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The History of Corrections in America
Published:Brief History of the Federal Prison System
The United States government established the prison system in 1891. The Three Prison Act established funding for Leavenworth, McNeil Island and UPS Atlanta. It appears the first Federal prison was Leavenworth in Kansas. It started housing prisoners in 1906; however, prior to it opening federal prisoners were held at Fort Leavenworth military prison. Prisoners were used to build the facility.
Before the U.S. government passed the Three Prison Act, federal prisoners were held in state prisons. Today the Federal Bureau of Prisons houses inmates convicted of federal crimes. As of today the total number of inmates held in BOP operated facilities is 183,820 in 122 institutions, 27 residential reentry management offices and 11 privately managed facilities.
- 1891 - Federal Prison System Established
- Congress passes the "Three Prisons Act," which established the Federal Prison System (FPS). The first three prisons – USP Leavenworth,USP Atlanta, and USP McNeil Island – are operated with limited oversight by the Department of Justice.
- Pursuant to Pub. L. No. 71-218, 46 Stat. 325 (1930), the Bureau of Prisons was established within the Department of Justice and charged with the "management and regulation of all Federal penal and correctional institutions." This responsibility covered the administration of the 11 Federal prisons in operation at the time.
- USP Leavenworth was one of three first generation federal prisons which were built in the early 1900s. Prior to its construction, federal prisoners were held at state prisons. In 1895, Congress authorized the construction of the federal prison system.[5] From an article at this link: Leavenworth
- The other two were Atlanta and McNeil Island (although McNeil dates to the 1870s the major expansion did not occur until the early 1900s)
- 1896 June 10: the Congress authorized a new federal penitentiary.
- 1897 March: Warden French marched prisoners every morning two and one-half miles (4 km) from Ft. Leavenworth to the new site of the federal penitentiary. Work went on for two and one-half decades.
- 1906 February 1: All prisoners had been transferred to the new facility, and the War Department appreciatively accepted the return of its prison.
This medium-security prison for men opened in 1902 after President William McKinley signed off on the construction of a new federal prison in Atlanta. Along with USP Leavenworth and McNeil Island, it is one of the oldest federal prisons in the United States. From United States Penitentiary, Atlanta
Nellis, Ashley, and Jean Chung. The Sentencing Project, 2013
“This analysis documents long-term trends in the use of life imprisonment as well as providing empirical details for the offenses that comprise the life-sentenced population” (p. 1). An appendix provides a graph for each state showing their trends in the use of life sentences.
Document ID: 027635BBC (London, England), 2009
This video documentary covers the February 2 and 3, 1980 riot at the New Mexico State Penitentiary. During this riot, the worst in the history of corrections in the United States, 33 inmates were killed with over 200 injured, and seven of the 12 officers taken hostage hurt.
Document ID: 026908Eastern Kentucky University, Special Collections and Archives
Access to the American Prison Society Photographic Archive collected by William Bain is provided at this website include: about the collection; access the collection; access the inventory; search this site; other links; other resources; and contact information.This website serves to pursue, preserve, and promote the history of Correction Services in New York. Areas covered include Probation, Parole, Juvenile Justice, Alternatives to Incarceration, and Transitional Services.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Describes before the prison was built, the rock, birdman, escape attempts, and the closure of the facility. Compiled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Can you direct me to jail policy development resources and examples of jail policy and procedure manuals?
Published:Question:
I need to revise our jail policy and procedure manual. Can you direct me to resources that will help me? I'd also like to see any jail policy manuals that are available.
Answer:
Some jail-specific policy examples and resources are provided below. As always, there are no such things as ideal or perfect polices, so you can review examples but make sure the revision you build in to your manual reflect your needs, statutes, prevailing case law, and prevailing professional practices. The American Correctional Association (ACA) Standards for Adult Local Detention Facilities as well as their Core Jail Standards, make a good basis for jail policies.
Co-Occurring Disorders in the Criminal Justice System
Published:Resources on justice-involved people who have substance use disorders as well as mental health disorders.
How can I get information on incentives and sanctions/contingency management?
Published:Rewards and sanctions, or contingency management programs, are based on the theory of operant learning, which explains that human behavior is learned through the consequences that result from our actions. Behaviors that result in positive consequence will be repeated. Therefore, behaviors that are reinforced or rewarded are more likely to increase, and behaviors that are punished are more likely to decrease over time.
Robina Institute of Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, 2020
Revision of Probation Violation Guidelines Update
Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission, 2017An Evidence-Based Approach to Promoting & Enforcing Compliance with Conditions of Probation Supervision
Center for Sentencing Initiatives/National Center for State Courts, 2017First Evaluation of a Contingency Management Intervention Addressing Adolescent Substance Use and Sexual Risk Behaviors: Risk Reduction Therapy for Adolescents
Letourneau, Elizabeth J., Michael R. McCart, Ashli J. Sheidow, and Pia M. Mauro, 2017Missouri Policy Shortens Probation and Parole Terms, Protects Public Safety Individuals on Community Supervision Can Earn Credits to Reduce Their Sentences
Pew Charitable Trusts, 2016Get Smart About … Rewards and Sanctions: The Facts about Contingency Management
National Institute of Corrections (NIC), 2013
Document ID: 027244Adaptability of Contingency Management in Justice Settings: Survey Findings on Attitudes Towards Using Rewards
Murphy, Amy, Anne Giuranna Rhodes and Faye S. Taxman, 2012
Contingency management (CM) is widely recognized as an evidence-based practice, but it is not widely used in either treatment settings or justice settings. CM is perceived as adaptable in justice settings given the natural inclination to use contingencies to improve compliance to desired behaviors.A Treatment Manual for Implementing Contingency Management: Using Incentives to Improve Parolee Enrollment and Attendance in Community Treatment
Prendergast, Michael and Elizabeth Hall, 2011Utilizing Behavioral Interventions to Improve Supervision Outcomes in Community-Based Corrections
Wodahl, Eric J., Brett Garland, Scott E. Culhane, and William P. McCarty, 2011Implementation of a Contingency Management-Based Intervention in a Community Supervision Setting: Clinical Issues and Recommendations
Trotman, Adria J. and Faye E. Taxman, 2011
Document ID: 025627
Do you have examples of orientation handbooks for offenders?
Published:Texas Department of Criminal Justice, 2017
Bureau of Prisons, 2017
Goose Creek (AK) Correctional Center, 2017
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, 2017
Alabama Department of Corrections, 2017
Alabama Department of Corrections, 2017
Monroe County (FL) Sheriff's Office, 2017
Leon County (FL) Sheriff's Office, 2017
Georgia Department of Corrections, 2016
Censorship and Banned Book Lists in Correctional Facilities
Published:In general, censorship is not supported by the First Amendment to the US Constitution nor by the ALA Bill of Rights in Libraries in the US. Of course, prison libraries are under very different conditions. According to Geary, Mike. "Trends in Prison Library Service." Bookmobile and Outreach Services 6, (2003) "It is important to keep in mind that prison librarians are part of the organization that locks up the prisoners. They are professionals who serve the institution as well as the inmates. Basic beliefs in intellectual freedom, censorship, and public service may all be compromised."
The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) regulations state that publications can only be rejected if they are found to be "detrimental to the security, good order, or discipline of the institution or if it might facilitate criminal activity." That description is generally understood to include content such as explanations on how to make explosives, martial arts training manuals and books containing maps of the prison and its surrounding area. Each prison governor has the discretion to ban access to any reading material if he or she considers that the content presents a threat to good order or discipline, or that possession of the material is likely to have an adverse effect on the prisoner’s physical or mental condition. More at Cornell University Law School online.
In addition, books can be harder to access inside for numerous reasons. Also, some restrictions are also placed on buying and where to buy items as well as other factors surrounding vending/acquisitions. Many prisons use the IEP (earned privileges) or similar schemes as well. Most prisons also prohibit obscene or explicit materials. However, it is fairly difficult to find express polices around this topic due to the controversy surrounding this topic. You may of course contact each DOC separately to find out more about what they do in each state or jurisdiction that you are interested in. Banned lists are not always easily accessible or publicly available but may be available to you upon further request. You may also share them with us later if you do find any more comprehensive lists yourself. The ACLU has filed motions in a US district courts that argue an existing policy at places like the Berkeley County Detention Center in Moncks Corner, S.C., is unconstitutional. The policy currently bans all reading material — save the Bible — from inmates. Read more:
Some states do supposedly maintain lists of banned items. The Texas Department of Criminal Justice is unique in that it supposedly maintains a statewide database of banned books. "The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) arbitrarily censors books and magazines sent to Texas prisoners. Though cultivating literacy has obvious rehabilitative benefits, TDCJ prevents prisoners from reading many books, including works by award-winning authors, literary classics, and books about civil rights and prison conditions. Many feel that it is in violation of prisoners’ First Amendment rights that TDCJ prohibits the of reading important books."
Banned Books in the Texas Prison System (2011)
The Virginia Department of Corrections (DOC) also allegedly maintained a list of books partially named on this site.
It is important to note that in 2013, a pair of civil rights organizations sued the Virginia Department of Corrections after the groups’ inmate legal guide to challenging prison mistreatment reportedly was banned. The suit, which was filed in Charlottesville’s federal court by the National Lawyers Guild and Center for Constitutional Rights, said that the “Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook” was banned without the required notice to the publisher. The groups also accused the department officials of violating their First Amendment rights.
In any case, there certainly isn't any one single nationwide list of books or magazines banned from prisons, but here is a list of resources which may help you explore this topic further:
Policies and Procedures for Juvenile Facilities
Published:AR
AZ
CA
CO
CT
FL
GA
IA
ID
IL
KS
KY
LA
MA
MI
NV
NJ
NM
NC
ND
OR
PA
RI
SC
SD
TN
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UT
VT
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Other
Where can I find a listing of all the prisons and jails in the United States?
Published:Question:
Where can I find information (address, phone numbers, warden, etc.) for all the prisons/jails in the U.S. by state?
Answer:
The information is more thorough for states that have individual webpages or summary pages for their prisons on-line. You will need to check each linked site for specific information beyond just facility name.
There is no easily accessible, no-cost, comprehensive list of prisons with actual addresses and phone numbers all in one site or document.
The American Correctional Association (ACA) has an annual directory of all the state DOCs ($100) which includes all prisons (as well as other correctional services) by state and very often the private prisons as well. If you contact the American Correctional Association, they can provide you a mailing list/contact list for prisons (for a fee). American Correctional Association (ACA) general number: (703) 224-0000
Council of Juvenile Correctional Administrators (CJCA)
Department of Corrections Facilities by State:
Other on-line inmate locator resources:
- General inmate locator resource: (This may require a fee for a public record check)
How can I find someone who is incarcerated?
Published:Question: I have a relative in custody somewhere. I need to find where he is. Is there a way to locate inmates?
Answer:
If you think this person is in the Federal system, here are links to the US Bureau of Prisons inmate locator (BOP).
The Federal Marshal's Service basically contracts for detention services, and there is no inmate locator for the Federal Marshal's Service detainees.
For people held in local jails, try:
For people held in state DOC's, try:
Department of Corrections Facilities by State
Other on-line inmate locator resources:
- General inmate locator resource: (This may require a fee for a public record check)
Do you have lesson plans on verbal de-escalation techniques?
Published:Porche, Chris. 2013
Porche, Chris. 2013
Police Executive Research Forum. 2012
What are the effects of long-term isolation/segregation?
Published:See related Knowledgebase: Do you have examples of operational procedures for segregation units?
Vera Institute of Justice, NIJ sponsored, 2020
Haney, Craig, 2017
Fettig, Amy, Terry A. Kupers, and Ron Honberg, 2017
O'Keefe, Maureen, 2017
Feierman, Jessica, Karen U. Lindell, and Natane Eaddy, 2017
University of Texas School of Law, 2017
Association of State Correctional Administrators (ASCA), The Arthur Liman Public Interest Program, Yale Law School, 2016
Oregon Youth Authority, 2016
National Commission of Correctional Health Care, 2016
Cloud, David H., Ernest Drucker, Angela Brwone, and Jim Parsons, 2015
Racial Disparities and Dynamics in the Criminal Justice System
Published:Research exploring the racial disparities and dynamics of incarceration.
Do you have examples of RFPs (requests for proposals) and guidelines for monitoring contracts?
Published:Norfolk Sheriff’s Administration Building, 2017
Baltimore Substance Abuse Systems, Inc., 2013
"This is an example of a request for proposal (RFP) covering court-based substance abuse assessment services."
Pennsylvania and MacArthur's Models for Change: The Story of a Successful Public-Private Partnership
Schwartz, Robert G., 2013
"This publication includes a sample request for proposal (RFP)--aftercare pilot counties entitled Development of Comprehensive Model Aftercare Approaches."
Document ID: 027622Do you have information on anger management?
Published:Anger is an emotion that ranges from mild irritation to intense rage. Anger is a learned behavior that can be changed. Angry people need to be aware of the events, circumstances, and behaviors of others that trigger their anger. They need to understand the negative consequences that result from anger and develop strategies to effectively manage anger and stop the escalation before they lose control.
Closely related to anger are aggression and hostility. Whereas anger is an emotion and does not necessarily lead to aggression, aggression is behavior intended to cause harm to another person or property. Hostility involves disliking others and evaluating them negatively.
How can I manage and communicate effectively with problem employees?
Published:The National Institute of Corrections offers several self-study e-courses on Working with Difficult People through the NIC Learning Center (for supervisors and managers) and Frontline Learning Center (for correctional line staff.) Course offerings include Dealing with Micromanagers, How to Work with Aggressive People, How to Work with Manipulative People, How to Work with Negative People, How to Work with Procrastinators, How to Work with Self-serving People, and Identifying Difficult People.click on e-courses and then the working with difficult people icon.
Access is available to corrections professionals whose jobs are categorized as executive management, middle management, first line supervision, offender programming, or training/staff development through the NIC Learning Center.
Recidivism
Published:Recidivism of Federal Offenders Released in 2010
United States Sentencing Commission, September 2021
Implementing Specialized Caseloads to Reduce Recidivism for People with Co-Occurring Disorders
Haneberg, Risë, 2021
Does in-prison physical and mental health impact recidivism?
Danielle Wallace, Xia Wang, August 2020
Length of Incarceration and Recidivism
United States Sentencing Commission, 2020
Does specialized psychological treatment for offending reduce recidivism? A meta-analysis examining staff and program variables as predictors of treatment effectiveness
Theresa A. Gannon, Mark E. Olver, Jaimee S. Mallion, Mark James, 2019
Evaluating the Impact of Probation and Parole Home Visits
Abt Associates, 2019
Recidivism of Felony Offenders in California
Public Policy Institute of California, 2019
CONFINED AND COSTLY How Supervision Violations Are Filling Prisons and Burdening Budgets
The Council of State Governments (CSG) Justice Center (2019)
Unemployment shocks for individuals on the margin: Exploring recidivism effects
Siwach, Garima, 2018
Strengthening Correctional Culture: Eight Ways Corrections Leaders Can Support Their Staff to Reduce Recidivism
National Reentry Resource Center (2018)
The Changing State of Recidivism: Fewer People Going Back to Prison
Gelb, Adam, Velázquez, Tracy (2018)
The Effectiveness of Education and Employment Programming for Prisoners
Duwe, Grant, 2018
Recidivism Reconsidered: Preserving the Community Justice Mission of Community Corrections
Butts, Jeffrey A., Schiraldi, Vincent, 2018
The accuracy, fairness, and limits of predicting recidivism
Dressel, Julia, Farid, Hany, 2018
Information on Inmates with Serious Mental Illness and Strategies to Reduce Recidivism
GAO, 2018
Comparison of Recidivism Studies: AOUSC, USSC, and BJS
Johnson, James L., 2017
Mentoring Best Practices Research: Effectiveness of Juvenile Mentoring Programs on Recidivism
Duriez, Stephanie A., Sullivan, Carrie, Sullivan, Christopher J., Manchak, Sarah M., Latessa, Edward J., 2017