Super Max Prison

Question 1

Various versions of high-custody and high-control prisons have existed in the US over the years

Answer 1

Walnut Street Jail, LATE 1700’S

Eastern State Penitentiary and Auburn Prison,

EARLY TO MID-1800S
Alcatraz, MID-1900’S

Question 2

The term “supermax” is frequently used to describe a wide variety of facilities and programs

Answer 2

A highly restrictive, high-custody housing unit within a secure facility (or an entire secure facility) that isolates inmates from the general prison population and from each other due to grievous crimes or disruptive behaviors.

Question 3

Early supermax prisons included:

Answer 3

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP):
US Penitentiary Marion, JUNE 1963
ADX Florence, 1994

Question 4

States’ usage of supermax:

Answer 4

Increased sharply since the 1980s

In 1996 only 34 states had one or more supermax prison

By 2004 the number of states using supermax prisons had grown to 44

Current estimate is over 80,000 inmates in supermax prisons in the US.

Question 5

The purpose of a supermax prison

Answer 5

is to provide the extended control of inmates known to be violent, assaultive, major escape risks, or likely to promote disturbances in the general prison population.

Question 6

To this end the types of inmates in supermax prisons include:

Answer 6

The mentally ill, inmates subject to frequent segregation, inmates in need of protective custody, inmates requiring observation because of unacceptable or problematic adjustment

Question 7

Deterrence GENERAL:

Answer 7

Supermax incarceration is so severe as to inspire fear among general population inmates and so induce order

Question 8

Deterrence SPECIFIC:

Answer 8

Housing especially unruly and violent inmates in isolation should prevent them from committing violent acts or from inciting others to commit them, and it may inspire fear and lead them to refrain from such acts after release

Question 9

Incapacitation GENERAL:

Answer 9

Supermax prisons create greater order by preventing instigators from causing others to engage in disorderly behaviors

Question 10

Incapacitation GENERAL- :

Answer 10

Supermax prisons create greater order by preventing instigators from causing others to engage in disorderly behaviors

Question 11

Incapacitation SPECIFIC- :

Answer 11

The isolation of recalcitrant inmates from the general inmate population

Question 12

The “rage” hypothesis:

Answer 12

states that when prisoners are transferred back to regular confinement they will be so angry and frustrated they will attack other inmates

Question 13

Many states

Answer 13

may admit mentally ill inmates to supermax confinement in order to protect them from predation by other inmates and to provide them medical treatment and services they would not otherwise receive in the general prison population
RESEARCH FINDS A POSITIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND THE LENGTH OF SUPERMAX CONFINEMENT.

Question 14

In a study examining supermax prisons IN FLORIDA it was found that:

Answer 14

Placement in supermax confinement was not typically a one-time event

75% of supermax inmates were placed two or more times and 55% of supermax inmates were placed three or more times

Question 15

In a study examining supermax prisons IN FLORIDA it was found that:

Answer 15

Supermax confinement was typically long-term

41 percent of supermax inmates spent one year or more in supermax housing, 21 percent spent two years or more in it, and 13 percent spent three years or more in it

Question 16

African Americans and younger inmates

Answer 16

were disproportionately likely to experience supermax incarceration

Question 17

Inmates with more prior violent or escape convictions, as well as inmates who served more time in prison,

Answer 17

were more likely to be placed in supermax confinement

Question 18

Placement in supermax confinement

Answer 18

FOR AS LITTLE AS ONE WEEK) significantly increases the likelihood of recidivism

Question 19

Inmates who were placed in supermax confinement during a period of imprisonment

Answer 19

were more likely to commit a new violent offense after release from prison