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Inside Marion: Warden Gary Henman Talks About BOP's (Bureau of Prisons') Most Secure Prison

NCJ Number
112275
Journal
Corrections Today Volume: 50 Issue: 4 Dated: (July 1988) Pages: 92-94,96-101
Author(s)
G Henman
Editor(s)
L Ochipinti, D Clark
Date Published
1988
Length
9 pages
Annotation
An interview with Warden Gary Henman and supplemental information examine operational policies and procedures, especially security related, at the Federal Penitentiary at Marion, Ill., the only Level 6 Federal correctional facility in the country.
Abstract
Warden Henman discusses the facility's operational philosophy and the special restrictions and disciplinary measures needed for the highly hostile, assaultive, and escape-prone inmate population. Events leading to the lockdown at Marion are described, as are its effects on inmate assaults on staff and other inmates. Criticisms of the harshness of the facility's disciplinary measures, particularly the use of bed restraints, forced cell moves, and rectal searches, are addressed. Inmate educational, vocational, recreational, and industry programs are described. Also considered are staff selection procedures, training, and staff-inmate relationships. The use of a stratified inmate management system to provide incentives for inmates to modify their behaviors and its positive effects are emphasized. The system consists of a high security unit for high profile inmates in need of special protection, a control unit for the most dangerous and assaultive inmates, and a general population unit. The general population unit has five subunits through which inmates can work their way, earning increased privileges. Photographs.