Central OC Times

Prison violence is a persistent issue in the U.S. criminal justice system, creating unsafe conditions for both inmates and staff. A team of researchers has conducted a study to understand this problem better and develop strategies to reduce and prevent it across correctional facilities nationwide.

The findings are presented in two policy briefs: “The Dark Figure of Prison Violence: A Multi-Strategy Approach to Uncovering the Prevalence of Prison Violence” and “Sources and Consequences of Prison Violence: Key Findings and Recommendations from the Prison Violence Consortium.”

“Our work aims to shift the paradigm in how prison violence is understood, addressed and, most critically, prevented,” stated the authors. They emphasized providing a "nuanced, data-driven perspective" to catalyze meaningful changes in policy and practice with the ultimate goal of contributing to a more just criminal justice system.

This research was conducted by the Prison Violence Consortium, funded by Arnold Ventures. Led by Nancy Rodriguez from UC Irvine, the team includes experts H. Daniel Butler from Iowa State University, Natasha A. Frost from Northeastern University, Melinda Tasca from University of Texas at El Paso, and Jillian J. Turanovic from University of Colorado Boulder.

Consortium members include several state departments of corrections such as those in Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and Texas.

Among their recommendations are evidence-based treatment programs, expanded staff training, and enhanced mental health resources to address prison violence effectively.

Nancy Rodriguez noted that the Consortium is expanding its reach to include additional state prison systems while working with existing partners on state-specific solutions. “Our work illustrates how independent researchers and government can work in meaningful partnerships to co-develop solutions for complex problems,” she explained on Episode 10 of Pracademically Speaking podcast.

By implementing these recommendations, state correctional systems can aim to develop reliable metrics for violence reporting and pursue interventions that significantly reduce harm within prisons.

The policy briefs are available online:

- The Dark Figure of Prison Violence: A Multi-Strategy Approach to Uncovering the Prevalence of Prison Violence

- Sources and Consequences of Prison Violence: Key Findings and Recommendations from the Prison Violence Consortium

UC Irvine is recognized for its academic achievements and contributions to research. It ranks among the top public universities in the nation according to U.S. News & World Report.