How to Prevent Prison Violence
- 1
Prisons tend to be tense environments.prison 2 image by Nathalie P from Fotolia.com
Ensure that the prisoners have some level of basic privacy and a place to keep a few possessions safely. Maintain some degree of respect between staff and prisoners. Meet the prisoners' basic needs, including the needs for rest, sleep, food and hygiene. There has to be some measure of human decency in dealings between staff and prisoner, so the prisoner has some stake in maintaining order. - 2). Interview staff carefully, excluding those who would likely be unable to form appropriate and therapeutic relationships with prisoners. Train staff, developing good observation skills and communication skills. Ensure that the prison is not too reliant on overtime, as tired staff are unlikely to be effective.
- 3). Ensue that prisoners have educational opportunities, including anger managment training. Consider work programs within the prison. These measures help to build self-esteem, but also occupy prisoners, preventing boredom, which can lead to aggression.
- 4). Include outlets for physical energy in the prisoners' daily routine. This may include a prison farm, garden, sports or a gym. It is important to release pent-up energy, particularly when confinement is a fact of life.
- 5). Attempt to meet the spiritual needs of the prisoners. This can sometimes help a convict to take a new direction in his life. Ministers and chaplains can also provide a neutral person to listen or counsel prisoners.
