Common Punishment for Unruly Inmates
Published March 03, 2020
While in detainment, inmates should abide by all the rules set by the Department of Corrections regarding conduct. The rules must be clearly defined and explained to prisoners. And each of the inmates should have an inmate handbook that contains all the prison rules when entering the facility.
Of course, prison is not supposed to be fun. Thus, prison officials implement disciplinary rules inside the jail, such as good order, good housekeeping, and security of each individual.
Prisoners violating any of such rules will be facing some hefty penalties. Although there are rights that protect the inmates, it doesn’t mean that they can do whatever they want while inside the jail.
What Happens When Inmates Violates Prison Rules?
Segregation is the most common type of punishment used in prisons. Prison staff categorized prisoners into groups such as repeat offenders, young prisoners, and inmates that are in death row. They also segregate homosexuals that are subject to sexual abuse. However, prison officials cannot segregate inmates according to their race.
For inmates who are violent and pose a danger to other inmates, the most severe punishment is solitary confinement. Prisoners sent in “the hole” may be restricted to ordinary privileges such as loss of visitation rights for several days, depending on the severity of the violation.
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Although prison officials may punish inmates by withdrawing certain privileges, fundamental human necessities should not be taken away from the inmates. These include food, light, ventilation, and sanitation.
Here are some of the other examples of usual punishment for unruly inmates:
- Forfeiture of accumulated “good behavior” time
- Transfer to a less desirable housing or prison job assignment
- Confiscation of items
- Disciplinary transfer to a higher security prison
- Monetary restitution
- Loss of telephone, visiting, or mail privileges
Before getting punished for committing an infraction, inmates should get a hearing with the warden first. Prisoners will receive a notice of the charges against them, the rules they violated, and the penalties that come with it.
However, prison disciplinary proceedings are not the same as criminal prosecutions. Thus, the accused prisoner does not have the right to trial nor entitled to an attorney.
If the prison staff and other person-in-charge find the prisoner guilty of the infraction, then the punishment will be issued. The penalties must be reasonable and related to the severity of the rules violated, however.
What Can Prison Officials Do When Inmates Starts to Get Violent?
When inmates start to get violent, sometimes it leads to a prison riot. Prison staff can use force as self-defense, to stop fights between inmates, and defend state property.
Firing at shotguns at prisoners whenever there is a commotion is very common. If there is a potential for a prison riot, the use of tear gas and chemical mace are justified.
What Happens When Inmates Commits Infractions Several Times?
For every infraction, prison staff will mark a “shot” against the prisoner and place it on his or her file. Prison officials will consider the number of shots on the prisoner’s record whenever he or she requests an additional privilege or comes up for parole.
For instance, a prisoner that asks for a better prison job will have a higher chance of getting approved on his request if the number of shots in his profile is minimal or none at all.
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About The Author
Judy Ponio is a professional writer for the GlobalTel blog. She works hard to ensure her work contains accurate facts by cross checking reputable sources and doesn’t settle for less. Her passion for telling stories about true crime and criminal justice has allowed her to create hundreds of articles that have benefited millions of people.
