Date of Award

Summer 5-2015

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

Department

Graduate Department of Clinical Psychology

First Advisor

Kathleen Gathercoal, Ph.D.

Abstract

Abstract The rates of incarceration in the United States have steadily increased at an average rate of 3.4% per year since 1995, requiring the majority of federal and state institutions to function at or above capacity (Haun, 2007). This influx of adults entering correctional systems has placed increased pressure on prison officials to efficiently and effectively monitor inmate behavior as maintaining the safety and security of the correctional institution is most often the highest priority of correctional administrators (Cullen, Latessa, Burton, & Lombardo, 1993). One security measure commonly implemented to manage inmate violence and disturbances is solitary confinement. This study attempted to accurately differentiate inmates who received solitary confinement following a disciplinary infraction form those inmates who did not from numerous variables collected by the Oregon Department of Corrections. By doing so, this study aims to predict which inmates are likely to receive segregated housing so possible preventative measures can be implemented and utilized in order to minimize the use of segregation units in correctional institutions. Results indicated that the overall model of four predictors (sex, disciplinary report (DR) severity level, DR infraction type “Person,” and DR infraction type “Property”) were statistically reliable in distinguishing between inmates who received time in solitary following a DR and those inmates who did not. Additionally, results concluded that non-white inmates were more likely to receive solitary confinement following a DR than white inmates.

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