Earning trust in prison: Notes from an indirect supervision model

• In Event: Issues in Prison Culture and Policy: Research from the Prison Research & Innovation Initiative

Abstract

As part of the Urban Institute’s Prison Research and Innovation Network (PRIN), which aims to use a data-driven approach to make prisons more humane, the pilot facility in Vermont created a housing unit with “indirect supervision.” During the recent staffing shortage, the innovation created took advantage of the need to rely less on staff, using “indirect supervision” of a select number of reliable incarcerated individuals. The “Honors Unit” utilized several features, including the absence of correctional officers stationed in the unit, unlocked cells, more freedom of movement, facility responsibilities, self-governance, and conflict resolution skills for the residents. The outcomes of the unit are positive: there have been no altercations among residents since its inception in July 2022. Through open-ended questionnaires of residents, we evaluated the functioning of the unit and what aspects they deemed to be crucial to its success. The residents reported feeling trusted by the administration, which in turn, made them feel calmer, happier, and more “human.” Using qualitative data from the Honors Unit, plus quantitative survey measures comparing the responses from unit members to those of other residents, this paper will discuss the elements of the indirect supervision model, what it suggests about the role of staff in prisons, and the relevance for scaling the model.

Authors

• Kathy Fox, University of Vermont

• Abigail Crocker, University of Vermont