An Examination of Inmate Physical Assaults on Jail Correctional Staff: Exploring Inmate-Level and Jail-Level Conditions in the United States

Abstract

The current study examines individual-level determinants of inmate-on correctional staff assaults, particularly the demographic characteristics of inmates, and the context of structural/environmental characteristics of specific jails. Findings from a series of negative binomial regression models indicate some significant relationships, with additional analyses highlighting the nonlinear nature of the relationship between racial representation and assaults. The findings give credence to both the "lone-wolf" and "gang mentality" perspectives, in that jails with an unbalanced racial composition have higher rates of inmate assaults on correctional staff when groups are both under-and over-represented as a proportion of the jail population. ARTICLE HISTORY

Exploring Associations Between Interpersonal Violence and Prison Size in Spanish Prisons

“…To the extent that prison size is strongly and significantly associated with prison victimization, we suggest that larger prisons in particular and smaller prisons in general redouble their efforts to (a) eliminate unmonitored areas (adding cameras and shutting down areas to inmates that are more remote and unsurveilled) and (b) promote and enforce effective guardianship. More staffing will not necessarily reduce victimization (as some staff are perpetrators of victimization) unless staff are trained in best custodial practices to ensure that they are able to execute their guardianship function effectively and, to motive their implementation of these best practices, there should be zero tolerance for staff on inmate victimization (Williams & Porter, 2016). Physical and sexual victimization of inmates by staff is a violation of the law and must be rigorously prosecuted to deter such acts of harm.…”

Moral Communities and Institutional Misconduct: A Reassessment of Religious Contextual Influences on Inmate Behavior

“…Recent studies have begun to shift to a more integrative approach based on general strain theory (GST) in explaining misconduct among prison inmates (e.g., Morris et al, 2012; C.-Y. Williams & Porter 2016).…”

“…Maintaining an orderly environment remains one of the foremost challenges facing correctional administrators. Not surprisingly, social science researchers have shown great interest in understanding individual and structural determinants of inmate behavior (Celinska & Sung, 2014; Jiang, Fisher-Giorlando, & Mo, 2005; Morris & Worrall, 2014; Morris, Carriaga, Diamond, Piquero, & Piquero, 2012; Steiner, Butler, & Ellison, 2014; C.-Y. Williams & Porter 2016; Wooldredge, Green, & Pratt, 2001; Worrall & Morris, 2012).…”