Super-Maximum Correctional Facilities Analysis

This justice article defines, examines, and evaluates super-maximum correctional facilities, their individual state policies, and certain characteristics incarcerated inmates exhibit. This article provides insight into how various states’ super-maximum facilities operate, from utilizing specific criteria to define and admit a super-maximum inmate, to how each individual facility deals with these problem inmates. To better understand the use of admission criteria to define an inmate, one must first understand the definition of a super-max facility.
There are various definitions of a super-max facility, which leads to constant confusion in regards to the standard for which states should define a super-max facility. While all of these definitions are similar, the most widely used definition is a separate, highly secure housing unit designated for the most violent and dangerous criminals serving long-term sentences. While various states define super-max differently, these facilities predominantly contain the most violent and dangerous inmates who are labeled as a threat to themselves and/or other inmates or prison staff in the facility. Despite the varying definitions, most states with super-max …show more content…
Many states’ super-max policies differ due to the varying definitions and admission procedures for super-max inmates, however the set of criteria used across the country to determine if an inmate should be placed in a super-max facility is almost identical. The five main criteria the majority of administrators use to determine if an offender should be an inmate in super-max are (1) repeat violent behavior, (2) escape risk, (3) riotous behavior, (4) threat to institutional safety, and (5) security threat group, or “gang