1. Supermax Prisons
By: Dustin Kennelly

2. Overview Definition Purpose History Today Cost Construction
Life Inside
Against

3. Definition
A Supermax facility (or control unit facility) is a facility that holds prisoners in their personal cells hours per day, under constant surveillance, generally only allowing them out for medical attention, visitations that are extremely rare and non-contact.

4. Purpose
Intended to hold the “worst of the worst” prisoners the corrections department feels that pose the highest risk to a correctional facility.

5. History
From “The Contemporary Relevance of Early Experiments with Supermax Reform” by Hans Toch
Ideas similar to Supermax was looked at as early as the 1800’s but abandoned due to effect on mental health of the prisoners
After being ordered by the New York State Legislature Auburn Prison warden Gershom Powers placed a “select class of convicts to be composed of the oldest and most heinous offenders, and to confine them constantly in solitary cells” on Christmas 1821.
Government and the public felt that the corrections system wasn’t working and needed to fix it.
After reports surfaced of attempted suicide and psychological problems the New York Governor ended the experiment.
Another experiment in Rhode Island by a Dr. Cleveland also found that prisoners held in solitary confinement began to have psychological problems, after studying 40 prisoners 25% of them “manifested decided symptoms of derangement”

6. History
Alcatraz
Was opened as a federal prison in August 1934 and is now considered the countries first Supermax due to its design, location and at that time it held the countries worst criminals
It is believed that no one ever escaped the facility
Held major criminals of its time including Al Capone, Robert Stroud, George Kelly, and James Bulger
Closed in 1963 due to expense in operating facility, was replaced by a new facility being constructed in Marion, Illinois The United States Penitentiary

7. History
The United States Penitentiary opened in 1963 to replace Alcatraz
Facility held 500 of the countries worst inmates
Became the United States first Supermax when it was placed on permanent lockdown in 1983 after inmates killed two guards
Lockdown continued till 2006 when the facility was remodeled into a Medium Security Prison and fully replaced by ADX Florence in Florence, Colorado.

8. Today
United States Federal Government Operates Administrative Maximum Facility (ADX) Florence or Alcatraz of the Rockies
Opened in 1994 at a cost of $60 million
Was designed as a Supermax facility unlike the Marion Facility
Generally has around 430 male prisoners under 23 hour lockdown, with one hour spent in cement recreational yard.
Prison has 1,400 remote controlled doors, Laser beams, pressure pads, and guard dogs to prevent escape
Reported by “An Assessment of Supermax Prisons Using a Evaluation Research Framework” by Daniel P. Mears
44 States also operate at least one Supermax unit housing over 25,000 inmates

9. Cost
Reported by “An Assessment of Supermax Prisons Using a Evaluation Research Framework” by Daniel P. Mears
2-3 times more expensive to build and operate due to technology, increased staffing, and only one inmate per cell.

10. Cell Construction Based of ADX Florence Construction 7 ft x 12 ft
Solid Metal Door then a space and a steel bar door
Cement poured BED, DESK, STOOL
Stainless steel SINK, TOLIET and polished metal Mirror
Each prisoner has personal shower
All water appliances have shutoffs built in to make sure prisoners cannot flood or damage the appliance
Cells have windows that are 4 ft by 4ft, but allow you only to see the sky and the roof
Electronically controlled doors, cameras, censors to monitor every movement.

11. Life Inside 22-23 hours a day in your personal cell
TV & Radio that can be taken away as punishment
Every movement is monitored by cameras
Every time a prisoner is moved the facility shuts down.
1-2 hours outside the cell is spent in a cement recreational area.
Prisoners may be able to get out of supermax’s in some cases
ADX Florence has a 3 year program that slowly socializes you to interacting with other inmates to eventually release you back to maximum security prison
A single violation gets you placed back into full restriction

12. Against Many people today are still against Supermax facilities Why?
Psychological Stressors
Are they Truly Needed?
Do they prevent or increase delinquency in prisons?
Cost
Lack of Programming and Treatment
May be just a short term solution.
Suggested by “An Assessment of Supermax Prisons Using a Evaluation Research Framework” by Daniel P. Mears

13. References
The Contemporary Relevance of Early Experiments with Supermax Reform by Hans Toch
An Assessment of Supermax Prisons Using a Evaluation Research Framework by Daniel P. Mears
Supermax Prisons in the Consciousness of Prisoners by Kenneth E. Hartman