Convict segregation

Date and country of first publication

2015
France

Definition

Convict segregation refers to the practice of separating prisoners within a correctional facility based on certain characteristics, such as the nature of their crimes, their risk level, their age, or their gang affiliations. The aim is to maintain order, ensure safety for all inmates and staff, and prevent conflicts or violence.

There are different types of segregation within prisons:

1. Administrative segregation: This is a form of isolation used for disciplinary or administrative purposes. Inmates may be placed in administrative segregation to separate them from the general population if they pose a threat to others, are involved in gang activities, or have violated prison rules. It is typically a short-term solution until the disciplinary issue is resolved or the threat is neutralized.

2. Protective custody: This form of segregation is used to protect inmates from potential harm. It is often provided to those who are at risk of violence from other prisoners, such as high-profile or high-risk individuals, inmates with a history of being targeted, or those who have testified against other inmates. Protective custody allows these inmates to be separated from the general population for their own safety.

3. Security threat group (STG) or gang segregation: Some inmates may be segregated based on their affiliations with gangs or security threat groups. This separation prevents gang influence, territorial disputes, and violence associated with gang activities. In such cases, inmates are housed separately from the general population to minimize their ability to recruit, intimidate, or harm others.

Critics argue that convict segregation can have negative effects on prisoners, including increased levels of psychological distress, isolation, and limited access to programs and services. It is important for correctional facilities to ensure that individuals are placed in segregation only when necessary and with clear guidelines on when and for how long segregation is justified. Additionally, efforts should be made to provide appropriate mental health care and opportunities for rehabilitative programming to those in segregated conditions.

Convict segregation appears in the following literature

Herzog-Evans M. (2015). Solitary confinement and convict segregation in French prisons. The Marion Experiment: Long-term Solitary Confinement and the Supermax Movement, 222-237. Southern Illinois University Press.https://doi.org/