ct with another human being. The idea of less contact with prisoners has come from the increasing number of assaults on prison guards in the past 10 years. However, most of the assaults are coming from maximum-security prisons with control units. Control units which all started roughly ten years ago. It is clear to see the parallel in human behavior in this situation. The higher the level of 'security' or detainment, however you look at it, the more violent the inmates. A clear example of this theory is a prison in Indiana called 'Marion'. It was bumped up to the highest level security prison in the country in the late seventies. Shortly thereafter it became the most violent facility throughout the nation. (From Alcatraz to Marion, control unit prisons, 5) As the idea of detainment of prisoners for "security purposes" has swept the country the number of assaults on prison staff has risen from 175 in 1991 to 906 in 1993. (Federal Bureau of Prisons, 2) Looking at my theory of human behavior in prisons, I find support for my opinion from a different point of view. In the early 1900's a jail/prison in Montpelier, Vermont had designed a program that had practically let inmates come and go as they please. They were not forced to wear a uniform. They are not supervised out in the town. They are free to spend the day doing as they please. The plan originated in the idea that jailers could leave for the day to do work. When the idea was proposed the townspeople were scared that murderers and thieves were free out on the streets like everybody else. In the beginning a couple of inmates (out of 800) tried to escape and were punished with a longer sentence. However, the rest understood the rules of the game and were grateful to be treated like a human again, they returned to jail everyday at their declared time and served their sentence. All the while morals were being taught to the prisoners and they cooperated with the system like pr...
