Prison Gangs In Prison Case Study
Controlling gangs in prison is not and has never been an easy task. No strategy is possible to eliminate the vice totally. However, some strategies have proved to control prison gangs to a large extent. The main strategy is the one that was applied in the state of Texas in 1990s. In the strategy, confirmed gang members were isolated in separation wings and/or prison units, along with other intransigent inmates who balked at the institutional regime. Through intelligence-gathering and suppression activities appeared to work; the gang-related incidents were few and far between in Texas prisons. By sending gang members to separation units and placing them on lockdown status, other inmates could coexist, often racially integrated, without the pressure
and fear of lethal reprisals from gang members.
Utilizing suppression methods, Texas prison system effectively addressed gang-related violence, even during the implementation of racial integration. Although there were likely other influences that contributed to the low levels of gang-related violence (e.g., addition of staff, adoption of professional standards, decrease in crowding, and the introduction of multiple methods to deal with gangs, such as free-world prosecution), the suppression efforts by Texas had a major impact on inmate incidents within the prison setting.
Other supplemental strategies to suppression efforts are important and can enhance the success of a gang management program. These include not only prison organizational strategies, such as separate housing and limited privileges, but also cooperation between prison organizations and prosecutors (both free world and institutional) in their efforts to prosecute in-prison violence and gang-related crimes. Another potential supplement would be legislative enhancements and penalties for gang-related behavior in prisons. In addition, comprehensive strategies that rely on the resources of the prison system, law enforcement, the courts and the legislature are perhaps most effective compared with any one initiative alone whether the policy focus is on suppression or a less-restrictive alternative.
and fear of lethal reprisals from gang members.
Utilizing suppression methods, Texas prison system effectively addressed gang-related violence, even during the implementation of racial integration. Although there were likely other influences that contributed to the low levels of gang-related violence (e.g., addition of staff, adoption of professional standards, decrease in crowding, and the introduction of multiple methods to deal with gangs, such as free-world prosecution), the suppression efforts by Texas had a major impact on inmate incidents within the prison setting.
Other supplemental strategies to suppression efforts are important and can enhance the success of a gang management program. These include not only prison organizational strategies, such as separate housing and limited privileges, but also cooperation between prison organizations and prosecutors (both free world and institutional) in their efforts to prosecute in-prison violence and gang-related crimes. Another potential supplement would be legislative enhancements and penalties for gang-related behavior in prisons. In addition, comprehensive strategies that rely on the resources of the prison system, law enforcement, the courts and the legislature are perhaps most effective compared with any one initiative alone whether the policy focus is on suppression or a less-restrictive alternative.