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Criminal Justice and Behavior, Vol. 35, No. 8, 985-1004 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0093854808318584

Patterns of Disturbed Behavior in a Supermax Population

David Lovell

University of Washington, lovelld{at}u.washington.edu

Results of a systematic survey of the clinical status of supermax residents, showing the association of mental health issues with disruptive behavior, are followed by eight brief case studies. The survey covers 131 inmates selected at random from Washington's supermax facilities, representing almost half the residents. From interviews with 87 of these inmates, combined with reviews of medical and institutional behavior records, it is concluded that 45% of supermax residents suffer from serious mental illness, marked psychological symptoms, psychological breakdowns, or brain damage. With this empirical grounding, an argument is presented that the concept of disturbed behavior, notwithstanding its lack of a clear diagnostic reference, is needed if we are to understand interactions between prison settings and the mental health issues of prisoners. The clinical profile and histories of disturbed prisoners provide reasons to establish greater flexibility in prison classification and disciplinary procedures, especially those that determine how long prisoners stay in supermax. Institutional obstacles to flexibility are diagnosed, and the possibility of shrinking supermax populations is proposed.

Key Words: supermax • mental health • mental illness • prisoner • deterrence • custody


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C. Haney
A Culture of Harm: Taming the Dynamics of Cruelty in Supermax Prisons
Criminal Justice and Behavior, August 1, 2008; 35(8): 956 - 984.
[Abstract] [PDF]