Administrative segregation

1982
united states

Administrative segregation, also known as ad seg, is a term used in correctional facilities to refer to the confinement of an inmate in a separate area or cell due to disciplinary or administrative reasons. In administrative segregation, inmates are isolated from the general prison population and are subjected to more restrictive conditions.

Administrative segregation may be used as a disciplinary measure for inmates who have violated prison rules or engaged in misconduct. It is also used for administrative reasons, such as protecting an inmate from harm, separating rival gang members, or preventing the spread of influence or contraband.

In administrative segregation, inmates typically have limited or no access to communal activities, such as group meals or recreation time. They may also have restricted access to personal possessions or privileges. The length of time an inmate spends in administrative segregation can vary, depending on the severity of the infraction or the administrative reason.

The use of administrative segregation has raised concerns regarding its effects on inmates' mental health and overall well-being. Prolonged isolation can lead to increased rates of depression, anxiety, and other psychological issues. Therefore, correctional facilities are often encouraged to implement alternatives to administrative segregation, such as therapeutic programs or other forms of discipline.

Further reading

Hilton N.Z.; Ham E.; Seto M.C. (2019) "Assessment of Risk for Seclusion Among Forensic Inpatients: Validation and Modification of the Risk of Administrative Segregation Tool (RAST)", International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 63(8), pp. 1424-1445. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0306624X18823621

Harbert B.J.; Gaines C. (2019) "Sounding lockdown: Singing in Administrative Segregation at the Louisiana Correctional Institute for Women", Popular Music and the Politics of Hope: Queer and Feminist Interventions, 299-316. Taylor and Francis Inc.. DOI: 10.4324/9781315165677

Garces C. (2014) "Denuding surveillance at the carceral boundary", South Atlantic Quarterly, 113(3), pp. 447-473. Duke University Press. DOI: 10.1215/00382876-2692146

Lanes E.C. (2011) "Are the "worst of the worst" self injurious prisoners more likely to end up in long term maximum security administrative segregation?", International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 55(7), pp. 1034-1050. . DOI: 10.1177/0306624X10378494

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Scanlon F.; Lester M.E.; Brace T.; Batastini A.B.; Morgan R.D. (2022) "Tried and True? A Psychometric Evaluation of the Psychological Inventory of Criminal Thinking Styles Short Form", Assessment, -. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/10731911221132500

Batastini A.B.; Lester M.E.; Morgan R.D.; Atterberry E. (2021) "Stepping Up, Stepping Out: A Program Description and Preliminary Findings", Psychological Services, 18(4), pp. 679-688. American Psychological Association. DOI: 10.1037/ser0000430

Labrecque R.M.; Smith P. (2019) "Assessing the Impact of Time Spent in Restrictive Housing Confinement on Subsequent Measures of Institutional Adjustment Among Men in Prison", Criminal Justice and Behavior, 46(10), pp. 1445-1455. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0093854818824371

Chadick C.D.; Batastini A.B.; Levulis S.J.; Morgan R.D. (2018) "The psychological impact of solitary: A longitudinal comparison of general population and long term administratively segregated male inmates", Legal and Criminological Psychology, 23(2), pp. 101-116. John Wiley and Sons Ltd. DOI: 10.1111/lcrp.12125

Helmus L.M.; Johnson S.; Harris A.J.R. (2019) "Developing and Validating a Tool to Predict Placements in Administrative Segregation: Predictive Accuracy With Inmates, Including Indigenous and Female Inmates", Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, -. American Psychological Association Inc.. DOI: 10.1037/law0000201

LaBranche K.J.; Labrecque R.M. (2020) "Public Support for Solitary Confinement: A Randomized Experiment of Belief Updating and Confirmation Bias", Victims and Offenders, -. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2020.1795766

Walters G.D. (2018) "Checking the Math: Do Restrictive Housing and Mental Health Need Add Up to Psychological Deterioration?", Criminal Justice and Behavior, 45(9), pp. 1347-1362. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0093854818780177

Morgan R.D.; Van Horn S.A.; MacLean N.; Hunter J.T.; Bauer R.L. (2019) "The effects of imprisonment", The Wiley International Handbook of Correctional Psychology, 63-77. Wiley Blackwell. DOI: 10.1002/9781119139980.ch4

Morgan R.D.; Gendreau P.; Smith P.; Gray A.L.; Labrecque R.M.; MacLean N.; Van Horn S.A.; Bolanos A.D.; Batastini A.B.; Mills J.F. (2016) "Quantitative syntheses of the effects of administrative segregation on inmates' well being", Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 22(4), pp. 439-461. American Psychological Association Inc.. DOI: 10.1037/law0000089

Labrecque R.M. (2018) "Taking stock: A Meta Analysis of the Predictors of Restrictive Housing", Victims and Offenders, 13(5), pp. 675-692. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/15564886.2018.1468367

Batastini A.B.; Morgan R.D. (2016) "Connecting the Disconnected: Preliminary Results and Lessons Learned From a Telepsychology Initiative With Special Management Inmates", Psychological Services, 13(3), pp. 283-291. American Psychological Association. DOI: 10.1037/ser0000078

Toch H. (2008) "Cumulative default: The cost of disruptive prison careers", Criminal Justice and Behavior, 35(8), pp. 943-955. . DOI: 10.1177/0093854808318594

Kupers T.A.; Dronet T.; Winter M.; Austin J.; Kelly L.; Cartier W.; Morris T.J.; Hanlon S.F.; Sparkman E.L.; Kumar P.; Vincent L.C.; Norris J.; Nagel K.; Mcbride J. (2009) "Beyond supermax administrative segregation: Mississippi's experience rethinking prison classification and creating alternative mental health programs", Criminal Justice and Behavior, 36(10), pp. 1037-1050. . DOI: 10.1177/0093854809341938

Barak-Glantz I.L. (1982) "A decade of disciplinary, administrative, and protective control of inmates in the Washington State Penitentiary: A research note", Journal of Criminal Justice, 10(6), pp. 481-492. . DOI: 10.1016/0047-2352(82)90080-0

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Labrecque R.M.; Campbell C.M.; LaBranche K.J.; Reddy L.; Zavita K.R.; Morgan R.D. (2021) "Administrative Segregation: A Review of State and Federal Policies", Criminal Justice Policy Review, 32(7), pp. 718-739. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0887403421998440

Zgoba K.M.; Pizarro J.M.; Salerno L.M. (2020) "Assessing the Impact of Restrictive Housing on Inmate Post Release Criminal Behavior", American Journal of Criminal Justice, 45(1), pp. 102-125. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/s12103-019-09496-2

(2020) "Consensus statement from the santa cruz summit on solitary confinement and health", Northwestern University Law Review, 115(1), pp. 335-360. Northwestern University School of Law. DOI: [2]

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Valentine C.L.; Restivo E.; Wright K. (2019) "Prolonged isolation as a predictor of mental health for waived juveniles", Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 58(4), pp. 352-369. Routledge. DOI: 10.1080/10509674.2019.1596188

Labrecque R.M.; Mears D.P. (2019) "Prison System Versus Critics’ Views on the Use of Restrictive Housing: Objective Risk Classification or Ascriptive Assignment?", Prison Journal, 99(2), pp. 194-218. SAGE Publications Inc.. DOI: 10.1177/0032885519825492

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Lanes E. (2009) "The association of administrative segregation placement and other risk factors with the self injury free time of male prisoners", Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 48(6), pp. 529-546. . DOI: 10.1080/10509670903081342

O'keefe M.L. (2008) "Administrative Segregation From Within: A Corrections Perspective", The Prison Journal, 88(1), pp. 123-143. . DOI: 10.1177/0032885507310999

O'keefe M.L. (2007) "Administrative segregation for mentally ill inmates", Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, 45(1-2), pp. 149-165. Haworth Press Inc.. DOI: 10.1300/J076v45n01_11

Jackson M. (2006) "The litmus test of legitimacy: Independent adjudication and administrative segregation", Canadian Journal of Criminology and Criminal Justice, 48(2), pp. 157-196. . DOI: 10.1353/ccj.2006.0018

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