lecture 3 - prisons perceptual crisis Flashcards
3 examples of evidence of crisis with the strangeways riot and woolf report
strangeways riot led to woolf report
- crisis of conditions
- crisis of injustice
- number crisis
what is the orthodox account of the prison crisis? definition
how many components
- crisis located specifically in prisons
- argues that 8 different components in the prison contribute to a crisis
what are the 8 different components that contribute to prison crisis (orthodox account)?
- high prison population
- overcrowding
- bad conditions (for both prisoners and staff)
- understaffing
- unrest among the staff
- poor security
- the toxic mix of prisoners
- riots and other breakdowns
example of what is the epitomy of the state of crisis?
riots and other breakdowns
what is the number crisis?
the high prison population
when was the strangeways riot?
1990
1-25 april
how many officers were injured in the strangeways riot?
147
how many prisoners injured in strangeways riot?
47
how many people died in the strangeways riot?
2
how much did the damage cost for the strangeways riot?
£60 million
what did the strangeways riot prompt? how many?
prompted 20 copycat or solidarity prison disturbances nationwide
when was the woolf report?
1991
why was the woolf report commissioned?
in the aftermath of the disturbances of the HMP strangeways
what did the woolf report commission to happen based off strangways riot? (3 things)
- determine the causes of the riot
- what was wrong with the prison system
- what should be done to prevent it happening again
how many recommendations did the woolf report recommend?
(central and supporting)
12 central recommendations
204 further supporting recommendations
what agenda was the woolf report claimed to be at the time it was written?
claimed at the time to be the most PROGRESSIVE penal reform agenda
- a blueprint for prison policy for the next 3 decades
what 3 relevant factors did the woolf report claim to be the causes of the strangeways riot
S
O
C
- issues around security and control
- problems with overcrowding
- insanitary physical conditions
statistic for chronic overcrowding in woolf report (how many men; how much space)
1647 men in spaces for 970
what are 3 examples of wholly unacceptable and inhumane conditions in the woolf report
- impoverished regime and unsanitary conditions
- shortage of clean clothes
- limited opportunity for work/ education/ time out of cell
how many staff were working on the day of the strangeways riot?
175 staff on duty (weekend shift)
what are 3 examples of staffing problems in woolf report?
- shortage of senior staff
- no redress (remedy) for perceived injustices
- arbitrary and oppressive behaviour, even mental and physical brutality
what in the woolf report didn’t support the orthodox account of crisis
- the toxic mix of prisoners refuted by woolf
what limitations/ criticisms of the orthodox account?
- the 7 positivistic explanations mean riots are inevitable?
- mindless or meaningful behaviour?
- reactive or active response?
overcrowding, inhumane prison conditions and lack of security and control significance contributed to prisoners…
sense of INJUSTICE
orthodox account of the prison crisis 3 recommendations to fix
(3 types of crisis)
- number crisis
- material crisis
- crisis of conditions