Physical Violence inside Prisons: Rates of Victimization

Physical Violence inside Prisons: Rates of Victimization

Introduction

There is huge difference between the prison world and the world outside the prison. Prison is place where criminals are sent so that they can be punished for their crimes and communities can be saved. However, people in prison are usually normal human beings that have been caught and punished to stay in prison for certain period of time because of their criminal behavior. The main concept behind this establishment is complete removal of crime (Schenk, 2012). However, danger also lies inside the facility itself. Crime and violence has become integral part of prison. The problem of prison misconduct and violence has been a vry important social issue which require considerable attention. Yet specific area of violent victimization inside the prison has gone comparatively ignored.

One such area is physical violence inside the prisons. There are various types of physical violence in prison such as riots, prisoner's assault on staff, staff's assault on prisoners, self inflicted violence, and sexual victimization. Physical violence in prisons is an urgent public health use which requires targeted interventions. Therefore, in this paper we are going to discuss physical violence in prison in which we shall cover rate of victimization. The purpose of this paper is to let readers know about the prevalence and dangers of physical violence inside the prison along with increase number so that authorities can take effective measures accordingly.

Discussion

Violence is persistent characteristic of life of prison (Tewksbury, 2008). Violence is considered as a leading by product of prison due to antisocial tendencies or aggregated behaviors of hundreds and thousands of individuals. The rates of physically violent crimes are increasing in prisons of U.S. and individuals are continuously become victims of that violence. There are various causes behind physical violence in Prison. Out of many causes one of the main causes is overcrowding. According to Bureau of Justice Statistics prison of 19 states are already overcrowded and prisons of additional 20 states are close to overcrowding. In California Chino Men's prison was built to hold 3000 prisoners but today it is holding 5900 inmates.

Prisoners of Chino prison in 2009, staged a riot in which around 175 prisoners were injured. Overcrowding in prison increases stress which automatically results in violence. One of the most important causes behind increase in physical violence in prison is gangs. Moreover lack of staff's experience and training also results in physical violence in prison. Violence in prison occurs because of the separation from prisoner's normal environment family environment, and loved ones. Research states that there is high level of victimization in the prison.

Considerable study claimed that criminals inside the prison are at higher risk for sexual victimization. Research states that prevalence rates of physical violence in prison are equal for males and females (Blitz, 2008).

Various studies confirmed that the rate of physical attack for male prisoners is over eighteen times higher than assault victimization rates for men in general population and the rate for ...