Exploring Indicators for Admission to Restrictive Housing

• In Event: Special Needs Offenders in the U. S., Lebanon and the United Kingdom

Abstract

Recently there has been a renewed interest in the use of restrictive housing (also known as administrative segregation) from both a policy and research perspective. For correctional institutions, having an understanding of the characteristics of those inmates who are most likely to end up in restrictive housing could be beneficial in terms of anticipating the needs and potential challenges of housing these inmates. The proposed study examines data from a Midwestern state’s Department of Corrections to analyze the indicators for admission to restrictive housing. Using institutional level characteristics (e.g. length of stay, prior incarcerations, program participation, institutional violations, etc.) and personal characteristics (e.g. risk level, mental health issues, etc.), this research will describe the indicators of those placed in restrictive housing, those who stay in restrictive housing for extended periods of time, and those who return to restrictive housing multiple times within their period of incarceration. Beyond the descriptive analysis, this study will also compare the recidivism rates of inmates placed in restrictive housing to similarly situated inmates not placed in restrictive housing.

Authors

• Kristin Bechtel, Crime and Justice Institute

• Charlene Taylor, Crime and Justice Institute