Prison Reform Research Paper

BACKGROUND

The U.S. prison system deals with a multitude of problems, including overcrowding, inmate violence, riots, treatment of prisoners, high operating costs, and underpaid and undertrained personnel. Reformers attempt to find solutions to these issues and effectively implement them.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

365.7

365.973

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Prisons

Prisons—United States

Prisons—United States—History

Corrections—United States

Rehabilitation of criminals—United States

USE PAMPHLET FILE (ALSO CALLED VERTICAL FILE) UNDER THE HEADING

Prisons

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

CQ Researcher, February 4, 1994.

Editorials on File, Facts on File.

Facts on File

General encyclopedias

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog

Internet
KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Prison overcrowding

Prison procedures

Prison reform

Prison reformers

Prison riots

Prisons—analysis

Prison security

Rehabilitation of criminals

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Birdman of Alcatraz. CBS/Fox Video, 1991.

Murder in the First. Warner Home Video, 1995.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Gaddis, Thomas E. Birdman of Alcatraz, 1955.

Gifaldi, David. One Thing for Sure, 1986.

Hyde, Dayton O. Island of the Loons, 1984.

Marsden, John. Letters from the Inside, 1994.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

American Prison Association—American Correctional Association, 8025 Laurel Lakes Court, Laurel Lakes, MD 20707–5075.

National Prison Project, 1875 Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20009.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Analyze a particular prison; e.g., Leavenworth, Attica.

Discuss the pros and cons of early release, furloughs, parole.

Discuss theories and practice of rehabilitation of prisoners.

Research one or more problems affecting prisons; e.g., overcrowding, riots, violence.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Alternatives to imprisonment

Historic prisons; e.g., Alcatraz, Sing Sing

Notorious prison riots; e.g., Attica, Soledad

Prison reformers in history; e.g., Elizabeth Fry

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.