Prison Management

Chapter 8

Formal Organizations

Compliance-how someone behaves in accordance with an order/directive

Remunerative power- material resources used in exchange for compliance

Normative power- symbolic rewards

Coercive power- controls a person’s life

Formal Organizations

Confinement Model for inmates Keep them in

Keep them safe

Keep them in line

Keep them healthy

Keep them busy

Formal Organizations

The Organizational Structure

Concepts of organization-hierarchy of staff positions Unity of command Chain of command Span of control Line personnel Staff personnel

Formal Organizations

Formal Organization of a Prison for Adult Felons

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Formal Organizations

The Impact of the Structure Custody

Warden Guards Discipline

Rehabilitation Collaborative model

Prison Staff

Prison staff—conflict can evolve between different groups of personnel and between inmates and staff

Institutional managers Wardens responsible for prison operations Deputy warden responsible for housekeeping

tasks

Prison Staff

Correctional officers Graded ranks—captain, lieutenant, officer Pay differentials, job titles Chain of command Preservice training programs for officers

Prison Staff

Program personnel Educational, vocational, and treatment programs

Agricultural and industrial supervisors Supervised programs Strict custodial hierarchy

Governing Prisons

Inmate Balance Theory- maintaining order and preventing collective violence Shared authority

Administrative Control Theory Sound and firm management Order Amenity Service

Discussion Question

Ask students to discuss the hierarchy of command in a prison setting and the possible issues which could result in this chain of command.

Governing Prisons

The Defects of Total Power Correctional institutions must be run humanely Prisoners are not always motivated to cooperate Force is inefficient

Ratio of inmates to staff

Governing Prisons

Rewards and Punishments

Reward compliance

Choice job assignments

Honor units

Favorable parole reports

Punish rule violations

Governing Prisons

Gaining Cooperation: Exchange Relationships Tolerate minor rule infractions for compliance

on major rules Assumptions underlying office to inmate

relationships Negotiations are central to prison control Informal rules respected by all parties Some rule violations do not merit officer attention

Governing Prisons

Inmate Leadership

Discipline of Prisoners (withholding privileges, erasing good time credit, placing inmates in the “hole”)

The disciplinary process– verbal reprimand or ticket

Sanctions—segregation, loss of privileges, loss of good time credit

Discussion Question

What are the possible repercussions of “inmate leadership?” Are there any positives with the program?

Governing Prisons

Leadership: The Crucial Element of Governance In particular, management is successful when

prison directors Are in office long enough to learn the job Project an appealing image to a wide range of

people Are dedicated and loyal to the department Are highly hands-on and proactive

Violence in Prison

Violence and Inmate Characteristics

Age

Attitudes

Race

AP Images/SEVANS

Violence in Prison

Prisoner–Prisoner Violence Prison gangs (racial/ethnic) Identify members, segregate housing and work

assignments, no contact visits, etc. Protective custody- special management Prison rape- Prison Rape Elimination Act

Perpetrators Victims

Violence in Prison

Victims of rape tend to be: First time, non-violent offenders Crime against a minor Physically weak Effeminate inmates Not affiliated with a gang Snitches

Discussion Question

Ask students to discuss the reality of prison rape. If statistics show that these 5 groups are the most likely to be victimized, how come more steps are not being taken to protect them? Furthermore, what steps could be taken to protect them?

Violence in Prison

Prisoner–Officer Violence Situations requiring use of physical force

Breaking up a fight Moving a prisoner to segregation

Unexpected attacks Missile thrown from an upper tier Verbal threats or taunts “Accidental” fall

Violence in Prison

Officer–Prisoner Violence

“Goon squads”

Gladiator days at Corcoran

Violence in Prison

Decreasing Prison Violence The effect of architecture and size The role of management

Improve classification Create opportunities Increase size, diversity, and training of staff Redesign facilities Install grievance mechanisms Augment reward system