Prison Case Study

The issue of sexual assault in correctional facilities is very complex and the implications reach far beyond the walls of the institution. Congress found that “prison rape endangers the public’s safety by making brutalized inmates more likely to commit crimes when they are released.”

In this paper, I will summarize part 3 “Why Do Prison Conditions Matter?” and part 4 “Contemporary Lessons from Maconochie’s Experiment” of Maconochie’s Gentlemen, written by Norval Morris (Morris, 2002). I will then provide a critical analysis of Maconochie and the Norfolk Island Prison reform story to current correctional practices.

Also, in some cases, records were falsified to justify the actions of the corrections officers. Another example was the misuse of the prisons’ integration policy. Within an isolated location known as the security housing unit, this policy was supposedly established to bring unity among rival inmates in effort that they could ultimately transfer to the prisons’ general population. As of a result of these unethical actions the civil rights of the inmates were violated. (Dryburgh, 2009, pp.164-165).

The United States Supreme Court ruled that prison overcrowding in California was equivalent to cruel and unusual punishment. This decision recharged a long-standing disagreement among scholars and politicians as to whether or not courts should intervene to protect make changes. Some believe this is a matter or the well-being of those unable to make decisions for themselves. Others believe this is not a top priority and by forcing states to improve state institutions, the already costly industry will have cost increase. The journal also discusses the economic effects reform has had. Concluding that they have made positive changes at a slightly higher expense. The changes made by the state made the facilities closer to “humane” by court standards. (7)

On December 11, 2016 at approximately 1330 hours, Detention Officer Harden reported duty and was assigned to work 1200 Baker Street Jail, 3rd Floor, A-Pod Control Center. At approximately 1420 hours, Detention Officer Harden advised she was not feeling well. At approximately 1430 Hours, Detention Officer Harden had her blood pressure checked in the 1200 Jail Clinic and was advised it was elevated. At approximately 1440 hours I called for Houston Fire Department. At approximately 1445 hours Houston Fire Department Medic 17 arrived at 1200 Baker Street Jail. Detention Officer Harden declined transport at approximately 1500 hours. At approximately 1505 hours, Sergeant Chad King took Detention Officer Harden to her husband’s work location Lieutenant

Jacoby states, “in 1994 that more than 200,000 prison inmates are raped each year, usually to the indifference of the guards.” (Jacoby, 1997, P. 2) A lot of the seventeen year olds and up that go to prison with lesser charges shouldn’t have to deal with this psychological trauma and should rather want to go through corporal punishment even with the humiliation that comes with

In the case of the California’s Corcoran State Prison the prisoners were being mistreated. The situation that brought this case to the forefront was Dryburgh (2009) found that “Preston Tate was shot and fatally wounded by a corrections officer after Tate and his cellmate fought against two rival Hispanic gang member. Tate death was at the hands of a prison guard prompted two whistle – blowers to approach the FBI with tales of abuse and brutality toward inmates by correction officers”. Moreover, this was not the first time that an inmate had been shot by a correctional officer.

In Kansas City, Missouri, city officials are responsible for overseeing several aspects of the city’s administration. This includes collecting taxes, budgeting, infrastructure maintenance, jail supervision, among others. The Jackson County Jail is housed in Kansas City, and the Kansas City council is partially responsible for the funding and operation of the jail, as it houses city statute violators. The correctional staff is made up of members of the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, so are outside the scope of the city’s supervision. Since the jail is housed in the city of Kansas City, the city legislature is responsible primarily for the operations of the jail.

Simply because inmates are smaller, weaker, or more intimidated by the cell and cellmates they are assigned, they are ultimately categorized as “victims” of these ghastly assaults and thus, their “femininity” determines their fate. Despite the high number of these crimes committed each year, the flawed system in which these facilities are run have yet to truly recognize the danger and harm that is placed upon these male prisoners. Joanne Mariner’s article is therefore an effective attempt to spark reform within the system; just because these inmates have been convicted of crimes does not mean they should not get the proper treatment and justice they too deserve.

In the first female prison in Indiana state women suffered from sexual abuse from the guards working there, in fact that happened in several different prisons. In a text I read it was said “The Indiana state prison actually ran a prostitution service for male guards, using female prisoners.” (Kurshan) demonstrating how sickening a women’s prison was. This is because women were seen as weak or fragile with guards holding all power. Women obeyed the guards in fear of receiving more punishments. Guards are seen as the most powerful in these facilities and most women fear them. Guards can sometimes overstep their boundaries by watching women shower, changing clothes, so women don’t

On September 13, 2016, Plaintiff reported both relationships to the superintendent of the Correctional Facility and supervisor of the Defendants. (Compl. 3:5-7.) Plaintiff has filed a civil action under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 alleging that the sexual conduct between Plaintiff and Defendants was not consensual in nature, because an inmate cannot, as a matter of law, consent to sexual

Prison rape in jail can ultimately bring hierarchy between the weaker and the stronger. Although many would believe rape offenders in men’s prisons are mainly homosexuals, studies have shown that homosexuals are more likely to be sexually abused than perpetrators. In prison it is actually known that men become rapists to overpower their victims. Patriarchal systems of power, male incentive to overpower the weaker, exist both outside and inside of jail. In any community, women are seen as weak; therefore, men tend to overpower women. Most prisoners have this same mentality; therefore since there are no women to overpower they decide to suppress the weaker or smaller sized inmates. Victims are also effeminized and given tasks to perform such as cleaning dishes and cooking food. Physiologists believe that prison rape is not caused by the lack of women, but “mainly as a means by which people who have been stripped of control over the most basic aspects of their lives- when to eat a meal, take a shower, or watch TV- can reclaim some sense of power.”(Brook) According to Wilbert Rideau, a Louisiana prisoner wrote “the

Prison Rape is no secret in today’s society. The American media has portrayed prison rape as a joke (Don’t drop the soap) in countless films, television shows, and in music, but have not realized the extent of how dangerous this crime is. Some cops even use this method as a means to get a confession from a suspect. A major obstacle in solving Prison rape is the notorious under-reporting of the crime. Only 16 percent of prison rape victims report their victimization. Reasons for under reporting are fear of consequences, shame, guilt, embarrassment, and refuse to relive painful details. This paper explores prison rape and its psychological and physical harm to not only inmates, but to society as well. It also discusses recent efforts to

Defendant Smith has been arrested for possession of enough ecstasy for two hits and has admitted to using alcohol, cocaine, and marijuana in the past. Clearly this indicates that he has a drug problem. However, he has no prior criminal record, has held down a job in construction for the past two years, and has a child for whom he must pay child support. He has fallen behind as of late and may be tied to his drug abuse, for which he has never received counseling or treatment. Give that he has never received treatment, has a job, and a child to support, I would recommend that he be placed into a Drug Court Program.

Within the chapter “How Gender Structures the prison system” the issue of sexual assault behind prison walls is brought to light. Female prisoners were being sexually violated and humiliated. Davis states throughout this passage that woman experience sexualy assault, before and after they enter the prison system. Personally, after reading this chapter and reading external sources, I feel that women became the targets for sexual abuse by an authority figure. Whomever commits these heinous acts are using their role of authority as a coverup to inflict pain on these individuals. In the prison writings of Kate Richards O’Hare, we see her share a view similar to Davis. O’Hare states, “I found that under the guise of punishment for crime, and in