ABSTRACT

This chapter examines the contradictory nature of the reproduction of violence in Canadian prisons and begins with a brief overview of the historical developments that have led to the present crisis. It then introduces the motives underlying aggressive behaviour in the prison setting, before examining a variety of violent manifestations in the contemporary prison system. The chapter discusses the policies and strategies currently used to control prison violence, and their limitations. It focuses on violence in men's prisons, not only because violence is more prevalent there than in women's institutions, but because it is far more severe. The chapter addresses the institutional contradictions and elaborates on the sociopolitical aspects of the social order as they pertain to crime control. A sociopolitical approach also must recognize that an expansion of the criminal justice system is very often approved by the general population.