LETHAL BUNK BUDDIES

Massachusetts is taking steps to alleviate prison overcrowding that may ultimately threaten the safety of inmates and correctional officers. The Department of Corrections (DOC) is initiating a plan to mount 400 bunk beds in Souza-Boranowski Correctional Center in Shirley, MA, in order to house the most hazardous inmates from MCI-Cedar Junction in Walpole, Ma. To make matters even worse, the state is said to have been accepting requests from inmates who want to bunk together. “The roommate request scenario, sources explained, raises several bad possibilities: gangbangers teaming up, couples making house in the big house, or even worse - jailbait forced to live with their abusers.” http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2008_11_10_Prison_guards_say_cons_chiming_in_on_bunk_buddies:_The_roommates_from_hell/srvc=home&position=1

If the DOC of Massachusetts were to go through with this plan it would be a tumultuous idea. Prison is not a privilege as is college and inmates should not be able to choose their roommate as if they were in a dorm at a university. The prisoners that are being considered for this move are exceptionally dangerous and can only become exceedingly more dangerous if bunked with one of their inmate pals. “One 20-year correctional officer explained, “once this happens, my ability to separate inmates is gone, it’s gonna be ugly. It’s gonna be a bloodbath.” http://news.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/2008_11_10_Prison_guards_say_cons_chiming_in_on_bunk_buddies:_The_roommates_from_hell/srvc=home&position=1

Riots and other fights would have the potential to become more lethal if buddies are bunkingtogether because they would have the ability to group up and work in tandem. Gangs could team up on rival gang members and inmates could also have the ability to plan attacks on other inmates or possibly on correctional officers. Correctional officers always want to maintain control at an institution and by placing associates together in the same bunk bed, they may lose a little of that control. Inmates outnumber correctional officers substantially, and to allow associates to bunk together and have the chance to arrange or prepare a group attack on an officer is extremely hazardous. Placing known acquaintances together in a prison atmosphere is a recipe for disaster, not only for the correctional officers, but also for inmates whom could come under attack.

I would not recommend the stance Massachusetts is taking to alleviating overcrowding prisons. Alleviating overcrowding prisons at the cost of the safety of prisoners and correctional officers is not a reasonable solution to solving the nation-wide problem of overcrowded prisons. There are many other stances that could be taken to reduce overcrowding in prisons, including 1) reduced sentences for good behavior for low-risk offenders, 2) rehabilitation programs to reduce second time offenses, and 3) a change in the mandatory minimum sentencing laws, to name a few.