Physical security and correctional disorder: A quantitative test

Abstract

ABSTRACT One of the defining features of U.S. correctional facilities is their physical security. The perimeter fences, high walls, and locked doors meant to both protect society from convicted offenders and keep those inside the facility safe. Although some research suggests physical security features are salient correlates of correctional order, there is little empirical evidence to support this claim. This knowledge gap is problematic, because disorder in correctional facilities is both frequent and costly. To estimate the effect of physical security features on two measures of facility disorder – interpersonal violence and absconding – this study utilized six waves of data from the Census of Juveniles in Residential Placement and the Juvenile Residential Facility Census and multivariate logistic regression. The mixed findings are discussed along with directions for future research.