Situational Crime Prevention in Correctional Facilities

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1 Situational Crime Prevention in Correctional Facilities Richard Wortley School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Griffith University Brisbane Australia

2 Overview What is situational prevention? Situational analysis of prison disorder What works? Examining the literature A general model of situational prevention in prison Case Study: HM Prison Glen Parva Conclusions

3 What is situational prevention? All behaviour is a result of person and situation The potential to commit crime is widely distributed in the community A great deal of crime is opportunistic Even planned crime is governed by situational factors Crime is not a random event We can t change offenders but we can change situations We can use an understanding of crime patterns to detect and prevent crime

4 Situational Analysis of Prison Disorder Traditional focus on: Dangerous prisoners person-centred Dangerous institutions macro approach Tightening-up target hardening Responding to crises reactive Situational focus on: Disorder events behaviour-specific Specific dynamics micro-analysis Causes not just target hardening Problem-solving approach what, where, when, why?

5 What? breaking down disorder assaults rape self harm escapes drug use collective disorder vandalism theft further breakdowns assaults against prisoners vs against staff assaults with weapons vs without weapons

6 Where? Areas of poor surveillance shared cells (assaults) single cells (self-harm) showers (sexual assault) Areas where prisoners congregate/unstructured activity recreation areas (assaults) dining rooms (assaults, riots) queues (assaults) Not in areas of supervised activity classrooms workshops

7 When? time of day change of shift (assaults) prisoner movements (staff assaults, riots) night (self-harm) day of week weekends (drug use, self-harm) time of year summer (assaults) winter (escapes)

8 Why? escapes bad news from home fear assaults boredom disputes over resources (eg television) theft (eg phone cards) vandalism lack of environmental control rioting grievances

9 What Works? Examining the Literature Few specific situational studies Many quasi-situational

10 Prisoner-prisoner assaults single cells partitioned dormitories lockable cupboards unit management air conditioning reduced crowding reduced turnover age-heterogeneity educational/work programs ratio non-custodial parole provisions

11 Prisoner-staff staff assaults unit management reduce crowding age heterogeneity staff experience staff training female staff security crackdowns supporting staff authority matching staff/inmate racial composition education/work programs

12 Sexual assaults single cells unit management racial balance gender mixed conjugal visits/leave institutional protocols mandatory reporting/prosecution policing consensual sexual activity teaching avoidance strategies segregating vulnerable prisoners

13 Self-harm double bunking eliminating hanging points, dangerous fittings etc removing dangerous possessions improving view into cells surveillance protocols de-institutionalising cells unit management reduce crowding age heterogeneity reduce prisoner turnover education/work programs

14 Drug use perimeter security rapid prisoner turnover drug testing prisoners searching/testing staff tightening visits (no gifts, greater surveillance, ID checks, searching, restrict physical contact etc) drug detection technology drug dogs monitoring prisoner accounts substance free zones

15 Escapes improved perimeter security reduce crowding graduated security structured regime publicise risks/punishments respond to protection requests education/work programs pastoral care compassionate visits

16 Riots unit management new/well-maintained facilities security firebreaks small prisons reduced crowding racial balance staff experience staff-prisoner relations security protocols humane prison conditions grievance mechanisms

17 A General Model of Situational Prevention in Prison Precipitators versus opportunities Tightening-up versus Loosening-off off Hard and soft control

18 Precipitation Control Controlling Prompts Controlling triggers Weapons effect Controlling Pressures Reducing inappropriate conformity Dispersing gangs Reducing Permissibility Rule setting Unit inductions Reducing Provocations Reducing frustration Personal controls Providing reminders Warning signs Reducing inappropriate imitation Guards as exemplars Setting positive expectations Domestic prison furniture Reducing inappropriate obedience Support whistleblowers Encouraging compliance Participation in rule making Reducing anonymity Smaller prisons Clarifying responsibility Ownership of living areas Clarifying consequences Sense of community Personalising victims Humane prisons Reducing crowding Use of colour etc Respecting territory Privacy rooms Controlling environmental irritants Air conditioning

19 Opportunity Reduction Increasing perceived effort Target hardening Vandal-proof furnishings Increasing perceived risks Exit-entry screening Screening visitors Reducing anticipated rewards Target removal Restrict personal property Increasing anticipated punishments Increasing costs Non-replacement of vandalised property Access control Control gates Formal surveillance CCTV Identifying property Property marking Removing privileges Denial of parole Deflecting offenders Staggered release Surveillance by employees Civilian staff Reducing temptation Single cells Increasing social condemnation Unit meetings Controlling facilitators Plastic cutlery Natural surveillance Double-bunking Denying benefits Phone PINs Making an example Publicising punishments

20 Counterproductive control Hard and soft approaches often contradictory getting balance right - fair but firm A thought experiment Design a prison cell that would remove all opportunities for a prisoner to self harm Now design a prison cell that would guarantee that a prisoner would want to self harm

21 Precipitation control successful Crime prevented unsuccessful Opportunity reduction unsuccessful successful Crime prevented counterproductive counterproductive Crime performed

22 Examples of tensions: Vandal-proof versus domestic furnishing Direct versus indirect supervision Female versus male officers Consensus versus authority

23 Case Study: HM Prison Glen Parva Young Offenders Institution, Leicester UK 13 units, 780 prisoners 1997 unannounced visit by Inspector of Prisons High levels of bullying, self harm, etc High levels of use of force by staff So dissatisfied inspections increased Problem solving approach by management 3 cases studies

24 1. Noise pollution Problem: Prisoners in units near boundary shouting from windows, complaints/fines Intervention: Noise monitors on fence line In-cell televisions Results: Complaints stopped Reduction in adjudications in target units

25 Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Dec-Feb Mar-May Jun-Aug Sep-Nov Quarter Number of Complaints from Residents Percentage of Cells with TVs installed formal disciplinary procedures introduced noise meter installed Number of Complaints from Residents Proportion of cells with TVs installed

26 Month Number of Adjudications Percentage of Cells w ith TVs Installed Unit 15 Percentage of Cells w ith TVs Installed

27 2. Bullying Problem: hight levels of bullying, especially of new arrivals Interventions: Anti-bullying strategy First night packs TV remote controls Phone PINs Results: Drop in bullying and fear

28 Jan-01 Feb-01 Mar-01 Apr-01 May-01 Jun-01 Jul-01 Aug-01 Sep-01 Oct-01 Nov-01 Dec-01 Jan-02 Feb-02 Mar-02 Apr-02 May-02 Jun-02 Jul-02 Aug-02 Sep-02 Oct-02 Nov-02 Dec-02 Jan-03 Feb-03 Mar-03 Apr-03 May-03 Jun-03 Jul-03 Aug-03 Sep-03 Month Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Number of Prisoners on ABS Monitoring System

29 Disobedien Escape Other Trafficking Violence Willful dama Total

30 70% 60% Percentage of Prisoners 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% Nov-99 Mar-02 Dec-03 Time of Survey called names canteen taken threatened assaulted

31 3. Staff scalding Problem: Prisoners given can of hot water before going to cells, throw over officer Intervention: Plastic thermoses Results: No further incidents

32 Conclusions Potential for quick, cheap and effective interventions Intuitive do not need complicated theory Not a cook book an approach rather than ready-made solutions

33 References Wortley, R. (2002). Situational prison control: Crime prevention in correctional institutions.. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Wortley, R. (2003). Situational crime prevention and prison control. Crime Prevention Studies, 16, Wortley, R., & Summers, L. (2005). Reducing prison disorder through situational prevention: The Glen Parva experience. M.J. Smith & N. Tilley (Eds.), Crime science: New approaches to preventing and detecting crime. Cullompton,, UK: Willan Publishing

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