Prisons can be violent places. In fact, they are some of the most violent places. According to the European WHO, as reported by Jens Modvig, “violence in prisons is often clandestine because of the fear of reprisal when it is reported.” Therefore, violence in prisons is oftentimes unreported because prisoners don’t want to come forward with their reports of abuse. “Because violence is not brought into the open, it is easily overlooked or underestimated.” Later on in this article, it is stated that “about 25% of prisoners are victimized by violence each year while 4-5% experience sexual violence and 1-2% are raped.”
Therefore, how could this problem of violence in prisons be better addressed? The NCCHC, or National Commission on Correctional Health Care, has stated that “interpersonal violence (e.g., homicide, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, abuse and neglect of young and old people) continues to be a serious public health problem in the United States.” Therefore, it is not just in prisons where this is the issue. It is also in society. Violence at large also is an epidemic for young populations in America. “Homicide remains the second leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], n.d.) and the leading cause of death among 15- to 34-year-old Black American males (CDC, 2012).”
How can this violence in prisons be stopped? The Urban Institute has some suggestions. They state that “preventing contraband can greatly reduce violence. Focusing on this issue should also help address staff misconduct, as contraband is often a sign of security breaches. Corrections administrators should adopt a zero tolerance policy regarding staff sexual misconduct and consensual sex between inmates.”
Works Cited:
Modvig, J. “Violence, sexual abuse and torture in prisons.” WHO/Europe, https://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/249193/Prisons-and-Health,-4-Violence,-sexual-abuse-and-torture-in-prisons.pdf.
“Prevention of Violence in Correctional Settings (2013).” National Commission on Correctional Health Care, https://www.ncchc.org/prevention-of-violence-in-correctional-settings-2013/.
La Vigne, N. Debus-Sherrill, S. Brazzell, D. Downey, P.M. “Preventing Violence and Sexual Assault in Jail: A Situational Crime Prevention Approach.” Urban Institute Justice Policy Center, Dec. 2011, https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/26746/412458-Preventing-Violence-and-Sexual-Assault-in-Jail-A-situational-Crime-Prevention-Approach.PDF
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