Violence and Safety in American

Corrections:
What the Research Shows
A Briefing for

How do we measure safety in

Corrections?
Follow principles of good social science
research (large, random samples).
Gather data on a wide variety of
performance measures.
Standardize the occurrence of violence by
population, to understand its relative
frequency/prevalence.
Take into account the national trends that
affect prison populations and facility
operation.

Macro Trends in American Corrections

Dramatic Population Increases fueled by
sentencing reforms and political environment.
De-institutionalization of the mentally ill
resulting in Corrections becoming the primary
custodians.*
The increasing power of Corrections Unions.
National efforts to collect and share performance
datathus boosting research capabilities.
A National discussion on inmate reentry and its
implications for public safety.

What the Current Research Shows: Americas

Prisons and Jails are Safe and Getting Safer.
Over the last twenty-five years, the incarcerated
population has increased 330%.
Over the same time period, a host of key
indicators of safety and order have improved
dramatically.
The use of restrictive measures (like
administrative segregation) has also decreased.
Thus, as several researchers have shown, these
gains are likely the result of correctional
leadership and innovative management.*

Population Growth
The number of individuals incarcerated in the
United States has increased 330% from 1980 to
2004.

Homicide and Suicide

Homicide and Suicide in Prisons and Jails occur
very infrequently and have declined dramatically,
even while the incarcerated population has exploded.

Prison Riots
Riots: The number and rate of prison riots has declined
dramatically from a peak in 1973 to a rare event in recent
years, despite the increase in prison population.

Staff Homicides: have declined 100%

from 1982 to 2001.

Prison Escapes: have declined 95%

from 1981 to 2001.

Inmate-on-Inmate assaults have

decreased 29% from 1984 to 2000

Incidents per 1,000

Inmates

Inmate Violations in State Correctional

Facilities, 1984-2000
Assaults on
Inmates per
1,000
Inmates
Assaults on
Staff per
1,000
Inmates

50
40
30
20
10
0
1984 1990 1995 2000
Year

Disturbances
and arsons
per 1,000
inmates

Assault and Sexual Assault (Contd)

Assaults: In his testimony before the Prison
Commission, BJS statistician Allen Beck stated
that the likelihood of an individual inmates
experiencing assault is 7%.
Sexual Assault: The recent BJS study on sexual
assault found 3.15 allegations of sexual violence
per 1,000 inmates held in 2004. In State prisons,
fewer than 20% of allegations of non-consensual
sexual acts were substantiated.*

Comparing Correctional Facilities and

the Community-At-Large:
Likelihood of In Prisons and J ails In Communities in The
experiencing: in theUnited States United States
Assault

7/100. (1)

2/100 (simple and

aggravated assault
combined) (2)

Sexual
Assault

1.16 incidents per

1,000 inmates. (3)

1 incident per 1,000

residents. (4)

The rate of inmates held in protective custody

has declined 69% from 1986 to 2001.

The use of administrative segregation has not

increased with population growth.

The percentage of inmates held in maximum

security facilities has decreased 30% from
1980-2004 (excludes federal prisons).

Percentage

Percentages of Inmates at each

Security Level in State Correctional
Facilities, 1974-2000
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Maximum
security
Medium
security
Minimum
security

Year

What has happened in American Corrections

in the past 25 years?
The incarcerated population has increased
dramatically.
Homicides, suicides, riots, staff homicides and
prison escapes have all decreased dramatically.
Available data indicates a decline in assaults;
assault and sexual assault are not considerably
higher in jail and prison than the community at
large.
These gains have been achieved alongside a
decrease in the use of restrictive measures like
protective custody and administrative segregation.

What does this tell us?

In conclusion, Americas prisons and
jails are safe and getting safer.
Many factors contribute to safety and
effectiveness, including resources,
staff training, programming for
inmates, transparency and
accountability.
To achieve safety gains in this
context, high quality correctional
leadership and effective management
are absolutely essential.