ABSTRACT
Violence in prison is a significant problem, adversely affecting the physical and psychological wellbeing of people who work in prison and those who are detained. Violence creates a toxic prison climate, generates fear and distress, unsettles routines, and diverts scarce resources away from reformative activities. Ultimately, violence undermines the potential for prisons to support desistance and, thereby, contribute to safer communities. As such, violence is a problem not only for people inside prisons but also for the wider community. This chapter sets the foundation for understanding the nature and extent of violence in prison by considering legal and public health approaches to defining prison violence. We argue that definitions influence measurement methods, which ultimately inform us about the extent and nature of prison violence. In turn, this information influences how violence is perceived and where resources are directed to prevent and manage violence. We argue for a broad definition consistent with a public health approach, including multiple types of violence, from intentional physical acts carried out by individuals to the systemic and institutionally sanctioned acts that result in deprivation and neglect, all of which compromise the sense of safety and limit both hope and reform.
