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Inmate-made weapons in prison facilities: assessing the injury risk.
J M Lincoln1, L-H Chen, J S Mair
1Center for Injury Research and Policy, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. jlincoln@jhsph.edu
Summary
Correctional staff assaults by inmates using homemade weapons are a serious issue. Identifying common weapon materials from prison stores and issued items can help prevent future injuries and reduce costs.
Area of Science:
- Criminology
- Public Health
- Occupational Safety
Background:
- Over 2400 correctional workers in the US needed medical care in 1999 due to inmate assaults.
- Inmate-made weapons, often unconventional, pose a significant risk in correctional facilities.
- Limited data exists on the types and origins of these weapons.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the types and sources of weapons used in inmate assaults on correctional staff.
- To identify materials and origins of weapons to inform prevention strategies.
- To estimate the cost associated with staff injuries from these assaults.
Main Methods:
- A survey was distributed to 101 state prisons regarding weapon confiscations and usage over a 12-month period (2002-03).
- Data was collected on 1326 weapons, differentiating between confiscated items and those used in assaults.
- Analysis focused on the source of materials (prison stores vs. issued items) and weapon types.
Main Results:
- Of 70 responding prisons, 1326 weapons were documented; 1086 confiscated, 203 used on inmates, and 37 used on staff.
- Clubs were the most frequent weapon type used against staff.
- Materials from prison stores were common for confiscated weapons, while issued items were primary for weapons injuring staff.
Conclusions:
- Prison stores and issued items are critical sources for weapon-making materials and require focused attention for redesign or control.
- Understanding material origins is key to developing effective strategies to prevent weapon modification and reduce staff injuries.
- The annual cost of staff injuries in the studied prisons was estimated at over $1.1 million, highlighting the economic impact.
