The Effectiveness Of Supermax Prisons And Extreme Solitary...

The Effectiveness of Supermax Prisons and Extreme Solitary Confinement Kelsey R. Eborall Boise State University Abstract This paper discusses what supermax prisons are and the philosophy behind them. There are minimum, medium, and maximum-security prisons, so what was the reasoning behind forming a supermax security level? Supermax prisons are an extreme form of solitary confinement used to keep away the worst inmates. Many questions are raised on whether this is a humane form or incapacitation or not. Does this form of extreme solitary confinement work or is it too extreme? Mental heath, costs, and lack of programs make this a form of isolation that wouldn t be found anywhere else. This paper is designed for the reader to gain a perspective on the arguments for and against supermax prisons, as well as layout how supermaxes were formed and the underlying goals behind them. The Effectiveness of Supermax Prisons and Extreme Solitary Confinement Various studies have been conducted testing the effectiveness of supermax prisons. Is the level of confinement too extreme, does it act as a deterrent; is it a successful form of incarceration, and who gets sent to supermaxes? All of these questions are relevant in beginning to understand the philosophy behind this form of incarceration. However, there is no empirical research regarding the need of supermax prisons, past or present (Mear 2013). Little research has actually been conducted on the basis inShow MoreRelatedPersuasive Essay On Prison Segregation1490 Words   |  6 PagesWhen it comes to segregation in prisons, there is a great deal of controversy. There are people who argue that this type of segregation (also referred to as solitary confinement) is necessary in certain situations, while others find that it is absolutely unnecessary and should be abolished. Ashley Smith was one such individual that spent most of her sentence in segregation unti l she took her own life. In the case of Smith, there was a lot more that should have been done to prevent her tragic demiseRead MorePrison Overcrowding Essay3058 Words   |  13 PagesPrison Overcrowding In America’s tough economic society, over population has become an exceedingly hot topic issue. However, overcrowding in America’s prison system has been a severe problem since the 1970s. The majority of the changes have come from different policies on what demographic to imprison and for what reason. The perspective of locking up criminals because they are evil is what spawned this (Allen, 2008). Because of this perspective the prison system in America is in need of serious