Data are presented on the character and distribution of violent incidents in correctional settings. It is suggested that there are subgroups of offenders who are particularly violence-prone in prisons. Preventing prison violence may hinge on how well these offenders are managed in terms of classification and placement across custody settings. The special problems that crowding presents for the management of offender populations are highlighted. Findings on the relationship between crowding, inmate turnover, and violence suggest that efforts should be made to reduce the flow of inmates into and out of institutions. The article concludes with a discussion of implications for correctional policy and practice.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Altman, I. (1978). Crowding: Historical and contemporary trends in crowding research. In A. Baum & Y. M. Epstein (Eds.), Human responses to crowding.Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
2.
Austin, J. (1984). Assessing the new generation of prison classification models.Crime & Delinquency, 29, 561-576.
3.
Bennett, L. (1976). The study of violence in California prisons: A review with policy implications. In A. K. Cohen, G. F. Cole, & R. G. Bailey (Eds.), Prison violence.Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath.
4.
Bidna, H. (1975). Effects of increased security on prison violence.Journal of Criminal Justice, 3, 33-46.
5.
Bonta, J. , & Nanckivell, G. (1980). Institutional misconducts and anxiety levels among jailed inmates.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 7, 203-214.
6.
Bowker, L. H. (1980). Prison victimization.New York: Elsevier.
7.
Clayton, O. , & Carr, T. (1985). The effects of prison crowding upon infraction rates.Criminal Justice Review, 10, 69-77.
8.
Clements, C. B. (1979). Crowded prisons: A review of psychological and environmental effects.Law and Human Behavior, 3, 217-225.
9.
Clements, C. B. (1982). The relationship of offender classification to the problem of prison overcrowding.Crime & Delinquency, 28, 72-81.
10.
Cohen, A. K. , Cole, G. F., & Bailey, R. G. (Eds.). (1976). Prison violence.Lexington, MA: D. C. Heath.
11.
Cox, V. C. , Paulus, P. B., & McCain, G. (1984). Prison crowding research: The relevance of prison housing standards and a general approach regarding crowding phenomena.American Psychologist, 39, 1148-1160.
12.
D'Atri, D. A. , Fitzgerald, E. F., Kasl, S. V., & Ostfeld, A. M. (1981). Crowding in prison: The relationship between changes in housing mode and blood pressure.Psychosomatic Medicine, 43, 95-105.
13.
Ekland-Olson, S. , Barrick, D., & Cohen, E. (1983). Prison overcrowding and disciplinary problems: An analysis of the Texas prison system.Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 19, 163-176.
14.
Ellis, D. (1984). Crowding and prison violence: Integration of research and theory.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 11, 277-308.
15.
Ellis, D. , Grasmick, H., & Gilman, B. (1974). Violence in prisons: A sociological analysis.American Journal of Sociology, 80, 16-34.
16.
Farrington, D. P. , & Nuttall, C. P. (1980). Prison size, overcrowding, prison violence, and recidivism.Journal of Criminal Justice, 8, 221-231.
17.
Feld, B. C. (1977). Neutralizing inmate violence: Juvenile offenders in institutions.Cambridge, MA: Ballinger.
18.
Flanagan, T. J. (1980). Time served and institutional misconduct: Patterns of involvement in disciplinary infractions among long-term and short-term inmates.Journal of Criminal Justice, 8, 357-367.
19.
Flanagan, T. J. (1983). Correlates of institutional misconduct among state prisoners.Criminology, 21, 29-39.
20.
Gaes, G. G. , & McGuire, W. J. (1985). Prison violence: The contribution of crowding versus other determinants of prison assault rates.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 22, 41-65.
21.
Gibbs, J. (1981). Violence in prisons: Its extent, nature and consequences. In R. R. Roberg & V. J. Webb (Eds.), Critical issues in corrections.New York: West.
22.
Irwin, J. (1980). Prisons in turmoil.Toronto: Little, Brown.
23.
Jan, L. J. (1980). Overcrowding and inmate behavior: Some preliminary findings.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 7, 283-290.
24.
Johnson, R. , & Price, S. (1981). The complete correctional officer: Human service and the human environment of prison.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 8, 343-373.
25.
Johnson, R. , & Toch, H. (Eds.). (1982). The pains of imprisonment.Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
26.
Levinson, R. , & Kitchener, H. (1966). Treatment of delinquents: Comparisons of four methods of assigning inmates to counselors.Journal of Consulting Psychology, 30, 364.
27.
Lion, J. R. , & Reid W. H. (Eds.). (1983). Assaults within psychiatric facilities.New York: Grune & Stratton.
28.
Myers, L. , & Levy, G. (1978). Description and prediction of the intractable inmate.Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 15, 214-228.
29.
Nacci, P. L. , Teitelbaum, H. E., & Prather, J. (1977). Population density and inmate misconduct rates in the federal prison system.Federal Probation, 41, 26-31.
30.
National Institute of Justice. (1980). American prisons and jails: Summary and policy implications of a national survey (Vols. 1-4). Washington, DC: Author.
31.
Paulus, P. B. (1980). Crowding. In P. B. Paulus (Ed.), Psychology of group influence (pp. 245-290). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
32.
Paulus, P. B. , McCain, G., & Cox, V. C. (1978). Death rates, psychiatric commitments, blood pressure and perceived crowding as a function of institutional crowding.Environmental Psychology and Nonverbal Behavior, 3, 107-116.
33.
Porporino, F. J. , & Dudley, K. (1984). An analysis of the effects of overcrowding in Canadian penitentiaries (Report No. 1984-6). Ottawa: Programs Branch, Ministry of the Solicitor General of Canada.
34.
Porporino, F. J. , & Marton, J. P. (1984). Strategies to reduce prison violence (Report No. 1984-14). Ottawa: Programs Branch, Ministry of the Solicitor General of Canada.
35.
Quinsey, V. L. , & Varney, G. W. (1978). Characteristics of assaults and assaluters in a maximum security psychiatric unit.Crime & Justice, 5, 212-220.
36.
Scharf, P. (1983). Empty bars: Violence and the crisis of meaning in the prison.The Prison Journal, 53, 114-124.
37.
Skelton, D. (1964). Prison riot: Assaulters vs. defenders.Archives of General Psychiatry, 21, 359-362.
38.
Stokols, D. (1976). The experience of crowding in primary and secondary environments.Environment and Behavior, 8, 49-86.
39.
Sylvester, S. , Reed, J., & Nelson, D. (1977). Prison homicide.New York: Spectrum.
40.
Toch, H. (1969). Violent men: An inquiry into the psychology of violence.Chicago: Aldine.
41.
Toch, H. (1975). Men in crisis: Human breakdowns in prison.Chicago: Aldine.
42.
Toch, H. (1977). Living in prison: The ecology of survival.New York: Macmillan.
43.
Williamson, H. E. , & Thomas, T. K. (1984). Prison misconduct among life-without-parole inmates. Paper presented at the meeting of Academy of Criminal Justice Sciences, Chicago.
44.
Zamble, E. , Porporino, F. J., & Kalotay, J. (1984). An analysis of coping behavior in prison inmates (Report No. 1984-77). Ottawa: Programs Branch, Ministry of the Solicitor General of Canada.
