Abstract
This book examines the evidence for various strategies implemented to control behaviour in prison.
There is no doubt that there are a wide variety of views regarding how to manage problem behaviours in prison. These relate to the design, regime and staffing. They have changed over the years and are still changing. Interestingly, in a long career working in prisons in three countries I have encountered staff who are absolutely and fundamentally convinced that they have solved this question and argue forcefully their position. This may be a necessary stance given the difficult circumstances under which they work.
Richard Wortley, in this carefully researched and comprehensive text, shows how far we are from knowing which is the best regime or staffing structure or program to manage an inmate group.
He starts with the theoretical foundations, which is a very comprehensive and well-written section on situational prison control. He defines clearly, thereby restricting the field: ‘Situational techniques involve the systemic manipulation of aspects of immediate environments of potential offenders in an attempt to block or inhibit criminal responses’.
Richard Wortley deals with critics and their arguments. He then looks at the physical estate and devotes short sections to first-, second- and third-generation prisons as he calls them. This is illuminating as it relates to the long history of prison design from the mid-nineteenth century onwards. He proceeds to look at varied prison regimes – the control regimen, the responsibility model, the consensual model. There are also views on the population size density, turnover and composition. All these topics are discussed in the light of research available.
From the above he moves on to the application, giving a model of situational prison control, which in 21 pages is very comprehensive and clear as to how the theory translates into a working model.
Part 2 looks at specific behaviours and the application of situational prison control to them. This is a comprehensive and well-written section. This ranges widely from those that interest psychiatrists and psychologists like self-harm, prisoner–staff violence and drug use, to escapes and collective disorder.
I reflected on what use this book would be to a psychiatrist and it is clear that any psychiatrist who over the years has gone into correctional institutions and examined inmates for mental disorder should have some views on how the environment and the regime affect people. They would find ample material in this text againstwhich to test their impressions. Those psychiatrists involved in building or advising on the building of secure facilities should read this text and they will reflect on design and regime with a new critical freshness.
Finally, I would wish to encourage the armchair moralists who believe ‘prisonworks’ to read this text and revisit their views, which may not change, but they definitely will be better informed.
John V. Basson
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia