U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Purposes, Practices, and Problems of Supermax Prisons (From Crime and Justice: A Review of Research, Volume 28, P 385-434, 2001, Michael Tonry, ed. -- See NCJ-192542)
NCJ Number
              192549

Author(s)
          Leena Kurki;
                        Norval Morris
Date Published

2001
Length
              40 pages
Annotation
              This essay provides an overview of the evolution of supermax prisons in the United States focusing on their intent, facility and program characteristics, and controversies facing the treatment, services, and cost of such facilities.
Abstract
              As of 1999, 34 States were providing an estimated total of 19,630 supermax beds. Supermax prisons are facilities or units designated for inmates who have been disruptive or violent while incarcerated and where their behavior is controlled only by separation, restricted movement, and limited direct access to staff and other inmates. This environment excludes routine disciplinary segregation, protective custody, and other routine purposes. Supermax prisons have at least four characteristics: (1) assignment to a supermax prison is long-term, indefinite, and possibly for the rest of the inmate's life; (2) administrative admission and transfer criteria and procedures sometimes allow wide discretion to the prison administration and not need to provide due process protection; (3) several supermaxes maintain regimes characterized by almost complete isolation and deprivation of environmental stimuli; and (4) supermaxes are characterized as having extremely limited or no programmed activities. The exclusive goals of supermaxes are related to safety and security with its main purpose to separate the most disruptive inmates. This essay raises a number of policy and research questions about supermax prisons. However, there is limited research on the operation and effects of inmates, staff, and other prisons. The essay is organized into six sections. Section I set the frame of reference to consider the evolution of the supermax prison. In Section II, a description of the regime at the Tamms supermax facility in Illinois is provided. Section III compares some of the Tamms characteristics to those observed by Human Rights Watch and Federal district court judges in other supermax prisons. In Section IV, a concentration and focus is on the mentally ill prisoners and the psychiatric effects of solitary confinement. Section V briefly discusses order maintenance in prisons, and in Section VI a summary of the supermax movement is presented. The overall thought is that the safety and security of an effective and evenhanded prison regime do not require the harsh and isolated conditions of punishment typically found in most supermax prisons. References
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        90-IJ-CX-K044


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ


  
  
        
  Publication Type
        Report (Study/Research)
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2001
    
          Downloads
        
                      PDF

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Construction costs
        Inmate misconduct
        Maximum security
        Prison costs
        Prison management



  
Similar Publications
        
                      The Effects of Age at Prison Release on Women's Desistance Trajectories: a Mixed-Method Analysis
                  Looking Beyond Recidivism: New Research on Well-Being in Prisons and Jails From the National Institute of Justice
                  Solitary Confinement and Prison Personnel: Emotional numbing as a response to work in extended restrictive housing
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov