Prison Impacts: A Review of the Research

• NCJ Number: 120517
• Author(s): K A Carlson
• Date Published: 1989
• Length: 23 pages
• Grant Number(s): 85-IJ-CX-0022
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Literature Review

Annotation

This review of the research on the impacts of a prison on the community in which it is located concludes that the community and prison sizes, the prison's location in relation to inmate and employee origins, and four other factors all influence the direction of the impacts.

Abstract

The other factors are the host community's capacity to provide needed services, housing, and other amenities; the institutional security level and the length of inmate sentences; institutional arrangements concerning inmate community work, releases, and visiting; and the institution's local history related to siting disputes, promises, community needs, and escapes. The sizes of the prison and the community are the most important factors, however. In addition, measures such as constructing housing for employees and improving community services can help increase the chance of a favorable impact. 25 references.