Supermax Prisons: Their Rise, Current Practices, and Effect on Inmates

Abstract

In recent years, a number of new approaches in corrections have developed, one of which is the super-maximum, or “supermax,” prison. This article explores the roots of these institutions, explains how they operate, and examines their potential effects on inmate populations. The extant empirical research on supermax facilities suggests that these institutions have the potential to damage inmates’ mental health while failing to meet their purported goals (e.g., deterring inmates in the general prison population from committing criminal acts inside prison), resulting in added problems for correctional administrators and increased economic costs to public budgets without apparent benefits.