The issue of inmate riots and disturbances is still urgent for the prison environment in spite of the constant focus on the problem’s causes and on the administration’s preventive actions. The problem is in the fact that it is necessary to concentrate on the particular features of the prison environment’s development because it develops and changes according to the specific rules.
That is why, it is important to focus on the latest research results and approaches to discussing the question of the inmate riots and disturbances. Although there are several categories according to which inmate riots and disturbances are classified, it is possible to work out management policies and preventive actions and techniques which can be successfully used to regulate the prison environment.
The factors which cause inmate riots and disturbances can be divided into three groups. It is important to determine such general factors as the specifics of the prison environment and the antisocial background of prisoners. The second group of factors is associated with the peculiarities of the prison management which can be effective or ineffective to control the development of riots and disturbances.
The third group of factors includes situational factors which are based on the specifics of the prisoners’ interactions with each other (Homel & Thomson, 2005, p. 103). From this point, it is necessary to refer to the figures of leaders among the prisoners who organize the bands and can act against the prison administrators in order to achieve the definite goals which are often connected with changing the conditions of imprisonment.
Thus, the riots or disturbances can be caused by stress affected by the situation of being imprisoned; can be planned to achieve the definite goal and weaken the authority of the prison administrators; can be based on the interpersonal conflicts and certain political or racial issues; and can be provoked in response to the inadequate actions of the prison administrators (Seiter, 2011). That is why, the methods of preventing and regulating the riots and disturbances should be also based on the factor caused the violence.
Prison administrators use a range of actions to control the dynamic prison environment and prevent the violent riots. The main methods are associated with improving the supervision of prisoners and increasing the level of the general security. Moreover, the management style and models used by the staff should fit the major requirements to the staff position because the inadequate staff’s practices as well as excessive restrictions can provoke the further riots and contribute to increasing the level of unrest in prison.
To prevent riots and disturbances, prison administrators can operate the system of rewards for prisoners, intensify the security measures, provide the treatment programs, and guarantee the usage of education and vocational programs (Homel & Thomson, 2005, p. 104). These measures can be successfully used to reduce the development of violence within the prison environment. Furthermore, it is important to control the tendency according to which prisoners are inclined to form bands basing on their background and antisocial experience.
The factors which cause violent inmate riots and disturbances are closely connected with the particular features of the prison environment and with situations because of which people were imprisoned. Moreover, any conflict situation in prison can result in a significant riot. Thus, prison administrators focus on the treatment programs, effective management styles, and security measures in order to prevent the growth of violence in prison.
References
Homel, R., & Thomson, C. (2005). Causes and prevention of violence in prisons. In S. O’Toole & S. Eyland (Eds.), Corrections criminology (pp. 101-108). Sydney: Hawkins Press.
Seiter, R. P. (2011). Corrections: An introduction. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.