Chapter 7

Prison Populations

Size and Nature ofPrison Populations

• Severity of legal sanctions

• General social-demographic trends– Aging of population– Racism, violence

• Poverty– Disease– Mental health

Current U.S. Prison Population

• 2.1 million people in jails/prisons

• 139 imprisoned per 100,000 in 1980

• 470 inmates per 100,000 in 2000– 686 if jails are included

• Highest rate of imprisonment for any industrialized nation

• Impacts unemployment, economy

Prison Inmates

• Male, young, poor

• Minority, urban

• Alcohol and/or drug abusers

• Alcohol more closely linked to violence than ANY other DRUG

• Psychopharmacology and easy access

Offenses of State Prisoners2000

Federal and State Systems

• Federal Prisons – About 10% of U.S. prisoners– Primarily drug offenders, white collar

• State Prisons– More typical “street criminals” – Violent offenses, minor property, drug and

public order offenses

Offenses of Federal Prisoners2000

Race and Imprisonment

• Economic power structure critical to patterns of imprisonment

• Blacks imprisoned eight times as often as whites

• Drug arrests, especially crack, drives up disproportionate minority confinement

• Neglect vs. differential severity of law

HIV-AIDS

• 5 time more HIV-AIDS among inmates

• Southern and northeastern states

• 3.5% of women, 2.2 % of males

• 26% AIDS– most HIV+’s have no symptoms

• Screening for high-risk groups and on request

• Segregation avoided in most cases

Addressing AIDS inCorrectional Populations

• Determine each inmate’s risk behaviors• Inform inmates about testing procedures• Educate ALL inmates especially about

transmission of disease• Educate and counsel to reduce risk

behaviors before and after release• Segregation rarely needed until

symptoms are severe

Causes of Death AmongState Prison Inmates

Tuberculosis

• Affects lungs, other organs

• Spread by coughing in close quarters

• Prisons encourage spread

• Entire course of medication needed to discourage drug-resistant strains

• Often complicated by HIV

Special Needs Offenders

Need more time and/or scrutiny

• Substance abusers

• Sex offenders

• Mentally ill and mentally retarded

• Physically Disabled

• Elderly (over 55)

Aging Inmates

• Long sentences, low tolerance for crime are increasing percent of inmates over 50

• Health care a major financial issue

• Two groups of older inmates:1. Long sentence imposed when young

2. Convicted latter in life (drugs, DWI,sex offenses)

Growth of theAged Prisoner Population

Correctional Classification

• Escape and assault risk critical, time to be served also important– Risk-oriented

• System–wide: Assignment to unit and specific security level

• Institutional: housing, job and program placements with unit

• Past behavior, psychological tests used

Security Levels

• Minimum: most common type of unit– Small units with many jobs, many use barracks

• Medium: most inmates held – Constant observation, cell blocks

• Maximum: often very old units– Inmates cuffed before movement

• Ultra-max or “Super Seg” Units– Complete isolation