Prison Violence

Abstract Prison settings are breeding grounds for violence. Prison violence may take different forms, such as homicides, assaults, rapes, and riots. This entry provides an overview of prison violence and its extent in the United States. Although there are different data sources on prison violence, this entry primarily focuses on data collected by the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). Social scientists have offered numerous explanations for prison violence, with several developing theoretical models to explain prison violence. Discussed are three generally recognized theoretical models of prison violence, namely the importation, deprivation, and exploratory models. Implications of prison violence and suggestions for future studies are included.