Violence in correctional settings

Abstract

The vast correctional population in the USA is a pressing societal problem with widespread social implications. As this population and the diversity of inmates it represents increase, so do the number of violent inmates. This, along with the acknowledgement that the conditions of confinement can ameliorate or contribute to violence in the correctional setting, requires a heightened emphasis on the management of institutional violence (Powitzky, 1990). Understanding and preventing violence in such settings remains a central goal of effective correctional management and reentry programs for inmates. It is one of the common foundational objectives that facilitate necessary order in public safety systems, which, in turn, allows for the implementation of programs aimed at rehabilitation, prevention, and intervention.