Prison Issues in the Criminal Justice Field

Mock Prison Riot 2010 dates announced

Tom Reid — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:57:00 GMT

The dates for the next Mock Prison Riot, theme: "Where Technology Meets Mayhem", are May 2-5, 2010. http://mockprisonriot.org/MPR/INDEX.ASPX

Registration for participants, exhibitors, observers, and media are now being accepted: http://mockprisonriot.org/MPR/REGISTRATION/ADD.ASPX

You can also participate as a role player: http://mockprisonriot.org/MPR/CUSTOMCONTENT/PUBLICVIEW.ASPX?id=14&moduleid=13

For information regarding EXHIBITORS, SPONSORSHIPS, MEDIA, and VIPs, please contact:

Cindy Barone, Project Manager
888.306.5382
cbarone@mockprisonriot.org

For information regarding LOGISTICS, TEAMS, SCENARIOS, WORKSHOPS, and the SKILLS COMPETITION, please contact:

Sharon Goudy, Project Manager
888-306-5382
sgoudy@mockprisonriot.org

The Mock Prison Riot is a program of the National Institute of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, United States Department of Justice, and an initiative of the West Virginia High Technology Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation.

"Prison Staffing Analysis: A Training Manual" Now Available as Download

Tom Reid — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 14:59:00 GMT

"Prison Staffing Analysis: A Training Manual" (December 2008) developed by the NIC Prisons Division is now available as a download on the NIC website. The link is: http://nicic.org/Library/022667

This manual provides guidance that “will enable an agency staffing administrator to set up an agency staffing analysis unit and produce a staffing analysis report for an entire agency”. Chapters contained in this publication are: introduction -- correctional staffing issues; security staff deployment policy; two models for managing the security staffing function; agency staffing unit; basic tasks of a staffing analysis; orchestrating the staffing analysis; agency and facility characteristics that influence staffing; operations and activities schedules that influence staffing; developing the shift relief factor; security post planning; special guidelines for evaluating housing units; the impact of staff scheduling on staffing; staffing calculations; developing a staffing report; implementing recommendations and monitoring results; staffing considerations for women’s correctional facilities; and staffing considerations for medical and mental health units. Pertinent forms are also included. Accession Number: 022667

Newest BJS Report Now Available - Prisoners in 2007

Sandy Schilling — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 18:10:00 GMT

The new report, Prisoners in 2007, has been released by the Bureau of Justice Statistics. As always, this is the report to access for the most current prison population statistics. You will find numerous tables and grafts pertaining to the 1,598,316 prisoners under state and federal jurisdiction.

New Numbers on State and Federal Correctional Facilities

Eileen Conway — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:42:00 GMT

In releasing the latest Census of State and Federal Correctional Facilities this week, the Bureau of Justice Statistics provides a snapshot of prisons in the United States at the end of 2005. As summarized in the Bureau's announcement, "The report includes data on characteristics of facilities by type, size, security level, rated and design capacities, court orders, and use of private contractors. It provides data on custody populations by type of facility, gender, and facility security level. The report includes data on facility staff by gender, occupational categories, and inmate-to-staff ratios by type of facility. Program data include work activities of inmates inside prison and on work release; educational training such as basic literacy and college courses; and counseling programs such as drug and alcohol dependency and employment interviewing skills. The report compares selected findings to the 2000 census."

Religious Discrimination in Prisons

Sandy Schilling — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:46:00 GMT

The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights conducted a briefing in early 2008 to discuss religious discrimination and prisoner rights. The report, Religious Discrimination in Prisons, includes:

Introductory Remarks by Chairman
Speakers' Presentations
PANEL 1 - Free Exercise of Inmates' Religious Rights vs. Prison Security
PANEL 2 - Free Exercise of Inmates' Religious Rights vs. Church State Separation
Questions by Commissioners and Staff Director
Adjourn Briefing

Parents in Prison and Their Minor Children

Eileen Conway — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:51:00 GMT

In a new Special Report, the Bureau of Justice Statistics presents data regarding Parents in Prison and Their Minor Children from a number of perspectives. Characteristics covered in the report include growth in the number of parents held in state and federal prisons, age of minor children, status of households prior to arrest, and incarceration of other family members of parents.

Crowding at the San Quentin Prison

Sandy Schilling — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:16:00 GMT

Yesterday, National Public Radio's program, All Things Considered, aired San Quentin's Gym Becomes One Massive Cell. The gym now houses more than 360 inmates and it doesn't appear there will be relief anytime soon. According to the report, "In just the past 10 years, the state's already high prison population doubled." Listen to the concerns expressed by the staff and inmates.

Bureau of Prisons Staff Protest Budget Cuts

Tom Reid — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:03:00 GMT

Source: National Public Radio/Morning Edition

February 13, 2008 Federal correctional officers are gathering outside the Justice Department on Wednesday to protest budget cuts and cutbacks to the federal inmate work program. The officers say it's the only program they have left to keep inmates out of trouble.

To listen to this audio broadcast, go to: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18937764

Idaho tops PETA's list of the Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly State Prison Systems

Tom Reid — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:43:00 GMT

From the PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) website:

Boise, Idaho - With the demand for meatless options rising at an unprecedented rate, the healthy and humane trend has even found its way behind bars. PETA researched which states are doing the best job meeting their prison inmates' hunger for meatless meals, and the results are in: Idaho tops PETA's list of the Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly State Prison Systems.

Massachusetts--with its mock-chicken cutlets, nuggets, and stew as well as the standby veggie burger--locked up second place, and the arrestingly delicious soy barbecue, mock Salisbury steak, and tofu cacciatore made Pennsylvania a shoe-in at number three. New Hampshire, Georgia, Utah, Hawaii, Tennessee, Kansas, and North Dakota rounded out the top 10. Each state will receive a framed certificate and a letter of appreciation from PETA

For the full article/press release go to: http://www.peta.org/mc/NewsItem.asp?id=10608

The complete listing: http://blog.peta.org/archives/2007/12/top_10_vegetari.php

"Center for the Correctional Work Force of the Future" opens at ACA

Tom Reid — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 18:36:00 GMT

The new Center for the Correctional Work Force of the Future is officially open at the ACA headquarters in Alexandria, VA. The operation of this center has been made possible through funding by the Bureau of Justice Assistance.

The Center will have many functions, and ACA envisions it as a vehicle to assist the association's corrections colleagues in several human resource areas such as recruitment and retention of staff, extending the work life of those soon to retire, and reducing the cycle of time it takes to hire and train new employees.

ACA is seeking input on how this Center can best serve the membership.

For more information, go to:

http://www.aca.org/Workforce/home.asp

Do You Believe in Faith-Based Prisons?

Sandy Schilling — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 01:11:00 GMT

A new report, Evaluation of Florida's Faith- and Character-Based Institutions, has been published by the Urban Institute. Florida runs two FCBIs - one correctional facility (Lawtey) for male inmates and another institution (Hillsborough) which offers the program for female inmates. According to the abstract of the report, "This research provides the first formal study of Florida’s FCBIs, and is guided by three research questions: (1) What are the FCBI objectives? (2) How are these objectives achieved? and (3) What are the FCBI outcomes?" This research will help you form an opinion on the efficacy of FCBIs.

Research Claims a Cure for Hepatitis C

cgordon — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:58:00 GMT

Science Daily has released an article outlining a research study done on hepatitis C conducted by Virginia Commonwealth University. The study, headed up by Mitchell Shiffman, M.D., a professor in the Virginia Commonwealth University Shool of Medicine, determined that "Nearly all -- 99 percent -- of patients with hepatitis C who were treated successfully with peginterferon alone, or in combination with ribavirin, had no detectable virus up to seven years later." This is ground breaking research and evidence given that "The CDC estimates the number of hepatitis C-related deaths could increase to 38,000 annually by the year 2010, surpassing annual HIV/AIDS deaths." Thanks to Michael Connelly at Corrections Sentencing for bringing this story to our attention.

Medical Causes of Death in State Prisons, 2001-2004

CC Pro — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 17:08:00 GMT

Data collected under the Death in Custody Reporting Program (DCRP) indicate half of all state prisoner deaths between 2001-2004 were the result of heart diseases and cancer. This report contains the first national data collected and published on the number, characteristics, and circumstances of the 10 leading causes of state prisoner deaths.

Highlights:

Male State prisoners had a death rate 72% higher than female State prisoners
Two-thirds of the deaths involved inmates age 45 or older
Death from illness increased with time served in prison
Over 40% of prisoner deaths took place in 5 States

The full report is available here.

Report on In-Prison Substance Abuse Programs in California

CC Pro — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 18:02:00 GMT

A special review examining the in-prison substance abuse programming managed by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has been published by the California Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This review contains findings that detail the practices that have impacted treatment effectiveness within California institutions. A key finding notes the failure to establish a "therapeutic community model." Other findings address programming costs, the selection process for the providers of treatment services, and the need for improved fiscal and management controls. A response from the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (Attachment A) addresses the findings and proposes remedies for corrective measures in an effort to implement the Governor's comprehensive prison reforms.

A Tool to Evaluate Program Effectiveness?

Eileen Conway — Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:00:00 GMT

Agencies across the country are seeking ways to incorporate evidence-based practices into their programming. While not yet approved for Departmental use, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation's Office of Research, and the Center for Evidence Based Corrections at UC Irvine, have created a training manual that describes the California Program Assessment Process (CPAP) "and explores in detail the CPAP rating instrument, as well as the meaning behind the rating categories, issues that may occur in evaluating programs, and the proper application of the scoring rules." Certainly a tool to review.