Violence, Gangs and Drugs

Violence. Studies have found that approximately 1/2 of all inmates ( about 1 million) experience violence either by other inmates or by staff. The study below shows that violence perpetrated by staff happens in the same numbers as violence by inmates against each other.

Gangs are prolific in prisons. Many use the telephone to contact gang members outside of prison. “A significant number of federal inmates use prison telephones to commit serious crimes while incarcerated—including murder, drug trafficking and fraud.” (Justice Department Study)

Drugs are also found in virtually all prisons, keeping many inmates addicted and creating new addicts. For some, even those who were not addicts when they entered prison, it is a way to escape the horrible conditions. Drugs are smuggled in in a variety of ways. Staff will many times bring it in to trade for sex. (Do a Google search for “prison officer charge sexual misconduct” (no quotations marks) to see a long list of links to cases.)

The Inspector General of the Justice Department released a report in 2003 which found illegal drugs in every one of the nations 102 federal prisons. It showed that the drugs were brought in by visitors, the mail system and most disconcerting… the staff.

T-Shirts & More

Study of Physical Violence Inside Prisons – Rates of Victimization
Criminal Justice and Behavior

Explosive Drug Use Creating New Underworld Prisons
New York Times

Prison Beating Caught On Video in Private Run Prision Prison guards look on and do nothing to help.

"Gangland" Preview – Gangs in Prisons This clip is from the History Channels ongoing docu-series Gangland

US PRISONS SUB MENU
Main Page
Overview
Prison’s Purpose
Mental Illness
Torture and Abuse
Rape
Private Prisons
Violence, Gangs and Drugs