The "Psychosocial Stress" of Prison Overcrowding
"Time spent in a crowded prison environment continues to have a negative
impact on inmates after their release, contributing to parole
violations, according to a study published by the nonprofit advocacy
organization PLOS (Public Library of Science). The study, entitled 'Does
Prison Crowding Predict Higher Rates of Substance Use Related Parole
Violations? A Recurrent Events Multi-Level Survival Analysis,' is based on data collected in 2003 and 2004 from 13,070 California parolees.
'If crowding does increase a prisoner's risk of recidivism, this
could be explained by the psychosocial stress associated with adverse
prison conditions, which may exacerbate decision-making problems (e.g.,
impulsivity) and problem behaviors (e.g., drug use, aggression) in
prison populations,' write authors Michael A. Ruderman , Deirdra F.
Wilson and Savanna Reid. 'The high prevalence of substance use disorder
(SUD) in prison populations may also be a factor in the high rates of
drug-related recidivism seen among California parolees.'
The rates of parole violations were 2.28 to 2.77 times greater for
parolees from highly crowded prisons compared to those from prisons with
low levels of crowding, the authors write. They conclude that further
research is needed to determine whether prison crowding is associated
with recidivism and drug use in particular."
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Showing posts with label prison overcrowding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prison overcrowding. Show all posts
B.C.'s Overcrowded Prisons Endanger Inmates and Staff, Auditor-General Says
"British Columbia’s overcrowded prisons
endanger both inmates and staff, and a number of core programs designed
to keep prisoners from reoffending have failed, according to a new
report by the province’s Auditor-General.
The
findings from Carol Bellringer’s audit of provincial adult custody
facilities, released Tuesday, echo the calls by the union representing
British Columbia’s correctional officers, which has long voiced concerns
about the dangerous conditions brought on by overcrowding.
In 2013/2014, nearly 16,000 people were
admitted into B.C. correctional centres, divided about equally between
those who were sentenced and those awaiting trial or sentencing.
Population growth and the closing of 10 provincial facilities in 2002
contributed to 'extensive double-bunking in cells'– almost all of which
were designed for single occupancy, the audit found....
'Prison
overcrowding increases risk to both inmates and staff and contributes
to the potential for conflict,' Ms. Bellringer said in a media
conference call after the release of her report.
'Although
the adult custody division inspects, assesses risk and monitors and
reviews critical incidents regularly, it cannot demonstrate whether
operating its prisons at these capacity levels provides for safe
custody.'
Safety and security incidents have nearly doubled in the past five years, she noted."
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Warehousing Prisoners in Saskatchewan: A Public Health Approach
"In the U.S. `warehouse prisons,`where activities, programming, and mobility have been deemphasized and prisoners are merely stored like objects to serve out their sentences, are increasingly becoming the norm. While we may think of prison warehousing as a uniquely American problem, it is increasingly emblematic of the Canadian experience as well. Warehousing Prisoners in Saskatchewan: A Public Health Approach, by Dr. Jason Demers, illustrates how Saskatchewan boasts one of the most highly strained provincial prison systems in the country. Saskatchewan prisons currently house almost twice as many inmates as they were designed for.` To accommodate this crisis, classrooms, gymnasiums, workshops, and visiting rooms are being converted into dormitories, and most of the province`s cells are being double bunked - with triple-bunking a distinct possibility in the future. The effects of this overcrowding on the living conditions of the inmates in these institutions are alarming. Through a series of interviews with government officials, prison justice advocates, former inmates and their families, Dr. Demers documents a series of troubling findings due to overcrowding in SK prisons, and concludes the report with a summary of recommendations that could reverse the further deterioration of the provincial prison system."
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"In the U.S. `warehouse prisons,`where activities, programming, and mobility have been deemphasized and prisoners are merely stored like objects to serve out their sentences, are increasingly becoming the norm. While we may think of prison warehousing as a uniquely American problem, it is increasingly emblematic of the Canadian experience as well. Warehousing Prisoners in Saskatchewan: A Public Health Approach, by Dr. Jason Demers, illustrates how Saskatchewan boasts one of the most highly strained provincial prison systems in the country. Saskatchewan prisons currently house almost twice as many inmates as they were designed for.` To accommodate this crisis, classrooms, gymnasiums, workshops, and visiting rooms are being converted into dormitories, and most of the province`s cells are being double bunked - with triple-bunking a distinct possibility in the future. The effects of this overcrowding on the living conditions of the inmates in these institutions are alarming. Through a series of interviews with government officials, prison justice advocates, former inmates and their families, Dr. Demers documents a series of troubling findings due to overcrowding in SK prisons, and concludes the report with a summary of recommendations that could reverse the further deterioration of the provincial prison system."
View the Report
In
the U.S., “warehouse prisons,” where activities, programming, and
mobility have been deemphasized and prisoners are merely stored like
objects to serve out their sentences, are increasingly becoming the
norm. While we may think of prison warehousing as a uniquely American
problem, it is increasingly emblematic of the Canadian experience as
well. Warehousing Prisoners in Saskatchewan: A Public Health Approach, by
Dr. Jason Demers, illustrates how Saskatchewan boasts one of the most
highly strained provincial prison systems in the country. Saskatchewan
prisons currently house “almost twice as many inmates as they were
designed for.” To accommodate this crisis, classrooms, gymnasiums,
workshops, and visiting rooms are being converted into dormitories, and
most of the province’s cells are being double bunked - with
triple-bunking a distinct possibility in the future. The effects of this
overcrowding on the living conditions of the inmates in these
institutions are alarming. Through a series of interviews with
government officials, prison justice advocates, former inmates and their
families, Dr. Demers documents a series of troubling findings due to
overcrowding in SK prisons, and concludes the report with a summary of
recommendations that could reverse the further deterioration of the
provincial prison system. - See more at:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/warehousing-prisoners-saskatchewan#sthash.LBdWUm1E.dpuf
In
the U.S., “warehouse prisons,” where activities, programming, and
mobility have been deemphasized and prisoners are merely stored like
objects to serve out their sentences, are increasingly becoming the
norm. While we may think of prison warehousing as a uniquely American
problem, it is increasingly emblematic of the Canadian experience as
well. Warehousing Prisoners in Saskatchewan: A Public Health Approach, by
Dr. Jason Demers, illustrates how Saskatchewan boasts one of the most
highly strained provincial prison systems in the country. Saskatchewan
prisons currently house “almost twice as many inmates as they were
designed for.” To accommodate this crisis, classrooms, gymnasiums,
workshops, and visiting rooms are being converted into dormitories, and
most of the province’s cells are being double bunked - with
triple-bunking a distinct possibility in the future. The effects of this
overcrowding on the living conditions of the inmates in these
institutions are alarming. Through a series of interviews with
government officials, prison justice advocates, former inmates and their
families, Dr. Demers documents a series of troubling findings due to
overcrowding in SK prisons, and concludes the report with a summary of
recommendations that could reverse the further deterioration of the
provincial prison system. - See more at:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/warehousing-prisoners-saskatchewan#sthash.LBdWUm1E.dpuf
In
the U.S., “warehouse prisons,” where activities, programming, and
mobility have been deemphasized and prisoners are merely stored like
objects to serve out their sentences, are increasingly becoming the
norm. While we may think of prison warehousing as a uniquely American
problem, it is increasingly emblematic of the Canadian experience as
well. Warehousing Prisoners in Saskatchewan: A Public Health Approach, by
Dr. Jason Demers, illustrates how Saskatchewan boasts one of the most
highly strained provincial prison systems in the country. Saskatchewan
prisons currently house “almost twice as many inmates as they were
designed for.” To accommodate this crisis, classrooms, gymnasiums,
workshops, and visiting rooms are being converted into dormitories, and
most of the province’s cells are being double bunked - with
triple-bunking a distinct possibility in the future. The effects of this
overcrowding on the living conditions of the inmates in these
institutions are alarming. Through a series of interviews with
government officials, prison justice advocates, former inmates and their
families, Dr. Demers documents a series of troubling findings due to
overcrowding in SK prisons, and concludes the report with a summary of
recommendations that could reverse the further deterioration of the
provincial prison system. - See more at:
https://www.policyalternatives.ca/publications/reports/warehousing-prisoners-saskatchewan#sthash.LBdWUm1E.dpuf
5 Ways California Can Imprison Fewer People
In 2009, overcrowding in California’s prisons had gotten so bad—140,000 inmates crammed into prisons built to house just 80,000—that federal judges ruled it violated prisoners’ civil rights. Under order to reduce the state’s prison population, Governor Brown introduced realignment in 2011, a plan to send nonviolent inmates to county jails and probation departments rather than prison.
In 2009, overcrowding in California’s prisons had gotten so bad—140,000 inmates crammed into prisons built to house just 80,000—that federal judges ruled it violated prisoners’ civil rights. Under order to reduce the state’s prison population, Governor Brown introduced realignment in 2011, a plan to send nonviolent inmates to county jails and probation departments rather than prison.
Prison and Corrections
When Wilderness Boot Camps Take Tough Love Too Far
Troubled teens are occasionally sent to corrective outdoor programs, where they hike for days or perform manual labor. But some parents are saying the physical exertion verges on abuse.
Grayling's Privatisation System Comes Apart At The Seams
One day, two more failures of privatisation in the prison system. Yesterday, the prison inspector's report on Doncaster prison, which is run by Serco under a 'payment by results' system, found levels of violence were four times above the norm. Then A4e announced it was scrapping its contract to provide education in London prisons. Both provide telling examples of how the profit motive fails to provide effective services in criminal justice.
A Presumption Against Imprisonment: Social Order And Social Values
This report looks at the issues of crime and punishment, and why we seem unable to reduce our reliance on imprisonment. The study explores the reasons behind the high prison population in the UK, as well as offering contributions to the ongoing debate about why and how we should try to reduce both the number of people we imprison, and the length of time for which many are imprisoned.
Out Of Prison, But No Place To Go
Many of the roughly 10,000 inmates who exit U.S. prisons each week face an immediate critical question: Where will I live?
While precise numbers are hard to come by, research suggests that, on average, about 10 percent of parolees are homeless immediately following their release. In large urban areas, and among those addicted to drugs, the number is even higher — exceeding 30 percent.
When Wilderness Boot Camps Take Tough Love Too Far
Troubled teens are occasionally sent to corrective outdoor programs, where they hike for days or perform manual labor. But some parents are saying the physical exertion verges on abuse.
Grayling's Privatisation System Comes Apart At The Seams
One day, two more failures of privatisation in the prison system. Yesterday, the prison inspector's report on Doncaster prison, which is run by Serco under a 'payment by results' system, found levels of violence were four times above the norm. Then A4e announced it was scrapping its contract to provide education in London prisons. Both provide telling examples of how the profit motive fails to provide effective services in criminal justice.
A Presumption Against Imprisonment: Social Order And Social Values
This report looks at the issues of crime and punishment, and why we seem unable to reduce our reliance on imprisonment. The study explores the reasons behind the high prison population in the UK, as well as offering contributions to the ongoing debate about why and how we should try to reduce both the number of people we imprison, and the length of time for which many are imprisoned.
Out Of Prison, But No Place To Go
Many of the roughly 10,000 inmates who exit U.S. prisons each week face an immediate critical question: Where will I live?
While precise numbers are hard to come by, research suggests that, on average, about 10 percent of parolees are homeless immediately following their release. In large urban areas, and among those addicted to drugs, the number is even higher — exceeding 30 percent.
Britain's prison overcrowding crisis surges 'close to the brink'
The country is on the verge of its worst prison
overcrowding crisis since 2008, leaving the Justice Secretary, Chris
Grayling, fighting for his political future.
Mr Grayling has quietly sanctioned emergency measures, after it emerged that there were only 265 free spaces left out of an 85,800 capacity across the England and Wales prison estate. This is the most crowded that prisons have been since the coalition took power nearly four years ago.
To avert the crisis, privately run prisons will be paid to cram more inmates into their cells. The managers of these 14 private sector prisons include Serco and G4S, the companies at the centre of a scandal last summer, when the Ministry of Justice was billed for the monitoring of non-existent electronic tags.
Read on...
Mr Grayling has quietly sanctioned emergency measures, after it emerged that there were only 265 free spaces left out of an 85,800 capacity across the England and Wales prison estate. This is the most crowded that prisons have been since the coalition took power nearly four years ago.
To avert the crisis, privately run prisons will be paid to cram more inmates into their cells. The managers of these 14 private sector prisons include Serco and G4S, the companies at the centre of a scandal last summer, when the Ministry of Justice was billed for the monitoring of non-existent electronic tags.
Read on...
Forecasting Rise In Inmate Population, Florida May Re-Open Nine Prison Facilities
Last year, Florida did what many other states did to save money in a tight budget. They closed prisons and other correctional facilities. But unlike other states that implemented “smart on crime” reforms, Florida didn’t change the laws that imprison most people in the first place.
So the closures didn’t stick. Now, with projected increases in its prison population over the next two years, the state’s Department of Corrections is seeking to re-open nine corrections facilities, including two prisons, two re-entry centers, and five work camps. Work camps are minimum to medium-security facilities where inmates are transferred to complete their sentences while performing work assignments for the prison or community.
Although Florida’s crime rate is at a 41-year low, the prison population continues to grow, with the largest increase coming from first-time drug offenders ensnared by undercover agents, according to a recent analysis by the state’s accountability office. Among those inmates are John Horner, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for selling some of his own pain pills to an undercover informant who befriended him. A recent analysis by the state’s accountability office called for more use of ligher-security remedies like supervision with GPS monitoring and probation.
Read on...
So the closures didn’t stick. Now, with projected increases in its prison population over the next two years, the state’s Department of Corrections is seeking to re-open nine corrections facilities, including two prisons, two re-entry centers, and five work camps. Work camps are minimum to medium-security facilities where inmates are transferred to complete their sentences while performing work assignments for the prison or community.
Although Florida’s crime rate is at a 41-year low, the prison population continues to grow, with the largest increase coming from first-time drug offenders ensnared by undercover agents, according to a recent analysis by the state’s accountability office. Among those inmates are John Horner, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison for selling some of his own pain pills to an undercover informant who befriended him. A recent analysis by the state’s accountability office called for more use of ligher-security remedies like supervision with GPS monitoring and probation.
Read on...
As Federal Prison Population Spiked 790 Percent, Average Drug Sentences Doubled
The federal prison population has ballooned 790 percent since 1980, and almost half of those now imprisoned
are there for drugs. In the coming years, the Bureau of Prisons
projects that prison overcrowding will get even worse. While federal
prisons are now 35 to 40 percent over capacity capacity, they are
expected by 2023 to reach 55 percent over capacity without a policy
change, according to a new report by the Urban Institute.
The prison population explosion was not driven primarily by a spike in crime, but by a change in punishment. Over a 25-year period, average drug sentences doubled from 38.5 months in 1984 to 74 months in 2011. And over a similar period, the percentage of convicted federal offenders sentenced to prison spiked from 50 percent in 1986 to 90 percent in 2011. Before the passage of several draconian laws that impose mandated harsh sentences and remove judicial discretion, many offenders received probation or a fine for the same violations.
Read on...
The prison population explosion was not driven primarily by a spike in crime, but by a change in punishment. Over a 25-year period, average drug sentences doubled from 38.5 months in 1984 to 74 months in 2011. And over a similar period, the percentage of convicted federal offenders sentenced to prison spiked from 50 percent in 1986 to 90 percent in 2011. Before the passage of several draconian laws that impose mandated harsh sentences and remove judicial discretion, many offenders received probation or a fine for the same violations.
Read on...
For-Profit Prisons Are Big Winners Of California's Overcrowding Crisis
When America's largest private prison company opened a 2,000-bed
facility in a barren stretch of the Mojave Desert in southeastern
California in 1997, there was no guarantee that any inmates would ever
reside there.
California's exceptionally powerful prison guard union was waging a fierce campaign against private prison companies, telling voters that the facilities were poorly run and that the industry would take away union jobs. "Public safety should not be for profit," Don Novey, president of the prison guard union, told the San Francisco Chronicle at the time.
Still, David Myers, the president of Corrections Corporation of America, a Nashville-based giant of the for-profit prison industry, believed his company's decision to build a prison in that remote corner of the state would eventually pay off.
"If we build it, they will come," he predicted.
Read on...
California's exceptionally powerful prison guard union was waging a fierce campaign against private prison companies, telling voters that the facilities were poorly run and that the industry would take away union jobs. "Public safety should not be for profit," Don Novey, president of the prison guard union, told the San Francisco Chronicle at the time.
Still, David Myers, the president of Corrections Corporation of America, a Nashville-based giant of the for-profit prison industry, believed his company's decision to build a prison in that remote corner of the state would eventually pay off.
"If we build it, they will come," he predicted.
Read on...
Sacramento's prison deal
Before the courts lift a deadline on overcrowding, California must show it's serious about reform.
At the heart of the state's latest proposal to comply with a federal court order to reduce the prison population is a plea, yet again, for more time. If the judges say no and stick with their Dec. 31 deadline by which the state must release or find alternative housing for about 9,600 inmates, the deal brokered Monday by Gov. Jerry Brown and Assembly leaders on the one side and Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg on the other will revert to the foolish plan that Brown proposed last month: Spend down the state's hard-won reserve fund by $715 million over the next two years and throw it down what the governor himself has called "the rathole of incarceration" by expanding the prison system with leased public and private cells for excess prisoners.The end-of-year compliance date already represents a six-month reprieve from the original June deadline. The three-judge panel with jurisdiction over the case has rejected pleas for additional stays and has expressed, in barely disguised anger, its impatience with the state's resistance.
Read on...
Overcrowding making life dangerous for workers and inmates in prisons
The people who supervise inmates at Canada’s overcrowded federal
prisons say bulging populations mean less opportunity for
rehabilitation, and they fear a more dangerous breed of convict will be
released back on the streets.
Hundreds of officers of the Correctional Service of Canada are expected to rally Saturday outside Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s constituency office in Calgary to protest what they say are increasingly dangerous conditions inside penitentiaries.
Climbing incarceration rates and a toxic mix of convicts, many of them with gang ties, have made life behind bars more difficult for prisoners and the people who work with them, says Pierre Mallette, the national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.
Mr. Mallette has been on a cross-country tour of federal institutions to learn first hand about the challenges facing his members and says the problems associated with overcrowding top of the list.
Although the national crime rate has been dropping since 1992 and is now at levels not seen since 1972, policies of the federal Conservative government have put more people behind bars.
Read on...
Hundreds of officers of the Correctional Service of Canada are expected to rally Saturday outside Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s constituency office in Calgary to protest what they say are increasingly dangerous conditions inside penitentiaries.
Climbing incarceration rates and a toxic mix of convicts, many of them with gang ties, have made life behind bars more difficult for prisoners and the people who work with them, says Pierre Mallette, the national president of the Union of Canadian Correctional Officers.
Mr. Mallette has been on a cross-country tour of federal institutions to learn first hand about the challenges facing his members and says the problems associated with overcrowding top of the list.
Although the national crime rate has been dropping since 1992 and is now at levels not seen since 1972, policies of the federal Conservative government have put more people behind bars.
Read on...
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