The Attica Riot

Prison violence draws from a number of themes we have discussed:  Exploding prison population and incarceration rate, resulting in high density and overcrowding.  Violent character of prisoners.  Prisons as “total institutions.”  Changing character of the inmate subculture. John Irwin describes the contemporary prison as “not chaos, but a dangerous and tentative order.” How is order possible in contemporary prisons?

During this period, wardens held absolute control, power, and authority. Paramilitary model or organization and management. Civil death: Ruffin v. Commonwealth “Hands-off doctrine.” Trustee systems of control.

Beginning in the 1950s, but reaching the greatest extent in the early 1970s, prisons entered into a period of collective protest and riots, characterized by violence – 1966: 100 major riots. In 1971 the shooting of George Jackson at San Quentin was a rallying point for inmates throughout the county. From : over 300 prison riots:  1972: riot at Attica State Prison  1980: riot at New Mexico State Penitentiary in Santé Fe, NM  1981: five riots in three Michigan prison over five days  1980 – 1983: lock-down at the Federal Penitentiary at Marion, Illinois.

While some riots were spontaneous, other were planned and were used to demand extensions of civil rights for prisoners – collective protest. Also during this period: frequent collective nonviolent protests. Because of the riots, the isolation of prisons ended, as did the autocratic control of wardens. Introduced were civil rights and changes in prison management.

 Divisions: race, ethnicity, gang affiliation,  religion, and politics.  Violence has changed in form to inmate on  inmate violence.  Inmate power struggles have become couched in interests groups.

 Inmate - inmate violence: assault, homicide, sexual violence, intimidation, and exploitation.  Inmate - staff violence.  Self-inflicted violence.  Staff - inmate violence.

“Here’s a sure-fire recipe for violence: Confine in cramped quarters a thousand men, many of who have a history of interpersonal violence; restrict their movements and behaviors; allow them no contact with women; give them little to do -- and keep them in this condition for an indefinite period.”

Violent characteristics of inmates:  age and gender  low educational levels  drug involvement  current and past violent crime  anti-social values and attitudes Changing racial, ethnic, religious, and political make-up of prison populations. Prison gangs. Overcrowding and density.