Tracing the elements of prison violence

Abstract

Prison violence is a serious issue affecting inmates and staff worldwide. This study analyzes data from Greek prisons to identify factors associated with prison violence. The data includes statistics on the prison population, number of violent incidents, overcrowding, spatial density, and inmate/staff ratios. The findings indicate that overcrowding alone does not directly cause more violence. Rather, factors like facility management, architecture, inmate population characteristics, and staff training seem to have a greater impact. Overall, the study highlights the need for a holistic approach to prison management and design that considers the environment, population, and staff to reduce violence. The complex interplay of these elements must be examined to understand and prevent prison violence.

Keywords

• prison violence
• overcrowding
• prison management