In
September 1971, Attica Correctional Facility in New York witnessed one of the
greatest prison riots of all time. In a five-day siege that started on
September 9th, the prisoners revolted, and this rebellion kickstarted many
discussions about the state of the prisons and how riots should be considered a
serious issue. So, what exactly happened on this day more than five decades
ago? This blog article will discuss 5 Interesting And Top Reasons With
Solutions For Prison Riots.
Several months before the dreadful occurrence,
prisoners were getting increasingly angry and frustrated about living conditions
in prison. From being subjected to uncomfortable hygiene situations with
inmates issued a roll of toilet paper for an entire month to food that was an
eyesore to see, much less taste, it was one of the worst prisons at the time,
and it didn't look like anything would change. Eventually, it reportedly graduated
into regular beatings, dehumanizing punishment where inmates seen as rebels
were kept in isolation and stripped naked, infringement on religious rights, and
guards who dragged inmates away at night to face unimaginable horrors. Then,
these rising tensions spilled over, and more than 1300 inmates decided that they
had enough. They took over the prisons, set up camp, took the prison staff as
hostages, and began negotiations with the government to seek better living
conditions in prison.
Unfortunately, this story doesn't have a happy ending. Police officers eventually stormed the prison and killed several inmates and hostages. However, this began conversations about the state of prisons in the United States, and that conversation is still relevant today. This is not the only case of prison riots in history, and with their constant occurrence, it's important to look at why these riots happen in the first place.
Image Source: Pixabay
Some Causes
and Solutions To Prison Riots:
1. Inadequate Prison Services
Prison riots mostly happen due
to a lack of resources all over the world. The primary concerns with prison
food services are quality and quantity. Food is one of the few weapons
available to inmates for making a statement, and food service can impact the
entire prison environment. Poor food is a major cause of prison riots. Balanced
meals should be planned to meet the needs of the average population, with
inmate age, gender, and activity levels considered. Many jails are hiring
full-time cooks to help the food service department run more smoothly. Balanced
food lists must also be provided to inmates on modified diets, though
correctional staff must be aware of inmates attempting to exploit this system
and ensure they are properly managed.
2. Poor Or No Responses To Complaints From Prisoners
Prisoners are like everyone
else; they have the right to lodge complaints with prison authorities and
independent bodies about any aspect of their treatment or conditions in
detention. Effective complaint procedures ensure that detainees' rights are
respected and serve as a critical safeguard against prison ill-treatment. These
mechanisms will take various forms, but they must be accessible, confidential,
impartial, and thorough and provide a prompt response with the option of
appealing. They can benefit everyone in the prison system if they have the
trust and confidence of both staff and detainees.
Image Source: Pixabay
3. Inmates' Racial And Gang Tensions
Often the causes of prison
riots are seemingly simple issues like a fight between inmates and/or deprivation
or loss of certain privileges, so when inmates' grievances are not addressed
properly, prison riots usually break out. In these cases, they resort to
rioting to make their voices heard.
4. Prison Overcrowding
Prison overcrowding happens
when there is inadequate space for prisoners. This issue is not new and has
been brewing for years. A good occurrence explaining prison overcrowding as a
major aid to prison riots was during the United State's war on drugs. Some
states faced issues in resolving prison overcrowding with limited money to
expand. Although offenders are being released to reduce overcrowded prisons, it
is challenging to release offenders if adequate rehabilitation prevents them
from committing another crime. This frequently leads to recidivism among repeat
offenders. Some crimes do not allow for parole, making it mandatory to keep the
inmates in the correctional facility for an extended period, if not life.
However, a great solution to prison overcrowding is for states to strictly
follow federal policies such as mandatory minimum sentences, reducing prisoners'
time behind bars. On the other hand, the Justice Department spends billions of
dollars each year to ensure that state and local law enforcement adheres to the
federal government's policies regarding U.S. prisons.
5. Inmates Do Not Have Access To Desired Programs
Or Activities.
Prison facilities should engage
inmates with a recreational program to maintain or improve their well-being and
state of mind. Recreational activities should be distinct from prison work or
vocational training and include sports or socio-cultural activities. Prison facilities
should have the personnel and appropriate facilities and premises for
organizing and conducting recreational activities. All prisoners, regardless of
gender, sex, age or mental condition, should be able to participate in
recreational activities; they can help to curtail riots in prison. Sports
activities contribute to detainees' physical well-being. They also help
detainees maintain or improve their mental health by reducing stress and
tension. Team sports foster social interaction and should be encouraged.
Sports activities should be
organized in addition to and outside of the periods set aside for daily outdoor
exercise, and this can be accomplished by allowing regular access to a gym and basketball
court. However, prison recreation should not be limited to sports activities.
Image Source: Pixabay
Conclusion
Because prison riots frequently
occur all over the country, they are greatly anticipated. Therefore, a
comprehensive study was found to help curtail the imminent causes of prison
riots. The federal bureau of prisons examined and understood how prison riots
had been resolved and considered strategies for more effectively preparing for,
settling for, and recovering from them at the lowest cost to all parties. Prison
riot prevention programs have proven to be a successful resolution of prison
riots frequently stemming from the same misunderstandings and miscommunications
encountered in everyday life.
References
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/remembering-camp-hill-riot
https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/can-riots-be-prevented
https://app.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.94.010
https://www.themarshallproject.org/records/933-prison-riot