American prosperity for generations. There is little reason, then, to be very hopeful about the possibilities of change. In this paper, I nonetheless want to explore the potential for approaches that ignore underlying causes and address instead the micro-processes that support hyper-incarceration. In Part I, I describe the micro-processes that would need to be disrupted. Parts II, III, and IV outline various forms of political intervention that might accomplish such a disruption. Part V assesses the available choices for what is to be done. Details: Washington, DC: Georgetown University Law Center, 2010. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Georgetown Public Law and Legal Theory Research Paper No. 10-76: Accessed May 12, 2017 at: http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1140&context=fwps_papers Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1140&context=fwps_papers Shelf Number: 131369 Keywords: Imprisonment Mass Incarceration Prison Population Prisons |
Author: Mai, Chris Title: The Price of Prisons: Examining State Spending Trends, 2010-2015 Summary: After decades of a stable rate of incarceration, the U.S. prison population experienced unprecedented growth from the early 1970s into the new millennium - with the number of people confined to state prisons increasing by more than 600 percent, reaching just over 1.4 million people by the end of 2009. The engine driving this growth was the enactment and implementation over time of a broad array of tough-on-crime policies, including the rapid and continuous expansion of the criminal code; the adoption of zero-tolerance policing tactics, particularly around minor street-level drug and quality-of-life offenses; and the proliferation of harsh sentencing and release policies aimed at keeping people in prison for longer periods of time (such as mandatory minimum sentences, truth-in-sentencing statutes, and habitual offender laws). Unsurprisingly, this explosion in the use of incarceration had a direct financial influence on state budgets. Creating and sustaining such a sprawling penal system has been expensive. With more people under their care, state prison systems were compelled to build new prison facilities and expand existing ones. To staff these new and expanded facilities, they also had to hire, train, and retain ever more employees. In addition to expanding the state-operated prison system, some states also began to board out increasing numbers of people to county jails, privately-run facilities, and other states' prison systems. After hitting a high of 1.4 million people in 2009, however, the overall state prison population has since declined by 5 percent, or 77,000 people. Lawmakers in nearly every state and from across the political spectrum - some prompted by the 2008 recession - have enacted new laws to reduce prison populations and spending, often guided by a now-large body of research supporting alternative, more effective responses to crime. In addition to fiscal pressures, the push for reform has been further bolstered by other factors, including low crime rates; shifting public opinion that now favors less incarceration and more rehabilitation; and dissatisfaction with past punitive policies that have failed to moderate persistently high recidivism rates among those sent to prison. With these various political, institutional, and economic forces at play, most states have adopted a variety of different policies, including those that increase opportunities to divert people away from the traditional criminal justice process; expand the use of community-based sanctions; reduce the length and severity of prison sentences for certain offenses, including the rollback of mandatory penalties; increase opportunities for people to gain early release; and better provide enhanced reentry support for those leaving prison or jail. In light of nearly a decade of broad-based criminal justice reform, this report seeks to determine where state prison spending stands today and how it has changed in recent years. In particular, if a goal of recent reforms has been to make deep and lasting cuts to prison spending by reducing the prison population, have states who have witnessed the desired downward shift in prison size also witnessed it in spending? To answer this question, researchers at the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) developed a survey to measure changes in state prison population and expenditures between 2010 and 2015, and conducted follow-up interviews with state prison budget officials to better understand spending and population trends. Vera's study confirms that prisons remain an expensive enterprise, despite the success of many states - including Michigan, New Jersey, New York, and South Carolina - in simultaneously reducing their prison populations while achieving budget savings. The first part of this report describes 2015 prison expenditures, identifying the main driver of corrections spending across responding states. The second half of the report then discusses how changes in prison populations during the study period, and other trends largely outside the control of departments of corrections have affected prison spending. What is clear is that increased spending is not inevitable, since nearly half of states have cut their spending on prisons between 2010 and 2015. But while one might expect that states with shrinking prison populations are uniformly spending less on prisons, or conversely that states with growing populations are spending more, Vera's findings paint a more complicated picture. Indeed, often there is no single reason that explains a rise or fall in spending, but a multitude of factors that push and pull expenditures in different directions. Details: New York: Vera Institute of Justice, 2017. 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 25, 2017 at: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/price-of-prisons-2015-state-spending-trends/legacy_downloads/the-price-of-prisons-2015-state-spending-trends.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: https://storage.googleapis.com/vera-web-assets/downloads/Publications/price-of-prisons-2015-state-spending-trends/legacy_downloads/the-price-of-prisons-2015-state-spending-trends.pdf Shelf Number: 145794 Keywords: Costs of CorrectionsCosts of Criminal JusticeCriminal Justice ExpendituresMass IncarcerationPrisons |
Author: Great Britain. House of Commons. Justice Committee Title: Prison Reform: Governor empowerment and prison performance Summary: Within our overarching inquiry into the Government's prison reform programme we held a short 'sub-inquiry' into the plans for governor empowerment and prison performance, which are a central part of the overall programme. The Government intends to give prison governors greater autonomy and flexibility to shape the services provided in their prisons, emphasising the role of prisons in rehabilitation. Most of our witnesses supported these intentions, but many expressed concerns about the lack of clarity on the practical implications of the reforms. Some also questioned whether the reforms would address the current crisis in prisons. In this report, we have tried to clarify how the plans for governor empowerment and prison performance might operate and what risks will need to be mitigated. From April onwards, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) will be responsible for prisons commissioning and policy, while the new HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) will be responsible for the operational management of prisons. We heard that policy and operations are not easily separated in the prison context and that this separation could result in governors as well as the Secretary of State receiving conflicting advice from the MoJ and HMPPS. Governors will operate to, and be accountable through, three-year performance agreements they sign with the Secretary of State. These agreements will be based around four new performance standards, which are tied to the four purposes of prison included in the Prisons and Courts Bill: public protection; safety and order; reform; and preparing for life after prison. It is not clear to us what will happen in cases of poor performance, and how accountability will be attributed. The Ministry will publish official statistics on prison performance against these standards, possibly instead of the league tables it had initially announced. We consider that the Ministry should use these data to understand more fully the factors underpinning poor and high performance, to inform practice across the estate. Governor empowerment We are generally supportive of the principle of greater governor empowerment, but we have not seen any evidence that it will necessarily lead to better outcomes for prisoners, and we note that the six initial reform prisons will only be evaluated after the reforms take effect across the prison estate. We raise a number of potential issues associated with governor empowerment including: - the potential for greater governor autonomy and accompanying deregulation to result in an increase in prisoner complaints if not balanced with the need for minimum standards that apply consistently across prisons; - the availability of support and development opportunities for governors in time before the reforms begin to take effect; and - the need to coordinate contributions made by various agencies involved in providing services related to rehabilitation, including prisons and probation, at a local level, and to apportion accountability for post-release outcomes between prison governors and probation services. There also remains considerable uncertainty around how the Government's plans will apply to the privately managed prison estate, and how the new offender management model, with one keyworker overseeing the casework of six prisoners, will work in practice. Performance The shift to a common performance framework for private and public sector prisons, and towards more meaningful outcome measures for prisons that can incentivise desired behaviours in governors and staff, was broadly welcomed by witnesses, although some questioned the extent to which new measures differed significantly from existing ones. In the light of the challenges arising from the performance metrics for Transforming Rehabilitation, which had limited testing prior to implementation, we seek information on the manner in which prison performance measures have been tested and the results of these tests. Some of our witnesses suggested other measures should be used, and we consider that there is merit in testing measures related to staffing and prisoners' personal development. Commissioning Giving governors greater involvement in commissioning services in their prisons could lead to better outcomes for prisoners and innovation, but only when commissioning is based on evidence and evaluated rigorously, and when procurement processes, as well as performance agreements, are designed to facilitate innovation. However, it could also lead to a lack of alignment of services across the estate, and an increase in the overall cost of service provision, as economies of scale in the provision of goods and services could be lost. We recognise the need for central oversight to ensure service provision is coordinated across the prison estate and meets minimum quality standards, and recommend the Government decides on the appropriate level at which to commission services and goods on a case by case basis. Details: London: House of Commons, 2017. 48p. Source: Internet Resource: Twelfth Report of Session 2016-17: HC 1123: https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmjust/1123/1123.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201617/cmselect/cmjust/1123/1123.pdf Shelf Number: 146262 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationPrison AdministrationPrison ReformPrisons |
Author: Association of State Correctional Administrators Title: Independent Assessment of The High Desert State Prison Summary: This report provides a summary of an independent assessment conducted by the Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA) at High Desert State Prison (HDSP) in Susanville, California. The assessment was conducted during a site visit by an eight-person team trained in the use of the Institutional Culture Assessment Protocol (ICAP), a standardized process and instrumentation designed specifically for use in assessing a prison's culture. The report details the assessment team's activities while on site from July 15, 2016 through July 28, 2016. The primary goal of the assessment was to gain a thorough understanding of the unique culture of HDSP and how that culture impacts prison operations and the environment for both staff and inmates. The assessment followed two integrated inquiry tracks: (1) an assessment of both the formal and informal cultures at HDSP through a process of interviews, focus groups, direct observation and assessment of facility operations, management, policy and procedure using the ICAP protocol; and (2) an operational assessment of practices and procedures through observation, document review, and discussions with staff. The findings from both inquiry tracks are presented in this report. In March of 2016, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Secretary Scott Kernan requested that ASCA conduct an independent assessment of HDSP. The request was based in part on conflicting reports Secretary Kernan had received from his agency and stakeholder groups. Reports from several Wardens' Peer Audit Team reviews were consistently positive with only minor issues being noted. Likewise, COMPSTAT data collected from HDSP did not reflect any areas of concern and was consistent with other CDCR Level 4 prisons. In contrast with the information contained in those CDCR generated documents were reports produced by the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Prison Law Office (PLO) alleging numerous instances of egregious behavior by staff towards the inmate population. Details: Sacramento: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, 2016. 115p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 24, 2017 at: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports/docs/External-Reports/Independent-HDSP-Report-9-23-16.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United States URL: http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/Reports/docs/External-Reports/Independent-HDSP-Report-9-23-16.pdf Shelf Number: 146359 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional InstitutionsPrison AdministrationPrisons |
Author: Willison, Janeen Buck Title: Creating and Measuring a Healing Environment in the Virginia Department of Corrections The National Institute of Corrections' Norval Morris Workforce Initiative: Wave 2 Findings Summary: This report presents early findings from the Virginia Department of Corrections' (VA-DOC) Healing Environment Initiative (HEI), which is designed to inspire staff toward excellence, foster positive behavior change among people housed in Virginia's prisons, and promote safer communities. Analyses of two waves of surveys of over 6,300 VA-DOC staff indicate that leadership development coupled with training on effective communication techniques positively influence workplace culture, and staff are more optimistic about their role in creating a dynamic, ethical, positive workplace. However, staff views of the HEI vary by level and agency, with supervisors viewing the HEI more favorably than frontline staff, and community corrections staff rating the HEI more positively than prison staff. Staff in higher security prisons question the feasibility of the HEI. Details: Washington, DC: Urban Institute, 2014. 43p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 24, 2017 at: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/91411/nm_wave_2_brief_createmeasure_hei.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United States URL: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/91411/nm_wave_2_brief_createmeasure_hei.pdf Shelf Number: 146357 Keywords: Corrections OfficersPrison GuardsPrison StaffPrisoner RehabilitationPrisons |
Author: Craig, Winfield Scott Title: Bonds of Empire: The Politics of Penal Colonies in the Founding of America and Australia Summary: "Bonds of Empire: The Politics of Penal Colonies in the Founding of America and Australia," is a transnational study of convict transportation, a method of exile typically accompanied by forced servitude that existed in Britain's early modern empire. It explores the advent of a penal-settlement imperial ideology which was intended to solve both the domestic problem of petty crime, while simultaneously allowing the English (and later British) government to establish a foothold in places to which free settlers would not immigrate. "Bonds of Empire" reveals that this imperial ideology was almost universally a failure. After free settlers became important components of British colonies in both America and Australia, convict transportation turned into a serious point of contention between colonial governments concerned with their own moral purity and reputation, and the British government which cared more about punishing offenders and deterring crime at home. Ultimately, this study argues that the inherent contradiction which existed between penal colonies and free settler colonies, made Britain's penal-settlement ideology untenable as a method of empire building. Details: Tallahassee: Florida State University, 2014. 185p. Source: Internet Resource: Dissertation: Accessed June 29, 2017 at: https://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:253399/datastream/PDF/view Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: https://fsu.digital.flvc.org/islandora/object/fsu:253399/datastream/PDF/view Shelf Number: 146473 Keywords: Penal Colonies Prisons |
Author: Muntingh, Lukas Title: Understanding impunity in the South African law enforcement agencies Summary: This paper analyses the underlying structural and functional reasons for de facto impunity in South African law enforcement with specific reference to the South African Police Service (SAPS) and the Department of Correctional Services (DCS). While the legislative framework presents no major obstacles to holding state officials accountable for gross rights violations, it remains a rare event that officials are prosecuted and convicted for assault, torture and actions resulting in the death of criminal suspects and prisoners. The paper argues that the reasons for prevailing impunity in respect of rights violations perpetrated by state officials are found across a broad spectrum. These relate firstly to South Africa's historical development and in particular the security forces inherited by the Government of National Unity (GNU) in 1994. The failure by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute apartheid-era perpetrators of rights violations following the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) set a particular benchmark that left victims frustrated and, more importantly, a prosecutorial approach tolerant of rights violations. Important legal and policy developments in the police and prison system faltered in material ways and this further undermined accountability. Post-1994 governments' response to or lack thereof, in respect of obligations under international human rights law and treaty monitoring bodies left much to be desired, thus further strengthening a perception that the state is not accountable. At the functional level it is argued that the state has failed to regard the high incidence of rights violations as a systemic problem and rather opted to focus on managing the media fall-out when high profile violations surface. The manner in which the NPA has dealt with rights violations perpetrated by law enforcement officials clearly indicate that it is reluctant to prosecute, but it has also not been called to account for this trend and explain the reasons why recommendations by oversight structures to prosecute are in the overwhelming majority of cases not followed. Impunity is also enabled by the erratic enforcement of the internal disciplinary codes in SAPS and DCS. Statistics show great variation from year to year, indicative that managers in these two departments do not enforcement discipline in a consistent manner. With reference to designated oversight structures, it is observed that recommendations to these two departments are seldom followed. This is particularly the case with SAPS and the Independent Complaints Directorate (ICD). Civil litigation against the two departments in respect of rights violations result in substantial costs to the tax payer, yet the two departments have not regarded this as the result of systemic problems and opted to contest these claims individually. As a result of de facto impunity, law enforcement is increasingly suffering from a legitimacy crisis and public confidence in these institutions are probably at all-time low. To address impunity it is required that transparency and accountability be strengthened to ensure that the transformative ideals of the Constitution are realised. Details: South Africa: Civil Society Prison Reform Initiative (CSPRI) c/o Community Law Centre, 2013. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 4, 2017 at: http://acjr.org.za/resource-centre/understanding-impunity-in-the-south-african-law-enforcement-agencies Year: 2013 Country: South Africa URL: http://acjr.org.za/resource-centre/understanding-impunity-in-the-south-african-law-enforcement-agencies Shelf Number: 146703 Keywords: Corrections OfficersHuman Rights AbusesLaw EnforcementPolice AccountabilityPolicingPrison GuardsPrisons |
Author: Jesuit Refugee Service Europe Title: From Deprivation to Liberty: Alternatives to detention in Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom Summary: The negative effects of detention upon various categories of migrants - asylum seekers, the undocumented, families, minors - has been observed and well documented by medical researchers, non-governmental organisations and even policymakers and politicians. Our 2010 study found that detention systematically deteriorates the physical and mental condition of nearly everyone who experiences it. Symptoms related to depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder are common. Prolonged detention deepens the severity of these symptoms, but they are already noticeable in the first weeks of detainment. The financial cost of detention, together with the severe damage it inflicts on migrants, begs a fundamental question: is detention truly worth implementing, considering all of its associated harms? Better yet is the question: are there not more cost-effective and humane ways for states to manage migration flows into their territories? The purpose of this study is to examine alternatives to detention in Belgium, Germany and the United Kingdom through the perspective of those who most closely experience it: migrants themselves. A good deal of research has been done on alternatives from an institutional perspective, namely that of NGOs and governments. The absence of migrant voices in these studies has had less to do with their purposeful exclusion than it has had with the difficult of finding target samples. Far too few European Union member states implement alternatives; for those who do, migrants may be understandably reluctant to speak to researchers given their vulnerable situation. And compared with interviewing migrants in closed detention facilities, it is harder to interview migrants participating in alternatives because they are usually dispersed in communities. Among the reasons we chose to conduct research in Belgium, Germany and the UK is because each has distinct and identifiable alternatives to detention. Belgium operates lieux d'hebergement for undocumented families who have been living in the country, for families who apply for asylum at the border and for families in Dublin Regulation procedures. Families are accommodated in government-designated private housing, and are attached to a case manager. Few restrictions are imposed on families, and they are provided with a range of social services, including food vouchers. We interviewed six families staying in three of the four towns where the houses are located Details: Brussels: Jesuit Refugee Service Europe, 2011. 56p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 22, 2017 at: http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/from%20deprivation%20to%20liberty.pdf Year: 2011 Country: Europe URL: http://lastradainternational.org/lsidocs/from%20deprivation%20to%20liberty.pdf Shelf Number: 131734 Keywords: Alternatives to IncarcerationsAsylum SeekersImmigrant DetentionMigrantsPrisons |
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: ISISPrisonersPrisonsTerroristTortureViolent Extremists |
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 OvercrowdingPrison PopulationPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Western Australia, Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services Title: Assaults on staff in Western Australian prisons Summary: On any given day, there are over 5000 prisoners in Western Australia and the majority are there because of violent or high risk behaviour in the community, often associated with health and social issues. This means that prison staff face significant challenges on a daily basis. Positively, despite the potential risks, this review found that assaults on prison staff are relatively infrequent and that serious violence is rare. These findings indicate that staff who work in prisons are often skilled in dealing with volatile situations, including where prisoners are agitated or distressed, or during high risk activities such as escorts or restraints. This is a tribute both to the staff and to the Department of Corrective Services as a whole. However, the nature and circumstances of the assaults hold some learning opportunities and challenges. This report identifies a number of factors that contribute to assaults on staff and makes a series of recommendations designed to improve safety. Rates of assault Across the state, there were 414 recorded incidents of staff assault during the five years covered by this review, an average of 7 to 8 assaults per month. Obviously, staff safety is a high priority, and every assault is of concern, but the figures need to be placed in the context of the total imprisonment rate: each month our prisons hold prisoners for more than 150,000 'prisoner days'. The figures also need to be placed in the context of what is being recorded, a point well illustrated by data from September 2013. That month, there was a distinct spike in assaults, with 24 recorded cases, three times more than the average. However, almost a third of these assaults were committed by the same woman, in three incidents, over two days at Bandyup Women's Prison. Two mornings in a row, she threw her breakfast at a staff member, each incident constituting an assault. The third incident occurred later on the second day. She was under escort after a visit to a mental health nurse and lashed out at staff, punching, scratching and kicking them. Five staff members sustained scratches and bruises and because there were five victims, five assaults were recorded. This illustrates how quickly the assault rate can rise based on the behaviour of certain individuals or the presence of multiple staff in a single incident. It also shows that generalised counts and records do not reflect the particular circumstances in which assaults occur or the type of behaviour involved. Serious, targeted violence towards staff is rare. 'Serious assaults' are defined by the Department of Corrective Services as assaults where physical injuries are sustained requiring ongoing medical treatment or overnight hospitalisation. There were 22 serious assaults over the five year period covered by this review, an average of one per quarter. Details: Perth, Western Australia : Office of the Inspector of Custodial Services, 2014. 63p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2017 at: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3912001a7310a896b06645fa48257d550029f34b/$file/2001.pdf Year: 2014 Country: Australia URL: http://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/publications/tabledpapers.nsf/displaypaper/3912001a7310a896b06645fa48257d550029f34b/$file/2001.pdf Shelf Number: 147157 Keywords: Corrections OfficersPrison GuardsPrison ViolencePrisons |
Author: Knight, Peter Title: Prison Service Pay Review Body. Sixteenth Report on England and Wales, 2017. Summary: Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) is responsible for adult and young offender management services for England and Wales within the framework set by the government. It is an Executive Agency of the Ministry of Justice. The agency currently manages Her Majesty's Prison Service and the National Probation Service. In addition, it oversees privately run prisons and Community Rehabilitation Companies. Its role is to commission and provide offender management services in the community and in custody, ensuring best value for money from public resources. It works to protect the public and reduce reoffending by delivering the punishments and orders of the courts, and supporting rehabilitation by helping offenders to reform their lives. On 31 March 2017, the prisoner population across both the public and private sector estates was 85,513, 0.2 per cent higher than a year earlier. HMPPS paybill costs relating to the remit group in 2015-16 were approximately $1 billion (including social security and other pension costs). At the end of March 2017, there were 23,865 full-time equivalent staff in our remit down from 24,034 a year earlier (a decrease of 0.7 per cent). Our recommendations for 2017 are: Recommendation 1: We recommend that from 1 April 2017 the Fair and Sustainable National Bands 2 to 5 base pay points and all their closed grade equivalents be raised by 400 as set out in Appendix D. This award would be consolidated and pensionable for all staff on these scales. Recommendation 2: We recommend that from 1 April 2017 the Fair and Sustainable National Band 2 be changed to be a two point pay scale with the maximum set at $400 above the 1 April 2016 base pay level and the new minimum set at a level where staff will receive a fve per cent increment when moving to the maximum, as set out in Appendix D. Recommendation 3: We recommend that all staff in Fair and Sustainable Bands 2 to 5 who are in post on 31 March 2017 progress by one pay point effective from 1 April 2017, unless they have been placed on formal poor performance management procedures. Recommendation 4: We recommend that staff in Fair and Sustainable Band 5 who are in post on 31 March 2017 and achieve a performance marking of 'Outstanding' receive an additional one per cent non-consolidated, non-pensionable pay award based on their 31 March 2017 base pay. Recommendation 5: We recommend that the National maxima and minima of Fair and Sustainable Bands 7 to 11 be raised by one per cent from 1 April 2017, as set out in Appendix D. This change to the ranges should have no automatic effect on an individual's pay. Recommendation 6: We recommend that the closed operational manager scales (including the full range of non-Fair and Sustainable scales or spot rates equivalent to Bands 7 to 11) and the cash amount of RHA which applies are raised by one per cent from 1 April 2017, as set out in Appendix D. This will deliver an increase to consolidated, pensionable pay of one per cent. Recommendation 7: We recommend that staff in Fair and Sustainable Bands 7 to 11 who are in post on 31 March 2017 and achieve a performance marking of 'Outstanding' receive consolidated pay progression of six per cent effective from 1 April 2017, capped at the new 2017 Band maximum. In addition, we recommend that staff in Bands 7 to 11 who are within six per cent of the maximum, or at the maximum, should receive the balance of the six per cent as a non-consolidated, non-pensionable payment, capped at two per cent of base pay. Recommendation 8: We recommend that staff in Fair and Sustainable Bands 7 to 11 who are in post on 31 March 2017 and achieve a performance marking of 'Good' receive consolidated pay progression of four per cent effective from 1 April 2017, capped at the new 2017 Band maximum. Any staff who would be paid less than the minimum of their pay range after progression has taken place should be moved to the new 2017 Band minimum. Details: London: Office of Manpower Economics, 2017. 84p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 13, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/644118/CCS207_CCS0817863080-1_Prison_Service_Pay_Review_Web_Accessible.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/644118/CCS207_CCS0817863080-1_Prison_Service_Pay_Review_Web_Accessible.pdf Shelf Number: 147237 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional SalariesCorrections OfficersCosts of CorrectionsPrison GuardsPrisons |
Author: Aitken, Jonathan Title: What Happened to the Rehabilitation Revolution? How sentencers can revive it How it can be helped by a hung Parliament Summary: The Rehabilitation Revolution has been championed in one form or another by at least two former Home Secretaries, five past Secretaries of States for Justice and a previous Prime Minister. Yet for all the ministerial support for the basic thesis of offender rehabilitation the reality of this so-called revolution has been a disappointment. For more than a decade, informed opinion has broadly agreed that the rehabilitation of offenders needs to be at the heart of an effective criminal justice system. Embedding rehabilitation across the criminal justice system can provide the basis on which the root causes of offending can be tackled, helping to reduce the volume and severity of offending and ultimately improving lives and enabling a reduction in the size of the prison population. The paradox of this consensus is that successive governments have failed to live up to the bold policy statements which so many have promised in the area of rehabilitative criminal justice reform. There has been no shortage of fine words: from the Labour Government's White Paper A Five Year Strategy for Protecting the Public and Reducing Reoffending1 introduced in 2006 by Home Secretary Charles Clarke; through a compendium of speeches advocating offender rehabilitation from successive Conservative Justice Secretaries Kenneth Clarke (2010-12); Chris Grayling (2012-15); Michael Gove (2015-16) and Liz Truss (2016-17), to the speech given by David Cameron in February 2016. That was the first speech from a Prime Minister on prison and rehabilitative reform for some 20 years and yet there has been depressingly little in the way of tangible progress. Both the national reoffending rate and the size of the prison population have remained stubbornly high. While it is true that in recent years the custodial population has remained stable at just under 86,000, in April 2006 it was 77,000, and given recent increases it now approaches 90,000.2 This 12 percent rise has been accompanied by year-on-year falls in recorded crime. The prison estate itself has been changing - though arguably neither fast enough nor necessarily for the best. Her Majesty's 136 prisons have now fallen to 117:3 cutting costs, but at the risk of exacerbating overcrowding. The recently opened HMP Berwyn, near Wrexham in North Wales, will offer modern facilities for more than 2,100 prisoners when completed - but the location and larger size of the prison means prisoners will be more distant from their families. For many this will make them inaccessible to their families and prove detrimental to effective rehabilitation, as highlighted in Lord Farmer's recent and important review. In the prisons dangerous episodes have been getting worse. The latest statistics show that in the past year all records were broken in English and Welsh prisons by 40,161 selfharming incidents, 120 suicides, 224 other deaths in custody and 26,022 assaults of which 6,844 were on staff - 650 of them serious. So why have successive governments failed so consistently? Why has an apparent consensus stalled? It is worth recalling David Cameron's speech in 2016 on prison and criminal justice reform, with the major commitments made in that address having mostly already been trailed in the speeches of the then Justice Secretary Michael Gove and some of his predecessors: 1. Making sure that prisons are places of positivity and reform designed to maximise the chances of people going straight when they come out. 2. Addressing prisoners' illiteracy, addiction and mental health problems. 3. Revolutionising the prison education system. 4. Measuring the performance of individual prisons. 5. Giving prison governors new powers to set up therapeutic communities, drug free wings and abstinence-based treatment programmes that prisoners need. 6. Delivering Problem Solving Courts in England and Wales. 7. Helping prisoners to find work on release. 8. Delivering lower re-offending rates. Details: London: Centre for Social Justice, 2017. 38p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 16, 2017 at: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/core/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CSJJ5667-Rehab-Revolution-WEB.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/core/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/CSJJ5667-Rehab-Revolution-WEB.pdf Shelf Number: 147360 Keywords: Correctional ProgramsCriminal Justice ReformOffender RehabilitationPrison ReformPrisonsSentencingTreatment Programs |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons Title: Life in prison: Living conditions Summary: Some people may feel a sense of deja vu or world-weariness when they hear repeated accounts of poor conditions in our prisons. Many reports from HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMI Prisons) have pointed out that, all too often, prisoners are held in conditions that fall short of what most members of the public would consider as reasonable or decent. I would urge readers not to assume this paper is simply another account of some dilapidated prisons, but to look at the details of what we describe, and then ask themselves whether it is acceptable for prisoners to be held in these conditions in the United Kingdom in 2017. It is, of course, right to point out that not every prison holds its prisoners in poor conditions. On the whole, high security prisons, women's prisons and open prisons provide decent conditions and some good facilities. However, in many of the local prisons and training prisons, the picture is bleak. The details of what we have found are set out in this paper, but some of the headlines make for grim reading. Prisoners cannot benefit from education or training if they are confined in their cells for long periods, and they inevitably become frustrated, angry or turn to drugs to ease the tedium. We have found that in local prisons 31% of prisoners report being locked in their cells for at least 22 hours a day, rising to 37% at young adult prisons (holding prisoners aged 18-21). We found large numbers of prisoners at some jails who were locked up for more than 22 hours a day, or throughout the working day. The cells in which prisoners are confined for these excessive periods of time vary greatly in their condition, but poor conditions are exacerbated by overcrowding. Her Majesty's Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) themselves report that in 2016/17 nearly 21,000 prisoners out of some 85,000 in total were held, by their own definition, in overcrowded conditions. This proportion rises in local prisons to over 15,000 of the 31,800 held in such establishments - or 48%. Overcrowding often occurs when two or more prisoners are held in a cell designed to hold one. These often have an unscreened or inadequately screened lavatory, frequently without a lid, or sometimes with a makeshift lid made of cardboard, pillowcases or food trays. In these same cells, prisoners are frequently required to eat all their meals - in what are obviously insanitary, unhygienic and degrading conditions. The risks to health inherent in flushing open lavatories in confined spaces which have to serve as a bedroom and dining room (and sometimes as a kitchen) are described in this report and deserve close attention. The accounts from prisoners of what it feels like to eat and sleep in what is, in effect, a shared lavatory make for compelling reading. To compound all of this, our surveys suggest that in only around half of our prisons are prisoners able to get cleaning materials for their cells every week, and ventilation of too many cells is poor. In terms of personal hygiene, most prisoners say they are able to have a shower every day, but this falls to 51% in those prisons holding young adults. There is a mixed picture for other issues that have an impact of the everyday lives of prisoners, with about two-thirds of prisoners saying they can get clean sheets each week, and access to telephones is obviously dependent upon prisoners having enough time out of their cells to be able to queue and make a call. The concerns and recommendations set out in this paper need to be taken seriously. The aspirations of the prison reform programme will not be met if prisoners are confined in conditions that embitter and demoralise, leaving them unable to access rehabilitative activities and, all too often, turning to illicit drugs to break the boredom born of long periods locked in their cells. Details: London: The Inspectorate, 2017. 29p. Source: Internet Resource: A findings paper: Accessed October 19, 2017 at: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/10/Findings-paper-Living-conditions-FINAL-.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2017/10/Findings-paper-Living-conditions-FINAL-.pdf Shelf Number: 147731 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsPrison AdministrationPrison OvercrowdingPrisons |
Author: Morton-Bourgon, Kelly Title: Evaluation Report: Institutional Security Summary: Institutional security is relevant and responsive to the daily operations of correctional institutions and to the safety and security of all Canadians. Institutional security activities, as legislated by the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (1992), align with the federal government's new legislations such as the Safe Streets and Communities Act (2012). Institutional security activities also support the federal government and Correctional Service Canada's strategic priorities. The evaluation was conducted in accordance with the Treasury Board's Policy on Evaluation (TBS, 2009) and the Evaluation Division's Five-Year Plan. The scope of the evaluation was determined through a number of activities aimed at identifying evaluation priorities. As such, the evaluation focused on three key components: 1) Human Resource Management and Staff Safety; 2) Preventive Security and Intelligence; and 3) Institutional Security Operations. The evaluation incorporated both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis methods. Component 1 - Human Resource Management and Staff Safety Human resource management and staff safety is essential to operating a safe and secure correctional institution. The evaluation examined issues identified by institutional staff as they perform their security related duties. The topics that emerged from the analyses included: recruiting appropriate candidates; staff experience and development; staffing and deployment levels; and staff safety concerns. Recommendations focussed on tracking and monitoring new recruits; on-the-job coaching for new Correctional Officers (CO) and Primary Workers (PW); and enhancing communication and information sharing as part of the Employee Protection Protocol (EPP). Management Action Plans (MAP) addressing the issues were presented and approved. The MAPs will ensure tracking and monitoring of new recruits; the development of a standardized framework for on-the-job coaching for new COs and PWs; and the appropriate and timely provision of information and services throughout the EPP process to persons threatened. Component 2 - Preventive Security and Intelligence Intelligence information contributes to institutional safety and security by preventing security incidents, eliminating illegal activities and supporting the offender case management process. The evidence centered on the gathering, development and communication of intelligence information. It was recommended that tools be provided to Security Intelligence Officers to engage and debrief staff, and that there be monitoring and reporting on the production and sharing of intelligence. A MAP addressing the issues was presented and approved. The MAP focused on streamlining and restructuring the Intelligence Program. Component 3 - Institutional Security Operations The evaluation investigated daily operational security activities and how they contribute to a safe and secure institutional environment. The finding developed from the examination of evidence was that dynamic security is apparent and it is making a contribution to the safety and security of the institutions. Financial data were examined along with incident, staff and offender data. The rate of institutional security-related spending remained relatively stable from 2008/2009 to 2013/2014 despite an increase in the number of CX staff and offenders in CSC institutions. The analyses also showed a decrease in serious security incidents and escapes, an increase in drug-related seizures and an increase in negative urinalysis results. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, 2015. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 27, 2017 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/publications/092/005007-2015-eng.pdf Year: 2015 Country: Canada URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/publications/092/005007-2015-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 147830 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional InstitutionsCorrections OfficersPrisons |
Author: Correctional Service Canada Title: 2016 International Survey of Correctional Services: Corrections in Transformation Summary: In 2015, the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) conducted an international survey with the objective of gaining a better understanding of the challenges other nations encounter in their correctional organizations and the best practices being applied to address them. Responses from 24 organizations revealed themes related to infrastructure, resources, technology, and offender health and mental health as significant challenges. These identified challenges provided indications of where international correctional organizations are facing difficulties; however, further details would have provided greater insight into these difficulties and the responses organizations have made to address them. Thus, the 2016 survey was designed to increase our knowledge of the issues and transformation plans being used to address these challenges as well as the best practices learned through actions undertaken to deal with them. Purpose CSC conducted an international consultation with several correctional organizations around the world to gain a better understanding of not only the challenges various nations encounter in their correctional organizations, but also the strategies implemented to address these challenges. The international consultation was completed in collaboration with CSC's Intergovernmental Relations Division (IGR) and representatives from the International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA). Overview The following is a summary of the responses received for the International Survey of Correctional Services. The survey was developed by staff at CSC's Research Branch and Strategic Policy and Planning. It was available in English and French and could be completed online or on paper. The structure of the survey included both multiple choice and open-ended questions. Core problematic areas in correctional practices were identified and questions specific to each area were developed. The survey was organized into four key parts: Part I: Physical Infrastructure; Part II: Technology; Part III: Offender Health; Part IV: Offender Rehabilitation The target sample was approximately 170 correctional organizations affiliated with ICPA and IGR. Respondents were able to respond to the survey between July 28th and September 14th, 2016. Although 19 correctional organizations responded, results are based on 18 correctional organizations representing agencies in 12 as one submission was removed from the analyses due to data quality issues (see Appendix A for a list of participating countries). Regarding the characteristics of participating organizations, the majority of organizations were at the Federal/National level of government (53%), followed closely by organizations at the State/Regional (41%) and Local/Municipal (6%) levels. The offender population supervised by organizations was evenly split between only those with custodial sentences (47%) and those with both custodial and non-custodial sentences (53%). Notably, no organizations indicated that they only supervise those with non-custodial sentences. The results of this report are organized according to each key area assessed. The qualitative results examine the challenges and associated transformation plans for each sub-area are examined. Subsequently, the qualitative themes associated with the issues leading to transformation, the ongoing transformation projects that have occurred in the past year, as well as any best practices garnered throughout the transformation process are discussed. A summary of findings is provided at the end of the document. Details: Ottawa: Correctional Service Canada, 2016. 15p. Source: Internet Resource: 2016 No. SR-16-04 Accessed November 13, 2017 at: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/092/005008-3009-en.pdf Year: 2016 Country: International URL: http://www.csc-scc.gc.ca/research/092/005008-3009-en.pdf Shelf Number: 148140 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCorrectional InstitutionsCorrectional ReformPrison ReformPrisons |
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 GuardsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Yates, Caitlyn Title: Penitentiary System Reform Summary: Properly functioning prisons serve as an indicator of a country's ability to confront insecurity, and Mexico's prison conditions fail to demonstrate adequate institutional capacity. The Mexican Congress passed a prison reform law in 2016 aimed at drastically reforming the justice system and prison practices. Yet, there remain serious concerns such as inadequate prison conditions, violations of prisoners' rights, and an increase in violence and organized criminal operations within the penitentiary system. This paper analyzes current Mexican prison conditions, recent policy interventions in the prison system, and policy recommendations. These include: ensuring equal rights for all incarcerated individuals, reducing prison official complicity, emphasizing restorative justice, eradicating sentencing for minor crimes, better allocating resources for prison officials and institutions, and eventually reducing extradition. Details: Austin, TX: Robert Strauss Center for Interntional Security and Law, 2017. 10p. Source: Internet Resource: Mexico Security Initiative, Policy Research Project Paper: Accessed December 5, 2017 at: https://www.strausscenter.org/images/Courses_Scholars/PRP_2017/CaitlynYates_PRP_copy.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Mexico URL: https://www.strausscenter.org/images/Courses_Scholars/PRP_2017/CaitlynYates_PRP_copy.pdf Shelf Number: 148718 Keywords: Correctional InstitutionsPrison ReformPrisons |
Author: Victorian Ombudsman Title: Implementing OPCAT in Victoria: report and inspection of the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre Summary: 1. This report considers the practical implications of implementing the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (OPCAT) in Victoria. It sets out: - practical changes needed to implement the OPCAT protocol - the results of a pilot OPCAT-style inspection at Victoria's main women's prison, the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre (DPFC). 2. OPCAT is an international human rights treaty that aims to prevent abuse of people in detention by opening places where people are deprived of liberty - prisons, police cells, psychiatric hospitals and so on - to regular independent inspections by: - a United Nations (UN) committee of international experts - local inspection bodies called National Preventative Mechanisms (NPMs). 3. In February 2017, the Commonwealth Government announced that Australia will ratify OPCAT by the end of 2017. 4. In Victoria, this means the Victorian Government will need to open places of detention to the UN committee from 2018. The Victorian Government will have three years to 'designate' or appoint one or more local NPMs to conduct regular inspections. 5. Implementing OPCAT will require changes. While Victoria already has human rights laws and monitoring bodies, OPCAT will introduce more rigorous standards for inspecting places of detention. 6. On 31 March 2017, the Ombudsman notified the Attorney-General, the Minister for Corrections and the Secretary of the Department of Justice and Regulation of her intention to conduct an 'own motion' investigation into the conditions in a custodial facility, with a view to contributing to the debate about OPCAT's implementation in Victoria. 7. The investigation mapped places of detention in Victoria, how they are monitored, and what needs to change to implement OPCAT. 8. The investigation also tested how OPCAT inspections work in practice by conducting a pilot inspection at DPFC using OPCAT standards where possible. Details: Melbourne: Victorian Ombudsman, 2017. 136p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 18, 2018 at: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/getattachment/432871e4-5653-4830-99be-8bb96c09b348 Year: 2017 Country: Australia URL: https://www.ombudsman.vic.gov.au/getattachment/432871e4-5653-4830-99be-8bb96c09b348 Shelf Number: 148864 Keywords: Female InmatesPrisonsPunishmentTortureWomen Prisoners |
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: IncarcerationPrisonersPrisonsRights |
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 AdministrationPrison AdministrationPrison ConditionsPrison OvercrowdingPrisonersPrisons |
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 PrisonsMental Health ServicesMentally Ill InmatesPrisonersPrisonsRecidivism |
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: GangsPrison GangsPrison ViolencePrisonersPrisons |
Author: Victorian Auditor-General Title: Safety and Cost Effectiveness of Private Prisons Summary: Private prisons accommodate around one third of the state's male prison population. The safe, secure and cost effective operation of these prisons is essential for the effective functioning of Victoria's corrections system and for community safety. Like the broader prison system, private prisons face significant challenges. The male prison population has increased by approximately 50 per cent over the last seven years, primarily driven by an increase in remand prisoners. This audit examines whether two of Victoria's private prisons-Port Phillip Prison and Fulham Correctional Centre-are safe and cost effective. We looked at: private prisons' management of critical safety and security risks private prisons' performance against key service delivery measures, costs and risk transfer expectations under the original contracts the process for the recent contract extensions and whether they delivered value for money. This is the first audit in which we used our 'follow-the-dollar' powers, directly engaging the private prison operators and requesting information from them. We made six recommendations for DJR, and two for the Department of Treasury and Finance related to its role in the private prison contract extension process Details: Melbourne: Victorian Auditor-General's Office, 2018. 133p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 9, 2018 at: https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-03/20180328-Private-Prisons.pdf Year: 2018 Country: Australia URL: https://www.audit.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-03/20180328-Private-Prisons.pdf Shelf Number: 149742 Keywords: Correctional AdministrationCost EffectivenessCosts of CorrectionsPrison AdministrationPrisonsPrivate PrisonsPrivatizations |
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 InstitutionsInmatesPrison OvercrowdingPrisonersPrisons |
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 InstitutionsJail InmatesJailsPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Trammell, Rebecca Title: Mutual Respect, Conflict and Conflict Resolution in Prisons: A Response to the Commission on Safety and Abuse in America's Prison Report Summary: Summary of Findings - 45% of inmates sampled experienced some form of non-sexual violence in prison. Inmates have assaulted 33% of the staff members interviewed for this study. - 4.1% of inmates sampled were involved in some type of sexual assault while incarcerated. - Disrespectful behavior was identified as a major cause of violence in these facilities. - Violence between inmates and between inmates and staff is more likely to happen at the Lincoln Correctional Center, the Nebraska State Penitentiary and the Tecumseh State Correctional Institute. - Fights or assaults are more likely to be reported in the Nebraska Correctional Center for Woman than any other prison. - Inmates at the Lincoln Correctional Center, the Nebraska State Penitentiary, and the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women who stated that they were members of a street gang before entering prison were statistically more likely to report fighting with another inmate. Inmates from the Nebraska State Penitentiary and the Tecumseh State Correctional Institute who claimed to be a member of a prison gang were statistically more likely to claim that they fought another inmate. Only the inmates from the Tecumseh State Correctional Institute who claimed to be members of a prison gang were more likely to state that they assaulted a staff member. - Inmates who were sentenced for a violent offense were more likely to report fighting inmates in three facilities: Omaha Correctional Center, the Nebraska Correctional Center for Women, and the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Violent offenders at the Tecumseh State Correctional Institute were more likely to admit to assaulting a staff member. - Inmates and staff members blame both inmates and staff, to varying degrees, for conflict and violence in these facilities. Details: Omaha, NE: The University of Nebraska at Omaha The School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 2012. 94p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 11, 2018 at: https://corrections.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/files/46/trammell_2012_1.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: https://corrections.nebraska.gov/sites/default/files/files/46/trammell_2012_1.pdf Shelf Number: 140163 Keywords: Conflict ResolutionInmate MisconductInmate ViolencePrison ViolencePrisonsRestorative Justice |
Author: Bird, Mia Title: Realignment and Recidivism in California Summary: California has experienced significant changes in its criminal justice landscape since the 2011 implementation of public safety realignment-which shifted the management of lower-level offenders from the state prison and parole system to county jail and probation systems. The prison population has dropped dramatically, and though jail populations rose, overall incarceration levels have declined. One goal of realignment was to reduce California's persistently high recidivism rates. Using data from 12 counties representative of the state, this report examines rearrest and reconviction rates after release from custody for two groups of offenders affected by realignment: those on post-release community supervision (PRCS) and those sentenced under section 1170(h) of the California Penal Code. Overall, we find realignment had modest effects on recidivism, with considerable variation across offender groups and counties. Specifically: Individuals on PRCS have somewhat higher recidivism than similar individuals released before realignment. PRCS offenders are released from state prison after serving time for certain lower-level felonies and receive supervision by county probation agencies. In the two years following realignment, we find that 71.9 percent of these individuals were rearrested (2.6 percentage points higher than before realignment), and 56.4 percent were reconvicted (2.4 points higher). Realignment did not have a consistent effect on recidivism for individuals sentenced under 1170(h). These offenders are sentenced for a specific set of lower-level felonies and, under realignment, serve time in county jail rather than state prison. In the two years following realignment, we find that 74.5 percent of these individuals were rearrested (2.3 percentage points higher than their pre-realignment counterparts) and 54.9 percent were reconvicted (2.0 points lower). Offenders who received straight sentences have the same or lower rates of recidivism. Realignment created two types of 1170(h) offenders: those who receive both jail time and probation supervision (known as a "split" sentence) and those who receive jail time with no supervision (known as a "straight" sentence). The group serving "straight" sentences had the best outcomes: the same two-year rearrest rates and lower two-year reconviction rates (by 3.0 percentage points). Those who received "split" sentences had higher rates of rearrest (by 7.8 points) but lower rates of reconviction (by 3.4 points) compared with similar individuals before realignment. The effects of realignment on recidivism vary substantially across counties. For example, overall we find reconviction rates were higher for those on PRCS after realignment, but in fact nine counties saw lower rates of reconviction-indicating that the overall finding is driven by a small number of counties. County variation in recidivism outcomes is likely linked to demographic, economic, and geographic differences, as well as the range of county capacity and experiences providing evidence-based interventions before realignment. However, some of this variation may be due to different intervention strategies, creating the potential for counties to learn from each other over time. Notably, offenders who received a jail term and no supervision stand out as having better outcomes on all measures of recidivism, when compared with similar individuals released before realignment. This finding suggests we need to carefully consider the complex relationship between supervision and recidivism. While it could simply be easier to detect reoffending when an individual is under supervision, the requirements of supervision could also create more opportunities for non-criminal violations. With a longer follow-up window and more recent data, the relationship between supervision and recidivism, as well as the overall effects of realignment, may change as counties build capacity and experience with evidence-based practices. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers must continue to work together to develop the data and expertise necessary to understand the impacts of California's corrections reforms and to identify effective strategies to reduce recidivism. Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2017. 34p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 12, 2018 at: http://www.ppic.org/publication/realignment-and-recidivism-in-california/ Year: 2017 Country: United States URL: http://www.ppic.org/publication/realignment-and-recidivism-in-california/ Shelf Number: 150170 Keywords: Criminal Justice ReformPrison reformPrisonsPublic Safety RealignmentRecidivism |
Author: Bird, Mia Title: Evaluating the Effects of Realignment Practices on Recidivism Outcomes Summary: In 2011, California enacted Public Safety Realignment, a historic policy reform that resulted in dramatic reductions to the state prison population. Realignment shifted responsibility and authority over lower-level felons from the state prison and parole system to county jail and probation systems. From our current vantage point, it is clear that the changes brought by realignment paved the way for a series of subsequent reforms. 1 Together, these reforms reflect two key features of the state's changing approach to criminal justice policy. First, the state has altered system incentives and rules to reduce its overall reliance on incarceration. Second, the state has increased the emphasis on the use of evidence-based interventions to reduce crime and criminal justice involvement. Despite the emphasis on data-driven policy and practice, dedicated resources to support data collection, evaluation, or research have not been provided. In the case of realignment, this is particularly problematic given that data capturing individuals moving through state and county criminal justice systems are kept in separate systems. Evaluating the effects of realignment or identifying effective recidivism-reduction interventions would not be possible without finding a way to collect and integrate data from these disparate systems. In 2013, PPIC initiated the Multi-County Study (MCS), a data collection effort aimed at producing an integrated dataset to address these gaps. NIJ provided support for our first phase of analytic work drawing on the MCS dataset. The planned work would focus on the following research questions: (1) What was the impact of realignment on recidivism statewide? (2) How did the effects of realignment vary across counties? (3) How have service and sanction interventions affected recidivism outcomes? Details: San Francisco: Public Policy Institute of California, 2018. 13p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 31, 2018 at: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251627.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/251627.pdf Shelf Number: 150412 Keywords: Criminal Justice ReformPrison reformPrisonsPublic Safety RealignmentRecidivism |
Author: Gluckman, Peter Title: Using evidence to build a better justice system: The challenge of rising prison costs Summary: 1. Crime, especially violent crime, hurts individuals and society. Both direct and indirect victims of crime may suffer untold consequences that can endure for years and can even affect next generations. Those who do not suffer personally may nonetheless acquire negative perceptions of people or places because of criminal activity. The net effect of such perceptions can change societal attitudes creating a more negative environment. This is a loss for everyone. These perceptions can be disproportionately magnified by advocacy groups, media and political agendas. 2. Policy responses are often viewed in binary terms: tough or soft on crime. This simplistic duality has long had political resonance, but its impact on our prison system is a major concern. The New Zealand prison population is increasing and is one of the highest in the OECD at a time when crime rates are actually decreasing. This can only be explained by the systemic and cumulative impact of successive policy decisions over time, often in response to public demand and political positioning. 3. Successive governments of different political orientations have supported a progressively retributive rather than a restorative approach to crime with unsupported claims that prisons can solve the problems of crime. As a result, the costs of prisons far exceed those justified by the need to protect the public. We keep imprisoning more people in response to dogma not data, responding to shifting policies and media panics, instead of evidence-based approaches to prevention, intervention, imprisonment and rehabilitation. This does not diminish the importance of incarceration for a subset of individuals so as to protect the public. 4. The strong evidence base related to what fuels the prison 'pipeline' suggests that prisons are extremely expensive training grounds for further offending, building offenders' criminal careers by teaching them criminal skills, damaging their employment, accommodation and family prospects, and compounding mental health and substance use issues. On release, even after a short period of imprisonment, for example on remand, offenders have been found to reintegrate poorly to the community. Furthermore, this does nothing to reassure victims that the risk of harm is being effectively managed by the justice system. 5. It is now well understood that prisons act as recruitment centres for gangs (especially for young offenders) and underpin the illegal drug trade. Imprisonment leaves those incarcerated with high rates of undiagnosed and untreated alcohol/drug addictions and mental illness. They have a negative impact on the next generation, given that a high percentage of people in prison are parents. These issues disproportionately affect Māori. 6. Other countries, such as Finland, have significantly reduced their incarceration rates without crime rates rising. There is strong scientific evidence for putting resources into crime prevention, early intervention (identifying and mitigating risk), and a smarter approach to rehabilitation and subsequent social inclusion for those already in the criminal-justice system - not for building more prisons. 7. To assist in such an approach, there must be adequate investment in piloting and evaluating early intervention and prevention initiatives. With leadership and knowledge, we can fundamentally transform the justice system, reduce victimisation and recidivism and make prisons only a part of a much more proactive and effective systemic response to a complex problem. Details: Auckland, NZ: Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor, 2018. 30p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 5, 2018 at: http://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Using-evidence-to-build-a-better-justice-system.pdf Year: 2018 Country: New Zealand URL: http://www.pmcsa.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/Using-evidence-to-build-a-better-justice-system.pdf Shelf Number: 150471 Keywords: Costs of CorrectionsCosts of Criminal JusticeEarly InterventionEvidence-Based PracticesMass IncarcerationPrisons |
Author: Sentencing Project Title: Private Prisons in the United States Summary: Private prisons in the United States incarcerated 128,063 people in 2016, representing 8.5% of the total state and federal prison population. Since 2000, the number of people housed in private prisons has increased 47%. States show significant variation in their use of private correctional facilities. For example, New Mexico incarcerates over 40% of its prison population in private facilities, while 23 states do not employ any for-profit prisons. Data compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) and interviews with corrections officials find that in 2016, 27 states and the federal government incarcerated people in private facilities run by corporations including GEO Group, Core Civic (formerly Corrections Corporation of America), and Management and Training Corporation. According to BJS data, 19 of the states with private prison contracts incarcerate more than 500 people in for-profit prisons. Texas, the first state to adopt private prisons in 1985, incarcerated the largest number of people under state jurisdiction, 13,692. Since 2000, the number of people in private prisons has increased 47%, compared to an overall rise in the prison population of 9%. In six states, the private prison population has more than doubled during this period. The federal prison system experienced a 120% increase in use of private prisons since 2000, reaching 34,159 people in private facilities in 2016. Among the immigrant detention population, 26,249 people - 73% of the detained population - were confined in privately run facilities in 2017. The private immigrant population grew 442% since 2002. The private prison population reached its peak in 2012 with 137,220 people. The population then declined for three years before increasing again in 2016. At the federal level, a 2016 Obama Administration policy shift to reduce reliance and ultimately phase out private prison contracts was reversed by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in February 2017. The reversal took place despite significant declines in the federal prison population and a scathing report by the Justice Department's Office of the Inspector General that found federally contracted prisons had more safety and security incidents than public prisons. Currently, the federal Bureau of Prisons maintains the nation's highest number of people managed under private prison custody. Changes in policy at the Department of Justice in 2017 that are likely to increase sentence length and expand prosecutions for drug and immigration offenses may contribute to the expansion of private facility contracting. Details: Washington, DC: The Sentencing Project, 2018. 2p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed August 8, 2018 at: https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Private-Prisons-in-the-United-States.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.sentencingproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Private-Prisons-in-the-United-States.pdf Shelf Number: 151062 Keywords: PrisonsPrivate PrisonsPrivatization |
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 InstitutionsPrison PopulationPrisonersPrisons |
Author: McGuire, James Title: Understanding Prison Violence: A Rapid Evidence Assessment Summary: The occurrence of violent assault in prison is a challenging problem. This Analytical Summary reports the findings of a rapid evidence assessment (REA) into the causes of physically violent assaults by male adult prisoners. The REA reviewed 97 research studies published since 1st January 2000. Key findings - Most of the published research is focused on imported characteristics - the personal characteristics of men who are violent in prison - and attempts to predict who they will be. Imported characteristics associated with prison violence include youth, history of earlier violence in prison or with violent convictions, membership of gangs, low self-control, anger, temper, mental health problems, and antisocial attitudes and personality. - The prison environment also plays a considerable role in how prisoners behave. Physically poor conditions, highly controlling regimes, or by contrast circumstances in which rules are unevenly applied or not adhered to or where prisoners do not experience staff decisions as fair or legitimate, can each heighten tensions and induce stresses potentially giving rise to conflict and assault. - Perhaps surprisingly, evidence that crowding in and of itself was a direct cause of violence was fairly weak. Research suggested that the effects of crowding are mediated through staff-prisoner interactions and that the crucial factor in maintaining order is the availability and the skills of unit staff. - Some features of prison activity make violence less likely. Places within a prison where prisoners are engaged in purposeful activities they consider valuable, such as workshops and education, are less prone to be sites of aggression. Violence is more likely to occur in places that offer less purpose, have fewer formal ground-rules, and lower staff oversight, such as cells. - A policy designed to reduce violence could be oriented towards situational control aspects of day-to-day prison management. That would require staff training in the use of styles and patterns of interaction that wield authority alongside instilling respect. Details: London: HM Prison and Probation Service: 2018. 9p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/737956/understanding-prison-violence.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/737956/understanding-prison-violence.pdf Shelf Number: 151429 Keywords: Correctional Administration Offender ManagementPrison Administration Prison Conditions Prison Health Prison Violence Prisons |
Author: Sondhi, Jessica Title: Sexual Assaults Reported in Prisons: Exploratory Findings from Analysis of Incident Descriptions Summary: This analytical summary presents exploratory findings on the nature of alleged sexual assaults reported in prisons in England and Wales. It is based on analysis of narrative descriptions of 1,742 incidents which were reported between 2002 and 2014 and recorded by prison staff via the Prison National Offender Management Information System (p-NOMIS). Recorded incidents were based on the initial report made and classified as sexual in nature. The findings should be treated with caution given that the data were collected as management information and not for research purposes, and have the potential to include unsubstantiated allegations as well as allegations that were subsequently found to be false. Key findings - 20% of assaults that were coded as sexual entailed physical contact, but not genital or groin contact of either party; these cases mostly involved prisoners assaulting staff. - 16% of sexual assault cases were coded as assault involving genital or groin contact of either party. - 11% of sexual assaults were coded as rape and this was the assault category most likely to see some form of repeat victimisation. - 10% of cases were classed as assault by non-penile penetration, most often involving assailants in groups of two or more whose main motivation was the retrieval of drugs. - In two-fifths of cases (40%), the incident descriptions lacked sufficient information to determine more precisely the type of sexual assault that had occurred. - Sexual assaults most frequently occurred within cells, particularly rapes or assaults involving non-penile penetration. The next most frequent location was a 'social area', including 'association' areas, wings and dining areas. Perpetrators of rape or assaults involving genital or groin contact were most likely serving sentences for sexual offences, while perpetrators of assaults involving non-penile penetration were more likely to be serving sentences for violent or acquisitive offences. - Alongside violent offences, the single most common index offence for which prisoners in the sample had been convicted was a sexual offence. - No particular trends over time were identified with regard to types of assault aside from assaults involving non-penile penetration motivated by the retrieval of a mobile phone, none of which were reported prior to 2006. Details: London: Ministry of Justice, 2018. 12p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 7, 2018 at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/737991/sexual-assaults-reported-prisons-exploratory-findings.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/737991/sexual-assaults-reported-prisons-exploratory-findings.pdf Shelf Number: 151430 Keywords: Correctional Administration Offender Management Prison Administration Prison Conditions Prison Health Prison Violence PrisonsSexual Assault |
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 ReformMass IncarcerationPrison ReformPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Norwegian Parliamentary Ombudsman Title: Women in Prison: Summary: International research shows that prisons are often organised in accordance with the needs of male inmates, partly due to the low number of women in prison compared to men. This is reflected in prison architecture, security, the activities available and health services, among other things. In addition, an even higher percentage of women than men in prison come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They have more often been the victims of abuse in childhood, have extensive and untreated mental health problems and substance abuse problems. The differences in prison conditions for men and women is a challenge well-known to the Norwegian Correctional Service In 2015, a cross-disciplinary working group prepared the report 'Equal conditions for women and men under the responsibility of the Correctional Service' on behalf of the Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service. The report concluded that change must be made at multiple levels and in various fields before the conditions can be deemed equal for men and women under the responsibility of the Correctional Service. The Directorate of the Norwegian Correctional Service (KDI) has announced that the report will be followed up by a separate strategy for the conditions for women in prison. The Parliamentary Ombudsman's thematic report addresses key issues relating to the conditions for women in prison, including the physical conditions, sense of security, activities, health services and contact with family. The report largely confirms that women in prison are a particularly vulnerable group. In many cases, they risk serving under worse conditions than men. Physical conditions -- Aging buildings pose a challenge to Norwegian prisons, as is well-documented in Statsbygg's 2015 annual report. Statsbygg stated that the maintenance backlog is vast, and the Parliamentary Ombudsman's visits to Norwegian prisons have confirmed the physical conditions described by Statsbygg in its annual report. The poor state of Norwegian prison buildings directly impacts the conditions for women in prison. For example, women have special sanitary needs, especially in connection with menstruation, menopause and pregnancy. This requires respect for their privacy and access to satisfactory sanitary facilities. The NPM visits showed that the cells in several prisons did not have toilets, and, in some of these prisons, it was not possible to be let out of the cell to go to the toilet at night. Such conditions are particularly challenging for menstruating or pregnant women, who often need more frequent access to toilets and washing facilities. In 2016, Kragero Prison was converted into a women's prison and it was decided that the old section of Kongsvinger Prison, Section G, would be converted into a women's section. It is positive that new prisons are being established for women. The Parliamentary Ombudsman is, nevertheless, concerned that the women's prison in Kragero and the planned new section for women at Kongsvinger Prison are located in old buildings that do not adequately address the needs of female inmates. Physical activity -- Possibilities for physical activity are an important precondition for mental as well as physical health during long periods of imprisonment. In both women's prisons visited by the NPM, the possibility for physical activity outdoors was limited by the design and size of the exercise yard. This was particularly the case in Krager0 Prison, where the exercise yard was a 70-square-metre tarmacked area with little direct sunlight much of the year. Section G at Kongsvinger Prison, which was converted into a womens prison in January 2017, also has an exercise yard that is smaller and more poorly equipped than the outdoor areas at most men's prisons. Some of the prisons where men and women serve together have separate exercise yards for female inmates, but they are consistently smaller and more poorly equipped than the men's yards. In some prisons, this is resolved by giving the women access to the men's exercise yards. However, this entails security challenges and depends on personnel resources. Sense of security -- Most women the NPM spoke to stated that they feel safe in prison. There are, however, exceptions. In sections with few prison officers on guard, more women said that they do not feel safe. Mixed-sex prisons with both female and male inmates give rise to particular challenges. Despite most mixed prisons having separate women's sections, inmates spend a lot of time together during work, school and leisure activities. A number of women have reported unwanted attention from male inmates, and there is a real risk of sexual harassment and abuse in such situations. Few prisons have special procedures and training in place to detect or deal with such abuse. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has recommended that written procedures be developed for such situations. School and work -- Meaningful activities, including school and work, can be crucial to counteracting the harmful effects of imprisonment and reducing the risk of future crime. However, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has found that work activities for female inmates are often inadequate or given low priority due to resource or security considerations. The fact that female inmates as a group have weak labour market attachment makes this even more problematic. Health services -- The health care services provided in prisons should be equivalent to the services provided to the general population. Inmates must be offered services adapted to their individual needs following an individual assessment. During the NPM's visits, inmates with mental health problems were often highlighted as a particularly vulnerable group. Several prisons described an increase in the number of women with mental health problems in recent years. The NPM found that many women have an unmet need for mental health support services. Both prison staff and administration as well as health services have echoed this concern. A high proportion of female inmates have been the victims of sexual abuse. Many have negative experiences of men. This could make it difficult for women to seek help from male health personnel. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has recommended that steps be taken to ensure that women who, for whatever reason, want to see a female doctor have access to one. The NPM's visits show that access to substance abuse rehabilitation varies greatly between women and men, despite knowledge of widespread substance abuse among female inmates. In interviews with women serving in mixed prisons, it was clear that many want the opportunity to take part in additional and more extensive substance abuse rehabilitation programmes. After visits to prisons where such opportunities have been inadequate, the Parliamentary Ombudsman has recommended that women be offered substance abuse treatment equivalent to that offered to male inmates. Contact with the outside world -- Contact with the outside world, and particularly with family and children, is important to prison inmates. Since few prisons in Norway take female inmates, women risk being detained in prisons far away from their home. This makes it difficult for some inmates to receive visits from family. This applies in particular to children who are too young to travel alone and children who do not live in Norway. Very few of the prisons that the NPM has visited provide inmates with the possibility of communicating with family via Skype or similar modern means of communication. The Parliamentary Ombudsman has recommended in several visit reports that the Norwegian Correctional Service introduce such technology, also in high-security prisons. [1] The Correctional Service (2015): Equal conditions for women and men under the responsibility of the Correctional Service (Likeverdige forhold for kvinner og menn under kriminalomsorgens ansvar). [2] Statsbygg is the Norwegian governments key advisor in construction and property affairs, building commissioner, property manager and property developer. See http://www.statsbygg.no/Om-Statsbygg/About-Statsbygg/. Details: Oslo: The Ombudsman, 2017. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 16, 2018 at: https://www.sivilombudsmannen.no/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SIVOM_temarapport_ENG_WEB_FINAL.pdf Year: 2017 Country: Norway URL: https://www.sivilombudsmannen.no/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SIVOM_temarapport_ENG_WEB_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 153489 Keywords: Correctional Administration Female Inmates Female Offenders Female Prisoners PrisonsWomen Prisoners |
Author: Kajstura, Aleks Title: Women's Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2018 Summary: With growing public attention to the problem of mass incarceration, people want to know about women's experience with incarceration. How many women are held in prisons, jails, and other correctional facilities in the United States? And why are they there? How is their experience different from men's? While these are important questions, finding those answers requires not only disentangling the countrys decentralized and overlapping criminal justice systems, but also unearthing the frustratingly hard to find and often altogether missing data on gender. This report provides a detailed view of the 219,000 women incarcerated in the United States, and how they fit into the even broader picture of correctional control. This 2018 update to our inaugural Women's Whole Pie report pulls together data from a number of government agencies and calculates the breakdown of women held by each correctional system by specific offense. The report, produced in collaboration with the ACLU's Campaign for Smart Justice, answers the questions of why and where women are locked up. Details: Northampton, MA: Prison Policy Initiative, 2018. 6p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 12, 2019 at: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/pie2018women.html Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/blog/2018/11/13/mass-incarceration-women-2018/ Shelf Number: 154084 Keywords: Campaign for Smart JusticeCorrectional InstitutionsFemale InmatesFemale OffendersJailsMass IncarcerationPrison Policy InitiativePrisonsWomen Prisons |
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: IncarcerationInmatesPovertyPrisonersPrisonsRecidivismSocioeconomic Status and Crime |
Author: The Social Innovation Partnership Title: The Wire (Women's Information and Resettlement for Ex-Offenders) Evaluation Report Summary: Summary of findings - Reconviction rates: The reconviction rate for the eligible 104 engaged WIRE partcipants (out of a total of 342 referred women) was 42%, against 51% for the national average for women offenders and 88% for prolific offenders. Whilst there are issues around how this is evidenced, our additional qualitative analysis broadly supports that the WIRE is a valued service. - Desistance: The average number of offences per participant halved for the 12 months at liberty after the programme as compared to the 12 months before (at 2 offences as compared to 4 previously). Again, there are similar evidencing issues, although we seek to address these through our additional analysis (e.g. interviews). - OASys:Using OGRS3 categories, roughly half of WIRE participants in "high" and "very high" risk of reoffending categories had not reoffended after 12 months (which is half the standard OGRS3 period), which appears to be an encouraging result. However, these results will need to be confirmed after two years post-conviction. - Continuing success: Resourcing issues could affect the ongoing success of the WIRE programme, limiting staff's ability to (i) give dedicated personal support and (ii) perform a sufficient amount of ongoing reporting to improve performance as measured by both Stage 1 and Stage 2 indicators, and also to evidence successes and support fundraising. - Programme Strategy: Evidence suggests that WIRE outcomes are more likely to be achieved at the early stage (Stage 1) of WIRE interventions. - People (resourcing): The project struggled to match staffing levels with demand (principally due to funding constraints), despite this the team were able to meet housing and meet at the gates targets. - Administration: There were a number of issues identified with reporting strategies. The evaluators worked with the WIRE team to identify and implement solutions. - People: The complex nature and motivation of clients to change has the potential to impact the success of the project, clients need to want to engage for success to be achieved. The staff are also a key component of the success of the project, the workers need to possess a unique blend of tenaciousness to achieve outcomes and empathy to understand the women's experiences. - Outcomes: Housing outcomes are a strength of the WIRE and it is from this solid foundation that the workers are able to support the women in desisting from crime. - Process: The individualised nature of the service requires staff have skills and that enable them to dedicate the time needed to support women through this intense period. High demand for the service and funding constraints mean staff numbers are such that they have been focusing on Stage 1 as opposed to stage 2. Recommendations and Next Steps - Evidence practices: A number of reporting and evidence practices have been improved in the course of this evaluation. These improvements should be endorsed and maintained, within the WIRE and beyond, as a way of improving services, ensuring value for money and potentially assisting with future fundraising activities. - Staff and resourcing: Sufficient staff and resources should be allocated to the WIRE, including administrative support, to allow the core team to focus on delivery. To improve Stage 2 outcomes, the programme should be seen as sufficiently distinct (WIRE Plus) to require smaller case loads - Process refinements and stakeholder engagement: Work should be done with prisons to restore an appropriate prison presence, even if just once a week, for WIRE staff. Awareness of the WIRE and its full range of work (i.e. beyond housing) should also be raised amongst other key organisations, along with the evidence of the WIRE's work with clients. Details: London, UK: The Social Innovation Partnership, 2012. 31p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed January 16, 2019 at: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/Support%20for%20vulnerable%20women%20leaving%20prison%20full%20report.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk/misc/Support%20for%20vulnerable%20women%20leaving%20prison%20full%20report.pdf Shelf Number: 154216 Keywords: DesistanceEx-OffendersFemale OffendersGenderHousingPost ConvictionPrisonerPrisoner-Release ProgramsPrisonsReoffendingResettlementWomen Offenders |
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: ImprisonmentIncarcerationIndeterminate SentencingLong-Term SentencingPrison ReformPrisonersPrisonsSafetySentencing |
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 CorrectionsInmate PopulationJustice ReinvestmentPrison ReformPrisonersPrisons |
Author: Highsmith, Brian Title: Commercialized (In)Justice: Consumer Abuses in the Bail and Corrections Industry Summary: This National Consumer Law Center report examines the growing problem of consumer abuses by private companies profiting from the U.S. criminal legal system and mass incarceration, disproportionately affecting people of color and low-income people, and makes recommendations for reform. This report discusses the growing problem of "commercialized injustice"-consumer abuses perpetuated by companies profiting from the criminal legal system and mass incarceration. Although not always visible to people who do not live in heavily-policed communities or who are protected by other forms of privilege, the scale of private industry's involvement in the contemporary criminal legal system is staggering. These companies provide a wide range of products and services, and operate in various relationships with the government. Some contract directly with governments (e.g., private probation and prison phone services). Others sell directly to consumers, but under specific authority to administer criminal legal functions (e.g., commercial bail and certain rehabilitation and diversion programs). And others simply profit from the contours of our modern criminal legal system (e.g., pre-arrest diversion programs that contract with private retailers). The expanding reach of the modern corrections industry represents the intersection of two troubling trends: (1) the outsourcing of the criminal legal system to the private sector, exemplified by the growth of the private prison industry; and (2) the imposition of fines and fees on mostly low-income defendants to fund the criminal legal system. States and local governments are outsourcing various core functions of their criminal legal systems-traditionally public services-to private corporations operating to maximize profit for their owners. At the same time, they have sought to shift the cost of operating the criminal legal system onto those who have contact with the system and their loved ones, particularly through the assessment of fines and fees on those accused of criminal activity. The corrections industry's growth exacerbates these trends, combining the conflicts of interest endemic in so-called "user-funded" financing structures with the lack of public accountability that advocates have long criticized in the private prison context. Every industry discussed in this report shares this common feature: each profits from financial extractions from individuals based on their exposure to the criminal legal system. The growth of the corrections industry accelerates the trend whereby the costs of our legal system are imposed on low-income, disadvantaged communities least able to shoulder such burdens, rather than shared as a collective public responsibility. The corrections industry operates for the primary purpose of maximizing profits for its owners-creating strong incentives to achieve new forms of monetary extraction in addition to shifting the burden of existing costs. Details: Boston: National Consumer Law Center, 2019. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed April 18, 2019 at: https://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/criminal-justice/report-commercialized-injustice.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: https://www.nclc.org/images/pdf/criminal-justice/report-commercialized-injustice.pdf Shelf Number: 155462 Keywords: Bail IndustryConsumer AbusesCorrectionsPrisonsPrivate IndustryPrivate Legal SystemPrivate PrisonsPrivatization |
Author: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority Title: Entrepreneurship for the Formerly Incarcerated: A Process Evaluation of the Pathway to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC) Program Summary: Each year, over 25,000 individuals are released from Illinois prisons and nearly half of them end up returning to prison within three years (Illinois Sentencing Policy Advisory Council, 2015; The Illinois Department of Corrections, 2018). Reentry entrepreneurship training programs have been implemented as one way to reduce recidivism and improve the economic stability of men and women returning to the community from jails and prisons. Entrepreneurship training programs were developed to help overcome barriers inherent in traditional reentry workforce development programs and services such as lack of education, work experience, qualifications, opportunities, and discrimination (The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2016). Some programs provide the opportunity for small loans to help fund new entrepreneurs. The body of previous research is small, but there is some support that entrepreneurship programs may be a way to help improve outcomes for formerly incarcerated individuals (Johnson, Wubbenhorst, & Schroeder, 2013; Keena & Simmons, 2015; Klein & Mohan, 2017). Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) researchers conducted an evaluation of Pathway to Enterprise for Returning Citizens (PERC). PERC offers classroom training on entrepreneurship and business, mentoring, and the opportunity to obtain a loan to start a business to individuals recently released from prison and living in Chicago neighborhoods. PERC is a collaboration between the Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives Micro Finance Group (CNIMFG), ICJIA, Illinois Department of Corrections (IDOC), several community-based nonprofit training organizations, and multiple private funders. The goals of PERC are to increase employment and self-sufficiency of returning citizens; decrease recidivism; and produce businesses that operate for two or more years. ICJIA researchers completed a process evaluation examining program planning and development in the first six months of the program by using multiple methods of data collection. The evaluation of the PERC program focused on individuals that applied for PERC in Winter 2017 and completed training in Spring/Summer of 2018. The research attempted to answer the following research questions about PERC: -Who were the applicants and participants of the program? -How did the program operate in its first six months? -What did the stakeholders, training staff, and participants think of the program? -To what extent did participants learn entrepreneurship skills? Details: Chicago, Illinois: Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, 2019. 80p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 28, 2019 at: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/assets/articles/Entrepreneurship%20for%20the%20Formerly%20Incarcerated%20-%20A%20Process%20Evaluation%20of%20PERC.pdf Year: 2019 Country: United States URL: http://www.icjia.state.il.us/articles/entrepreneurship-for-the-formerly-incarcerated Shelf Number: 156590 Keywords: EvaluationJailsPrisonsRecidivismReentryReturning Citizens |
Author: Martinez d'Aubuisson, Juan Jose Title: Where Chaos Reigns: Inside the Sula Prison Summary: In San Pedro Sula's jailhouse, chaos reigns. The inmates, trapped in their collective misery, battle for control over every inch of their tight quarters. Farm animals and guard dogs roam free and feed off scraps, which can include a human heart. Every day is visitors' day, and the economy bustles with everything from chicken stands to men who can build customized jail cells. Here you can find a party stocked with champagne and live music. But you can also find an inmate hacked to pieces. Those who guard these quarters are also those who get rich selling air-conditioned rooms, and those who pay the consequences if they get too greedy. That's how inmates live, on their own virtual island free from government interference, in the San Pedro Sula prison. Details: S.L.: InSight Crime, 2017. 18p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 19, 2019 at: https://www.insightcrime.org/investigations/where-chaos-reigns-inside-the-san-pedro-sula-prison/ Year: 2017 Country: Honduras URL: https://www.insightcrime.org/investigations/where-chaos-reigns-inside-the-san-pedro-sula-prison/ Shelf Number: 156819 Keywords: Honduras Inmates Jail Prison Conditions Prison Population Prisons |